Nobody says high school and college are easy. Studying is difficult, as is memorizing information for a test. Fortunately, there are books that can help to make dealing with school easier.

Unlimited Memory by Kevin Horsley

Do you have trouble remembering everything you are studying? Feel like you have too much on your plate? Unlimited Memory by Kevin Horsley may be for you. It is a bestseller on memory improvement. This book has strategies to help you learn faster while also teaching you to become more productive. Of course, having a good memory comes in handy outside of the classroom as well. Really, this is a great book for life in general.

On Course by Skip Downing

It is another book you will want to check out. In its eighth edition, the book provides you with self-assessment tools to help you identify what you need to change for academic success. It contains guided journal entries to help you with learning, responsibility, self-management, self-awareness and self-esteem.

Students Guide to Writing College Papers by Kate L. Turabian

Many students reach college and find that essay writing in college is very different from that in high school. Whether this is the case for you or you just want to improve your writing skills, you’ll want to check out Students Guide to Writing College Papers. It’s available on Kindle or in hardback or paperback forms. Right now, this one is in its fourth edition. The book covers writing your actual paper, citing sources and style. Even English majors can find a lot of helpful tips in this book.

How to Become a Straight-A Student by Carl Newport

The book will teach you different approaches and strategies to help you score better, but spend less time on studying, with a focus on studying smarter, not harder. It is available on Kindle and in audiobook (有声读物) and paperback forms.

After his eighth attempt, 30-year-old Liu Zheng finally passed the National Judicial Examinations in January, the professional qualification exam that everyone wishing to be a lawyer in China must pass, in addition to getting a degree in law.

After graduating with a bachelor’s in automobile engineering from the Hebei College of Science and Technology in 2015he took a job at Peking University as a security guard in the hopes that he would someday be able to pursue a master’s at the prestigious (有声望的) university.

“I dreamed of studying somewhere famous, but my family’s financial situation meant I had to work while I prepared for the exams,” he said As he studied in his spare time, Liu developed an interest in law and decided to prepare for the National Judicial Examinations, which have a pass rate of only 10 to 15 percent.

He later became a facilities manager at the Peking University Law School to help him better prepare. Liu works from 5 p.m.to midnight. He follows a simple routine, shuttling from his dormitory to the school canteen, to classrooms and to his job and wakes up early so that he can arrive at the law school by 8 a.m. for lectures, or to study by himself for a few hours.

He said that despite his having to work, his teachers and other students have been helpful. Professors have sent textbooks and invited him to their courses, and students have sent notes of encouragement. “Nobody has treated me differently. I am just another face in the class.”

Looking back over the past seven years working and studying at PKU, Liu said the experience has reaffirmed his determination to shape his future through education.

John Koh is one who finds joy in learning.

He graduated with a diploma (毕业文凭) in accounting in his youth, but after a decade in the industry, he decided to make a change. He took an undergraduate course in social work at the age of 33. He graduated in 2010 and went on to do a Master’s degree in social work in 2014.

His most recent educational attempt, which he took on last year, is a Master’s degree in gerontology.

Gerontology is the scientific study of old age, the process of aging, and the particular problems of old people. As the population in the United States continues to age, earning a degree in gerontology could be a good investment in one’s future. “It became more in demand in 2017,” he described. “I’d always been interested in it, but what motivated me to take on the Master’s program was when my wife started studying again. Watching her enjoy her studies gave me the desire to go back to studies too.” As an adult learner, John said, “When I started to study social work, I really enjoyed it because I already had work experience, plus I had been serving in the Dialect Service looking after the elderly. Whatever I was taught in school, I applied it to my work; whatever I learned at work, I related back to my studies. Work experience really benefits the learning.” John also noticed that his grades were a lot better when he was doing his Master’s degree, compared to his undergraduate studies.

As a passionate lifelong learner, John Koh believes communication with family members is another important thing. “Support is very important,” said John. “I told my daughter that Papa was studying and that on certain days I would have to focus on my tasks. It’s actually a good example for the next generation — that’s why my daughter likes to read too!”