U Thrive: How to Succeed in College (and Life)

by Dan Lerner, Alan Schlechter

Overview

From the professors who teach NYU's most popular elective class, "Science of Happiness," a fun, comprehensive guide to surviving and thriving in college and beyond.

Every year, almost 4,000,000 students begin their freshman year at colleges and universities nationwide. Most of them will sleep less and stress out a whole lot more. By the end of the year, 30% of those freshmen will have dropped out. For many, the unforeseen demands of college life are so overwhelming that "the best four years of your life" can start to feel like the worst.

Enter Daniel Lerner and Dr. Alan Schlechter, ready to teach students how to not only survive college, but flourish in it. Filled with fascinating science, real-life stories, and tips for building positive lifelong habits, U Thrive addresses the opportunities and challenges every undergrad will face — from finding a passion to dealing with nightmarish roommates and surviving finals week. Engaging and hilarious, U Thrive will help students grow into the happy, successful alums they all deserve to be.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316311618
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:	04/18/2017
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	375,012
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Daniel Lerner, MAPP, is a clinical instructor at NYU, and he serves on the instructional staff at the University of Pennsylvania. As a performance coach he works with established and high-potential musicians, athletes, and executives to leverage the advantages that a healthy psychological state can bring to their performance at both work and home.

Alan Schlechter, MD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Langone Medical Center and the Director of the Outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services at Bellevue Hospital. In this role, he seeks to provide mental health care to New York's most vulnerable children and families.

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Part I Strive to Thrive

1 Positive Emotions: The Science of Happiness 13

2 Relationships: Getting Connected 31

3 The Engaged Life: How Your Strengths Can Help You Soar 56

Part II Opportunities (And Barriers) to Change

4 Mindsets: Maximizing Your Mental Makeup 79

5 Optimism and Pessimism: Making the Most of Reality 98

6 Willpower: Doing What You Really Want to Do 118

7 Choice: How to Make Decisions Like a Champ 136

8 Stress: Making It Work for You 151

9 Mental Health: Dealing with Tough Times 166

Part III Student Bodies

10 Exercise: Student Bodies in Motion 185

11 Nutrition: Feeding the Student Body 197

12 Sleep: The Student Body at Rest 209

Part IV Positively Excellent

13 Excellence: Becoming Your Best 229

14 Meaning: What Makes Life Worth Living 246

15 Passion: Doing What You Love 256

Epilogue 273

Acknowledgments 279

Index 283

What People are Saying About This

author of Grit - Angela Duckworth

"U Thrive is full of the insights and practical tips I wish I'd had as an undergraduate. It's a user's guide to the mind and body, written for young adults on the cusp of mastering both!"

author of Originals and Give and Take - Adam Grant

"This book is full of information that college students need—not just for achieving excellence, but also for reducing stress, gaining happiness, and finding meaning."

Editorial Reviews

"U Thrive is full of the insights and practical tips I wish I'd had as an undergraduate. It's a user's guide to the mind and body, written for young adults on the cusp of mastering both!"—Angela Duckworth, author of Grit

"This book is full of information that college students need — not just for achieving excellence, but also for reducing stress, gaining happiness, and finding meaning."—Adam Grant, author of Originals and Give and Take

From the Publisher

04/01/2017
This wordy but helpful work by performance coach Lerner and psychiatrist Schlechter, both professors at New York University (NYU), focuses on thriving, changing, staying healthy, and excelling in college and later in life, with an emphasis on mental wellness. The authors organized scientific-based pearls of wisdom and active learning exercises from their NYU Science of Happiness course. Highlights include sections on establishing relationships and connections; identifying strengths that lead to higher levels of engagement; understanding mind-sets; dealing with adversity; and developing healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise habits. This content might be better digested or paced in a first-year experience course as opposed to being devoured cover to cover by students on their own. Features include takeaway tips at the conclusion of each chapter and an index (not seen). This book would make a practical high school graduation gift for college-bound readers or college sophomores. VERDICT Recommended for collections that focus on college readiness or first-year coursework and for individuals interested in preparing for university.—Elizabeth Connor, Daniel Lib., The Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina, Charleston

Library Journal