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Novel Recommendations Based on College Major
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items Finding the perfect book can feel like solving a puzzle, especially when you’re looking for stories that resonate with your academic interests. This list, I’ve matched thought-provoking novels to different college majors—offering stories that not onl...
Sections
12
Mathematics
Political
Literature
Economy
Science
Anthropology
Mathematics
If math majors ever needed proof that numbers can be deeply emotional, this novel delivers it beautifully. It’s about a brilliant math professor with short-term memory loss and his connection with his housekeeper and her son. Their bond is built thro...
The Housekeeper and the Professor
Math majors, this book is a wild ride through dimensions—literally. It’s about a two-dimensional world where shapes are people, and the main character, a square, discovers the existence of higher dimensions. Sounds nerdy? It totally is, but in the be...
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Political
This one hits hard. Political science majors will find it eye-opening because it dives into systemic racism, injustice, and abuse within reform schools. Set during the Jim Crow era, it follows two boys trying to survive a cruel institution while high...
The Nickel Boys
This one’s going to blow your mind. Atwood creates a chilling dystopia where women are stripped of their rights and reduced to their reproductive roles. It’s a powerful critique of authoritarianism and the control of women’s bodies, with themes that ...
The Handmaid's Tale
Literature
If you’re into languages, translation, and literary theories, this one’s for you. It blends historical fiction, fantasy, and post-colonial critique, diving into the power of language and the violence of imperialism. Lit majors will love how it challe...
Babel: Or, The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
For literature majors who love dissecting themes of beauty, morality, and art, this one’s a goldmine. It’s all about a guy who stays young and gorgeous while his portrait ages, reflecting his sins. The novel dives into aestheticism and the consequenc...
The Picture of Dorian Gray
This one will break your heart and make you think. Morrison’s writing is rich, poetic, and layered with history, trauma, and identity. It’s a must-read for literature students because of its nonlinear storytelling, symbolism, and themes of memory and...
Beloved
Economy
This classic might already be on your reading list, but economics majors will appreciate it on a whole other level. It’s a raw look at poverty, displacement, and survival during the Great Depression, showing how economic policies—or the lack of them—...
The Grapes of Wrath
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Science
Science majors will get a kick out of this one because it’s basically a love letter to space exploration. It captures the awe and loneliness of astronauts as they circle Earth, blending science with philosophy. The story is poetic yet grounded, explo...
Orbital
This is a solid pick. It’s got everything—space travel, advanced tech, new human civilizations, and big questions about what it means to evolve. The story’s fast-paced and packed with cool sci-fi concepts, but it still feels super human and emotional...
Exodus: The Archimedes Engine
Anthropology
This one’s a quieter, introspective novel perfect for anthropology students. It’s about how we observe and interact with cultures—sometimes as outsiders, sometimes as participants. Through the protagonist’s observations and relationships, it explores...
The Anthropologists
A dark and intense story about an anthropologist who finds a hidden tribe with secrets that really mess with your head—raising big questions about right and wrong, identity, and what it means to be “civilized.” A great pick for anthropology students ...
The People in the Trees
Medical and Health
Medical majors, especially those into mental health, will find this novel both fascinating and unsettling. It revolves around a clinic that treats Alzheimer’s patients by recreating the past, blurring the lines between memory and reality. It’s a thou...
Time Shelter
Oxygen
History
History majors, get ready for an emotional ride. This epic family saga spans generations, covering Korean-Japanese relations, migration, and survival during times of discrimination. It brings historical events to life through deeply personal stories,...
Pachinko
A beautifully written novel set in WWII, this book explores history through two young perspectives—one from a blind French girl and another from a German soldier. It’s a reminder that history isn’t just about dates and battles; it’s about people and ...
All the Light We Cannot See
Narrated by Death (yes, "Death"), this book gives a hauntingly unique perspective on Nazi Germany. History students will appreciate its deep dive into propaganda, war, and the power of books during oppressive times. Plus, it’s one of those novels tha...
The Book Thief
Law
This isn’t your typical courtroom drama, but law students will love its exploration of crime, media influence, and societal judgment. It’s about a woman accused of murdering her lovers and the journalist trying to uncover the truth. The novel digs in...
Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder
Talk about a courtroom thriller! This one’s a wild ride for law majors because it’s all about a high-powered defense attorney who ends up defending her husband, the prime suspect in a murder case. It’s a page-turner filled with twists, making you que...
The Perfect Marriage
Psychology
Psych majors, this one’s for you. It’s a quirky but deeply moving story about loneliness, trauma, and healing. Eleanor is socially awkward and stuck in routines, but as her layers peel back, you start to see how past experiences shape behavior. It’s ...
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
The Silent Patient is perfect for psychology majors who are fascinated by the complexities of the mind and the darker side of human behavior. The story centers around Alicia Berenson, a woman who shoots her husband and then refuses to speak another w...
The Silent Patient
Ever wanted to get inside the mind of someone struggling with depression? The Bell Jar is an intense, semi-autobiographical journey through mental illness, identity crises, and societal pressure. Psychology students will appreciate how Plath captures...
The Bell Jar
Holden Caulfield’s teenage angst and existential musings make this a classic psychological case study. If you’re interested in adolescent psychology, PTSD, or alienation, this novel gives you plenty to analyze. His cynical, rebellious nature hides de...
The Catcher in the Rye
Art/Design
This book revolves around a stolen painting and how it shapes the protagonist’s life. It’s a love letter to art and its emotional impact, making it perfect for art and design students. Plus, the writing is so immersive you’ll feel like you’re inside ...
The Goldfinch
It’s about architecture, individualism, and the struggle between artistic integrity and societal expectations. If you’re in design or architecture, you’ll appreciate the themes of creative vision versus commercial success. It’s controversial but thou...
The Fountainhead
Engineering/Technique
If you love problem-solving and science, this book is a thrill. It’s about an astronaut stranded on Mars, using nothing but his engineering skills and science know-how to survive. Every challenge he faces has a technical, real-world solution, making ...
The Martian
Love it or hate it, this book is packed with ideas about industrial innovation, capitalism, and individualism. Engineering students might appreciate the emphasis on inventors and entrepreneurs driving progress, though the philosophical debates can be...
Atlas Shrugged
This is sci-fi at its smartest. Engineering and tech enthusiasts will appreciate its mind-bending concepts about physics, alien civilizations, and virtual reality. It’s packed with complex theories but still manages to tell an addictive story. It’s t...
The Three-Body Problem