Which Books About Harvard Are Worth Reading?

At the beginning of every year, the Coop prominently displays books about the quintessential “Harvard experience,” implying that Harvard’s prestige makes it a mysterious, mythical setting on par with that of Hogwarts. These books, however, are usually meant to appeal to incoming freshman and those who haven’t gone to Harvard, who thus deem the books insightful, “tell-all” pieces. Here is the Arts Blog’s take on what’s worth reading and what’s best left behind in the bookstore.

“Penelope” by Rebecca Harrington '08
This novel is about the titular character Penelope O’Shaunessy, “an incoming freshman of average height and lank hair” with below-average social acumen who tries to find her place in Harvard’s social jungle. Her goals are finding love and friendship but they prove harder to realize than getting decent grades and sufficient sleep. Chronicling the protagonist’s freshman year at Harvard, this book seems to be full of social stereotypes, from antisocial nerds to uber-ambitious climbers. A self-proclaimed geek, Penelope is sarcastic, observant, and most of all, unabashedly candid, making her a relatable character. Read this book for its wry humor and comedic episodes, most of which skewer every aspect of Harvard’s culture, from drunken escapades to pretentious, resume-building activities to a pervading desire to succeed.

“That Book About Harvard” by Eric Kester '08
An odd mixture of poignancy and hilarity, this book recounts Kester’s first year at Harvard. Instead of glamorizing his college experience, he is brutally honest, with guffaw-inducing episodes scattered through the book. Breaking away from the Harvard student stereotype of a perfect human specimen, Kester is self-deprecating and wry, dispelling the myth of the demigod Harvard student. Although Kester offers a fresh perspective on Harvard, his point of view is distinctively male, so women might have a harder time sympathizing with him.

“An Expensive Education” by Nick McDonell ’06-’07
This thriller is primarily set in two vastly different places: Harvard, the author’s alma mater, and the Horn of Africa. The novel features an assorted mix of characters, from a well-to-do Harvard professor Susan Lowell to David Ayan, her student who is attempting to join the elite Porcellian Club, to Michael Teak, a Harvard graduate who is dispatched to Somalia to work as an intelligence operative. On a side note, Ayan’s girlfriend, depicted as a shallow and condescending character who is a product of expensive private schools, writes for The Crimson. So how does the author weave together the hermetic, privileged world of Harvard with that of a war-torn African country? The connection involves a bombing, but read the book to find out more. However, be warned that several of the characters may get one-dimensional and contrived, rendering them thoroughly unlikeable. Ultimately, the book’s saving grace is the loveable Michael Teak, a character the author lavishes the most attention and time on.