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How to Make A's: My Journey From Flunky to College Professor and What I Learned Along the Way
Everyone wants to make A’s but most of us don’t have a plan. We dabble in good sometimes we work hard, sometimes we don’t. We are like those who give no thought to exercise, then wonder why they are not physically fit.
Need to earn better grades but not sure how? Read How to Make A’s . As you follow the author’s odyssey through a bad education, you will see his mistakes and perhaps gain insight into one or two of your own. ( he was lazy and angry, and refused to cooperate with a school system he considered broken .) Wales tells the story of a hyperactive, distracted student trying to survive a school so volatile it made the evening news night after night. Wales wanted out. He didn’t care about graduation or class rank. Then one day he was surprised to discover that he did the D-student wanted to make A’s. Thus began the most difficult challenge of his life. Wales’s memoir is followed by some 150 tips for academic success, some of them secrets only teachers know. While this book is written for college students, there is something for everyone in How to Make A’s .
What’s included in this
- Learn the secrets to better grades
- Discover powerful tips to help you work not only harder but smarter
- Find out how to stay motivated
Plus, get helpful advice
- How to study more efficiently
- How to take tests
- How to write well
Need to earn better grades but not sure how? Read How to Make A’s . As you follow the author’s odyssey through a bad education, you will see his mistakes and perhaps gain insight into one or two of your own. ( he was lazy and angry, and refused to cooperate with a school system he considered broken .) Wales tells the story of a hyperactive, distracted student trying to survive a school so volatile it made the evening news night after night. Wales wanted out. He didn’t care about graduation or class rank. Then one day he was surprised to discover that he did the D-student wanted to make A’s. Thus began the most difficult challenge of his life. Wales’s memoir is followed by some 150 tips for academic success, some of them secrets only teachers know. While this book is written for college students, there is something for everyone in How to Make A’s .
What’s included in this
- Learn the secrets to better grades
- Discover powerful tips to help you work not only harder but smarter
- Find out how to stay motivated
Plus, get helpful advice
- How to study more efficiently
- How to take tests
- How to write well
162 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2023
About the author
Steven Wales
2 books29 followersSteven Wales got a bad education. His school years were marked by failing grades, paddlings, and phone calls to mom and dad. Then one day everything changed. He has spent the thirty years since working as a high school teacher, lawyer, and professor of business law and petroleum land management. An adjunct professor, he teaches six courses and has taught over 120 undergraduate hours at the University of Houston Downtown.
Steven Wales won writing awards in college and law school, has been published in academic journals and textbooks, and has been cited in published opinions of the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, and D.C. Circuits. HOW TO MAKE A'S is his first book.
Steven Wales won writing awards in college and law school, has been published in academic journals and textbooks, and has been cited in published opinions of the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, and D.C. Circuits. HOW TO MAKE A'S is his first book.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 30, 2023
Interesting and insightful
This book “How to Make A's: My Journey from Flunky to College Professor and What I Learned Along the Way” by Steven Wales is a two-part work. The first part discusses his struggles in school with ADHD, a bad attitude, bad habits, and bad grades, resulting in his repeated trips to the principal’s office. The second part provides the reader tips on how to overcome bad habits and bad grades, and how to become an ‘A’ student.
This very interesting writing is based on the life story of the author. From a failing high school student, he became an honor student in college, and then a lawyer, and a college professor.
My favorite excerpts from the book: “We are unable to see the light of a deep and broad education. We see ‘consumer-facing’ achievements in sports and entertainment (the stuff on TV), but we are blind to higher achievements in the arts, history, music, literature, and language. We value cell phones, computers, medical devices, and self-driving cars. But we are blind to the beauty of higher sciences: physics, biology, chemistry, and more. Rebel against the overwhelming tide of pop culture. Rebel against your own laziness. Rebel against the peer pressure that would keep you from achieving true education”.
Recommended
This book “How to Make A's: My Journey from Flunky to College Professor and What I Learned Along the Way” by Steven Wales is a two-part work. The first part discusses his struggles in school with ADHD, a bad attitude, bad habits, and bad grades, resulting in his repeated trips to the principal’s office. The second part provides the reader tips on how to overcome bad habits and bad grades, and how to become an ‘A’ student.
This very interesting writing is based on the life story of the author. From a failing high school student, he became an honor student in college, and then a lawyer, and a college professor.
My favorite excerpts from the book: “We are unable to see the light of a deep and broad education. We see ‘consumer-facing’ achievements in sports and entertainment (the stuff on TV), but we are blind to higher achievements in the arts, history, music, literature, and language. We value cell phones, computers, medical devices, and self-driving cars. But we are blind to the beauty of higher sciences: physics, biology, chemistry, and more. Rebel against the overwhelming tide of pop culture. Rebel against your own laziness. Rebel against the peer pressure that would keep you from achieving true education”.
Recommended
January 19, 2024
This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to do better in school, particularly in higher educational settings. After being a troubled student with some ADHD and a strong stubborn streak, the author began to understand that success meant that he had to make some changes. He did and now is effectively sharing his experience and wisdom on how to be successful as well.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to become successful academically (or has children who struggle with a bit of self discipline).
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to become successful academically (or has children who struggle with a bit of self discipline).
September 5, 2023
Steven meets the student on their level as he reframes the widely considered mundane part of the college experience: the academics, as a noble and worthwhile adventure. This book ranges in tips from philosophies to practical study skills, all of which are sure to make you a better student and enjoy the journey along the way!
August 14, 2024
Yep. Gonna review a book I wrote myself. Why not? I just re-read it again one year later. Here are my thoughts:
This book reads itself! It begins with a disarming story of the author's childhood that leaves you wanting more. This guy knows what it's like to be a terrible student, an excellent student, and everything in between. And he has taught every level at every age. The opening chapters are filled with so many good stories, and the later chapters read like a series of motivational speeches about every aspect of academic success.
Speaking of: Were I to give a speech on this topic, I would begin with the content in chapter nine: education is for rebels. Nothing wrong with rebellion, the issue is the OBJECT of your rebellion. Jewish kids kicked out of school who rebel against the Nazis by secretly studying organic chemistry in the woods may be the best story of teenaged rebellion that I know. But all students need to rebel: rebel against a culture of laziness and superficial thinking. Rebel against TV and screentime and a thousand other things that rob you of a real education.
I can't sit and write down favorite quotations because we'd be here all day. I guess the book says everything I wish it would.
Sadly, today I found a typo on the last page. Ugh.
But honestly: this is a good book. It is PACKED with good information, and it is also SHORT. Is that not the perfect combination? Five stars! ;-)
This book reads itself! It begins with a disarming story of the author's childhood that leaves you wanting more. This guy knows what it's like to be a terrible student, an excellent student, and everything in between. And he has taught every level at every age. The opening chapters are filled with so many good stories, and the later chapters read like a series of motivational speeches about every aspect of academic success.
Speaking of: Were I to give a speech on this topic, I would begin with the content in chapter nine: education is for rebels. Nothing wrong with rebellion, the issue is the OBJECT of your rebellion. Jewish kids kicked out of school who rebel against the Nazis by secretly studying organic chemistry in the woods may be the best story of teenaged rebellion that I know. But all students need to rebel: rebel against a culture of laziness and superficial thinking. Rebel against TV and screentime and a thousand other things that rob you of a real education.
I can't sit and write down favorite quotations because we'd be here all day. I guess the book says everything I wish it would.
Sadly, today I found a typo on the last page. Ugh.
But honestly: this is a good book. It is PACKED with good information, and it is also SHORT. Is that not the perfect combination? Five stars! ;-)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews