Whether or not your college recommends some reading prior to you moving into your dorm, it’s always a good idea to practice some critical-thinking skills, right? The top 5 non-fiction titles that college admissions offices are suggest this year are as follows:

“The Soloist” (Steve Lopez, author). Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez came upon a homeless musician one day and it changed everything about the way sees humanity. The musician was a former Julliard student whose schizophrenia led him away from the stage and onto Skid Row. Lopez put his head together with both doctors and musicians in order to improve musician Nathaniel Ayers’ life.

“Zeitoun” (Dave Eggers, author). This is an emotional depiction of a Hurricane Katrina survivor’s nightmare as he goes from being a victim of a natural disaster to an accused member of Al-Qaeda. The New York Times Book Review section refers to this title as “…great narrative” and the consensus from most reader reviews is that this is a must read for all Americans. It shines a bright light on social injustice and the federal mismanagement of the time.

“This I Believe”, edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman. Allison and Gediman are editors who put together this collection from the Edward R. Murrow’s National Public Radio series of the same name. Each essay showcases an author’s anecdote that influenced his value system throughout life. The radio program, originally aired in the 1950′s and brought back in 2005, provided Allison and Gediman with hundreds of essays to choose from when compiling the book. In addition to unknown authors, readers hear from Eleanor Roosevelt, John Updike and others in regards to lessons to live by.

“The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan. When you sit down to dinner after reading this book, it’s entirely possible that you’ll see what’s on your table in an entirely different way. The subject of the book is the American food chain, specifically industrial farming as well as the increasing popularity of organic offerings. Also discussed is the process of hunting and gathering for yourself instead of depending on the marketplace to provide sustenance for you.

“Enrique’s Journey” (Sonia Nazario, author). The incredible story of a 17-year-old illegal immigrant’s trip from Honduras to the United States in search of his mother gives readers a lot to think about. This Pulitzer Prize-winning book is the basis for an upcoming series on HBO.

Alan Greene writes on college life, online colleges, online degrees, financial aid, and scholarships.