The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College (Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbooks) by Joshua Piven

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbooks

by Jennifer Worick

The college years are a time of noble pursuit of knowledge, self-betterment—and unending peril! Students are at risk from the moment they receive their acceptance letters. Fortunately, the authors of the phenomenally best-selling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series have come to the rescue, offering all-new, hands-on, step-by-step instructions for surviving the worst that higher education has to offer, on campus and off. Learn how to identify a party school, engineer a hookup, survive "the spins," and escape a stadium riot. Discover the best way to sleep in class, pass a test you haven't studied for, avoid the "freshman fifteen," and pull an all-nighter. With practical advice for avoiding laundry and identifying unsafe institutional food, along with an appendix of excuses for missed deadlines and a back-up diploma, this is truly required reading for all college students—and a perfect high school graduation present.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, How To, Reference

Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

I write. That’s rather obvious. Mostly I write about things that blow my skirt up. Humor is a big—huge—part of everything I do. But then there’s that soft, squishy sentimental part of me that can’t help but rear its heartfelt head. And since I like to tell people what to do every chance I get, I write a lot of how-to books, blogs, and articles.

Humorous. Heartfelt. How-to. Three great tastes that taste great together, at least in my cereal bowl.

So let’s get down to it. I know you don’t have all day to ogle my bio, as much as a girl can dream. Here’s what you should know off the bat: I’m the New York Times best-selling author of more than 25 books and, per Reader’s Digest, one of the four funniest bloggers in the US. Pretty cool, eh?

I’ve written on everything under the sun for national magazines and websites like The Huffington Post, Allure, and Salon, and I currently write a books column for today.com. In addition to bookshelves, newsstands, and your favorite websites, you can also find me online at Things I Want to Punch in the Face.

Along with fellow author and publishing pro Kerry Colburn, I deliver publishing talks, workshops, and webinars to help burgeoning authors get published through The Business of Books. You can also catch me in university auditoriums, where I offer up side-splitting but informative slide-show presentations based on my popular books.

Originally from Southwestern Michigan, I currently live in Seattle, where I eschew fleece while eating more fish and chips than is good for me.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. There were some moderately useful things, and some mildly humorous things. There were also borderline offensive things - pretend to be a foreign student by skipping deodorant comes to mind. That trope isn't even funny, why use it?

The decorate your dorm room ideas were overly complicated. Check the local Goodwill or dumpster dive at move out would have been better advice. But that is minor.

The hook up, date three people at once (by lying, not open honesty or exploring a polyamorous lifestyle) and walk of shame advice is cringe worthy. Bikini top from socks when you can't find your shirt? Maybe that would prove entertaining as a slap stick bit in a movie...I dunno reading it is just like what the hell. Discussion of consent in sexual encounters would be good to add. 'How to bail' and 'ask a friend to scope him out' are not open communication. There needs to be mention of consent with the person actually involved. Mind games benefit no one. And saying oh it's comedy is even worse - no, it is not informative or funny it is dangerous and irritating.

A lot of this seems like it is way more than 11 years old. I get that it is intended to be somewhat comedic - well then it should at least actually be funny when it is offensive.

I feel like I could give this book more benefit of the doubt, and in other areas yeah it was more like 3 stars ok - but the sections mentioned, particularly about international students and casual sex - are too glaring for me to do so. Oh, and the only mention of birth control is hiding it from your parents when they visit. No mention of prepping it for the hookups or serial concurrent dating. And the book goes over a hockey puck to the eye, but not condoms or STDs, even in passing?

Meh. It was something to read in print on a rainy day. Has a catchy title for the bookshelf. Going to be sold to Half Price shortly.

[Kiwi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my thing, but a few of the parts made me laugh. Definitely a good read to just look at college stereotypes and get a good laugh about them.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested this through BookMooch. I hope the Mooch comes through because I really do want to read this book even though my college days are long over.

I enjoyed this book very much. Parts of it were really funny.

My favorite sections are the "hippie" portion of "How to Take on a New Identity" (it's spot on); the food equivalency chart (the calorie equivalent in mugs of beer for a variety of food items); "How to Eat When You're Broke;" "How to Sleep in the Library;" and "How to Tell Your Parents You've Been Expelled."

I like it.

[Jesse · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a college graduate, I can appreciate some of the 'advice' this survival guide gives you. It plays on old college cliches and actually gives the occasional pearl of wisdom but it is mostly a humor novel. I know me and my roommates never did make curtains out of old shirts. If you're going to get it, get it for the humor. There are plenty of other books that give real advice and the truth is often stranger than fiction.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I'm done with undergrad, this book is still amusing enough to be worth a read on its own. My favorite part was the diagrams that come up every few pages or so. They seemed very self-important for how absurd the situations were, eg, "In the case of a stadium riot, move quickly away from the mascots."

[Maris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, silly, and slightly helpful.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was facinating and gave a inside scoop of the overexaggerated college life, we'll see.

[Maggie]

funny. i'm not sure whether to take it seriously or not.......

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been 10 years since I was at uni (gosh I feel old) and some of these challenges faced by students are real.

Nice little book for those going off to college or uni.