Are you one who likes to hit the road and go on epic road trips with your college pals? Many of the world’s favorite writers have had so much fun on the road that they’ve written unforgettable books for you to enjoy.

According to many critics, these are the top five books about famous road trips:

1. On the Road: Written by Jack Kerouac and published in 1957, this story works to capture life in the 1950s. The book’s narrator Sal Paradise goes cross country with his buddy Dean Moriarity, a reform school escapee who has stolen his fair share of cars and serves as Sal’s mentor. It is an adventure you won’t want to miss.
2. The Zen and Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: Published in 1974 and written by Robert M. Pirsig, the book is an exploration of the world of ideas during a journey that begins in Minneapolis and ends near San Francisco. This is a great one if you love philosophy.
3. American Nomads: Author Richard Grants writes about life on the open road as he shares stories from his 15 years of wandering throughout the US. His stories include chance meetings with truckers, rodeo cowboys, flea market traders, RV campers and more. You are guaranteed to laugh while reading!
4. Lolita: One of the most controversial yet loved novels ever written, Lolita takes you into the bizarre mind of Humbert Humbert. The aging man falls in love with Lolita, a young girl, and goes on a one year cross country road trip with her. The story is pretty funky, but has been noted as one of the best books ever written.
5. Sideways: This simultaneously funny and heartwarming book surrounds the wine tasting road trip of Miles and Jack. Topics within the book include lots of analysis of different wines, thoughts on relationships and plenty of hilarious moments. A great read for those who love wine and roadtripping.

We hope that you will read one or more of these adventures and be inspired to take to the road! These are only 5 of the numerous books about road trips….there are so many more out there. What are your favorite books on road trips? Please share on our Facebook wall!

Are you tight on funds and looking for ways to save on college books? You just may find that renting textbooks is the best decisionthat you can make.

All too many college students find themselves spending hundreds of dollars on books each quarter/semester and either selling back their books for a faction of the original cost or keeping them for years as they collect dust.

The following are 5 Quick Reasons Why Renting Textbooks Makes Sense:

1. You pay a fraction of the price for the term. You’ll be amazed at how much you can save. If you have no desire to keep the book after your final examination, there is really no reason to pay top dollar.
2. Shipping is Free. When you rent from ValoreBooks.com, shipping on college textbooks is always free both to your dorm/home and back to the warehouse. The process is 100% hassle free.
3. You choose how long the rental will last. You can rent a text book for as long as you’d like. The price goes up and down based on the duration of the rental. Finally, you can be in control of how much you pay for textbooks!
4. Books are in great condition. All rentals are fully examined before they’re shipped to you, so you never have to worry about getting a trashed book.
5. You’ll help to save trees. Renting is great for the environment. You and your friends can make a difference, so spread the word!

Have you ever rented a college textbook? We’d love to hear how the process went for you! Feel free to share your comments or ask questions on our Facebook wall.

Now that Labor Day Weekend is over, you may be convinced that it’s time to pull yourself together and prepare yourself for the manygrueling weeks of studying ahead. Your efforts in college have a lot to do with your energy levels. Looking for ways to find more energy without taking a gnarly over-the-counter energy supplement that keeps you up for days? The following may help you out:

1.        Greens. Go to your nearby holistic health store such as the Vitamin Shoppe and find a greens supplement like Greens Plus. Not only does eating greens rich in chlorophyll give you energy, they boost the immune system and can even work as a mood enhancer.

2.       Protein. Sometimes college life is so busy that it becomes quite easy to ignore your diet. Protein is essential for brain power. Make sure you are getting enough throughout the day, especially in the morning. Fish is one of the best proteins you can get because of its high contents of omega fatty acids.

3.       Water. In order to have maximized energy levels, water is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. A dehydrated body makes you feel sluggish and actually slows down thinking processes. Try drinking at least 8 cups a day. You may even consider carrying a large water bottle with you to your classes.

4.       Exercise. In order to gain energy, you really need to put out energy through at least 20-30 minutes of exercise at least 3-4 times a week. Choose a variety of exercises that you enjoy such as running, yoga, cycling, etc.

5.       Sleep. All-nighters are needed once in a while during college life, but it is best practice to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll do with your studies and social life by getting enough rest!

In addition to the ideas above, you may want to check out The Juicing Bible. This book is awesome for the student on the go. It includes recipes for energy gaining juices and smoothies that you can make at home.

Have any ideas of your own for gaining energy naturally? Share away on our Facebook wall!

You probably already know by now that each and every professor is a unique creature with a different set of quirks, expectations and requirements. Some are willing to bend over backwards to help you understand difficult concepts while others can be quite inaccessible. Also, there are those who gear their entire course around difficult exams, while others provide tons of course work for balance. There is no single formula for connecting with each professor, but we hope these ideas will help you excel in your classes:

• Carefully observe your professor. Watch him or her carefully as they try to explain class structure and their expectations. Try to determine if your professor is a people person or more of an introvert. Does he or she seem easy-going or more like a drill sergeant? By understanding what makes your professor tick, you can better connect with them and meet their requirements.
• Engage your professor before or after class. It is an excellent idea to come early to class or stay late to get to know your professor. Don’t forget that you’re not only going to college to get a grade, but you are also there to learn as much as you can. You’ll be amazed at what doors can be opened when you engage your professor. You may even be able to inspire him or her to meet up with a handful of students for a professor/student dinner. By knowing your professors, you will gain important insights in your classes and life in general. Plus, recommendations from top professors go a long way when you begin seeking a job!
• Ask plenty of questions. Bestselling author Timothy Ferriss in his book The 4-Hour Workweek shares that when he was in college he would ask tons of questions to make sure he was on-track. In fact, he would set meetings with his professors before tests and prior to paper deadlines to drill them with questions. This propelled him to the top of his class at Harvard!
• Notes & recordings. Dare yourself to deeply focus on every word your professors utter during class. Most likely a large percentage of test questions are gone over in class. Becoming a master note taker will save you tons of time when preparing for examinations and assignments. As a backup, you can also audio record all lectures.

We hope the above ideas will help you in your efforts, and invite you to share ideas of your own! What techniques do you use to master your professors and ace your classes?  Post away on our Facebook page.

Have you recently found yourself staring off into outer space during important lectures, reading without comprehension orwishing you could study for more than a handful of minutes at a time? Don’t feel like you’re alone if you are lacking focus! We at Valore Books were college students ourselves and understand how many diversions there in college life.

In an attempt to help you gain much needed focus, we’ve developed the following five tips for helping you get grounded:

1.      Make a daily and weekly priority list. Keep your list where you can see it at all times and check off completed items. You will be amazed at how much energy you’ll gain when you’ve finished a task with flying colors.

2.      Get enough sleep. Try to sleep for between 7-8 hours an night. It is nearly impossible to focus when your mind is filled with cobwebs due to exhaustion.  To get enough sleep, you’ll probably need to forego wild parties during the week and ask your buddies to go back to their own dorm rooms/apartments after a certain hour.

3. Exercise is a must. Schedule in 3-5 days of workouts per week. There’s a powerful connection between mental clarity and exercise. The less you exercise, the more likely you’ll be sluggish and full of silly excuses for not being able to focus.

4. One thing at time. We dare you to put aside all distractions when you begin a task. It’s nearly impossible to fully focus when one second you are studying, the next texting a message to a friend, and the next checking out your Facebook page. In fact, the mind becomes quite frustrated by constant interruptions. It is much more rewarding to finish one activity and then move on to the next.

5. Five Minute meditations. Each morning before you get out of bed and/or when you go to bed in the evening, set aside five minutes for meditation/silence. This exercise helps the mind decompress and makes way for focus. Each day you are surrounded with music, ringing cell phones, lecturing professors, talking friends and other stimuli that tires out your brain. Taking five minutes to recharge your brain’s battery will go a long way.

We hope these ideas will help you gain more focus in the days to come.  Plus, we’d love for you to share your own tips on finding focus. Please visit our Facebook page and post your ideas on our wall.