Ruminations on College Life

Rating:
Summary: college reality
Review: I started reading Ruminations in 1998. We were pretty disappointed when Karo graduated because we assumed the column would end. It's great to have all of the material in book form. I can't stop laughing even though I've read the original columns too many times to count. It's funny even when he's making fun of something I do. You can't help but laugh. Too bad the language didn't stay the same... Can't wait for another book! Hopefully he'll do a comedy tour in more southern states.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: I started this book on friday afternoon and finished friday night. I could not put this book down. I was laughing so hard my stomache hurt. This is a great book and I encourage anyone who wants to know what really takes place in college to get yourself a copy of ruminations on college life.

Rating:
Summary: Snotty, rich, bored American college kids--and proud of it!
Review: I would have liked to have slapped Aaron Karo while reading this book, but I was laughing too hard to keep my hand steady enough. I had been a fan of Ruminations since it was a humble online-only occasional column (and was introduced to it by the excellent Very Pathetic Mailing List). Karo wrote this series of "Ruminations" during his tenure at Penn, which of course is one of the most expensive, prestigious, exclusive schools in the country. So how does he spend his time at this great school? Drinking, partying, sleeping, and picking up girls, if you believe him. All I can say is that my parents would have killed me. If you like books about rich kids wasting their rich parents' money on four years of hedonism, read this book. Even if you think you don't like books like that, you'll like this one. You just can't hate Karo and his friends in the book because deep down, all you broke, studious kids are jealous.

Rating:
Summary: Snotty, rich, bored American college kids--and proud of it!
Review: I would have liked to have slapped Aaron Karo while reading this book, but I was laughing too hard to keep my hand steady enough. I had been a fan of Ruminations since it was a humble online-only occasional column (and was introduced to it by the excellent Very Pathetic Mailing List). Karo wrote this series of "Ruminations" during his tenure at Penn, which of course is one of the most expensive, prestigious, exclusive schools in the country. So how does he spend his time at this great school? Drinking, partying, sleeping, and picking up girls, if you believe him. All I can say is that my parents would have killed me. If you like books about rich kids wasting their rich parents' money on four years of hedonism, read this book. Even if you think you don't like books like that, you'll like this one. You just can't hate Karo and his friends in the book because deep down, all you broke, studious kids are jealous.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a TRUE Guide to College Life!
Review: I've been going to college for the past 4 years, and in all that time you see in bookstores guides to college life that tell you stuff like how to adjust your studying habits and the best ways to get along with your roommate. Well, those may be fine and dandy, but Aaron Karo finally cuts through all that official stuff and gets right to the core of college life--the actual experience! I work in my college's bookstore, and when I saw Karo's book come in today, I skimmed through it to see what it was about. Well, I started laughing almost as soon as my eyes hit the page (getting a funny look from my manager). Within 5 minutes I'd bought it for myself--it never even managed to hit the shelves! Ruminations on College Life is a hilarious and TRUE look at what it means to be a college student. Ever done the shower dance when your dorm water suddenly turns "thermonuclear hot" on you? Ever watched (or been) one of those students who slowly but surely nod off to sleep during a lecture? Ever go out and get mind-blastingly drunk and have to suffer the consequences the next day? If so, you'll be able to understand this and probably a whole lot more of Karo's book. His witty, insightful, and oh-so-true humor will have you busting a gut the entire time. A great read, and a great purchase. I've already been recommending it to all my friends and it's only been a few hours since I finished it!

Rating:
Summary: the damn truth
Review: if you go away to college then you will understand this book. i think it's great and i couldn't put it down until i was done. karo says what every college student experiences, thinks, and wonders about in the simplest ways and is pretty damn funny too. if you don't like this book then, obviously, you are not getting the full college experience and need to start having fun and enjoying the best four years of your life.

Rating:
Summary: A poor imitation
Review: Isn't it odd that most of these reviews of the book came out a week before the book did? I didn't notice that until now, and was duped into getting a copy for myself. And it was a bigger waste than some of my text books. If you guys want a quality college life book, check out Student Body Shots. If you need something to level your beer pong table, pick up a copy of Ruminations.

Rating:
Summary: Fun no matter who you are!
Review: It's sometimes nice to hear of novels that have humble beginnings and explore a part of life that doesn't get much attention or repsect. Aaron Karo wrote "Ruminations on college life" after writing a letter to all of his friends once a week on college life at the University of Pennsylvania. It started out as a letter to 11 friends that snowballed by the time he graduated.
The novel highlights several parts of college life, such as the drinking, the residence halls, the greek life, night activities, studying abroad and the transition to going home. at turns were laughs on every page.
I guess the reason why i liked it so much as because it looked at two groups that society does'nt really pay much attention to: youth and college students. and it seems like every portrayal of youth has it at one end of the spectrum or the other. in other words, youth is either a tragic lost generation or trying to save the world and find a cure for AIDS. These characters are just kids on the transition from childhood to adulthood and enjoy the ride. Karo doesn't fall into either one and simply describes his endeavors during his undergraduate education. It's honest and humorous. The humor is derived from his life without the drama and trouble.
There is no plot and the chapters are short. There is no real logic in the book, either. But that's what makes it so much fun to read. Life does not have a beginning, middle or end and doesn't follow Freytags pyramid. Life is more of a series of short chapters. And the characters sort of flow in and out of the book,just as characters do in real life. I have met a lot of people while in college. Some of them i keep in contact with, although most provide me with a brief lesson or examination on human condition for a short period of time.
I'm not quite for sure if the book provides a profile for all college students. For one, I had a lot more to be concerned about. But the book isn't meant to be applied to every college student . It just describes karo's experienced. The book is fun to read and anyone i think will like it. whether you're looking foward to college, an old veteran, don't plan or going, or if you're in school, there's something in this book that everyone can relate to.
The humble beginnings of "Ruminations" has given it the title of being a cult classic. and that it is.

Rating:
Summary: Fun no matter who you are!
Review: It's sometimes nice to hear of novels that have humble beginnings and explore a part of life that doesn't get much attention or repsect. Aaron Karo wrote "Ruminations on college life" after writing a letter to all of his friends once a week on college life at the University of Pennsylvania. It started out as a letter to 11 friends that snowballed by the time he graduated.
The novel highlights several parts of college life, such as the drinking, the residence halls, the greek life, night activities, studying abroad and the transition to going home. at turns were laughs on every page.
I guess the reason why i liked it so much as because it looked at two groups that society does'nt really pay much attention to: youth and college students. and it seems like every portrayal of youth has it at one end of the spectrum or the other. in other words, youth is either a tragic lost generation or trying to save the world and find a cure for AIDS. These characters are just kids on the transition from childhood to adulthood and enjoy the ride. Karo doesn't fall into either one and simply describes his endeavors during his undergraduate education. It's honest and humorous. The humor is derived from his life without the drama and trouble.
There is no plot and the chapters are short. There is no real logic in the book, either. But that's what makes it so much fun to read. Life does not have a beginning, middle or end and doesn't follow Freytags pyramid. Life is more of a series of short chapters. And the characters sort of flow in and out of the book,just as characters do in real life. I have met a lot of people while in college. Some of them i keep in contact with, although most provide me with a brief lesson or examination on human condition for a short period of time.
I'm not quite for sure if the book provides a profile for all college students. For one, I had a lot more to be concerned about. But the book isn't meant to be applied to every college student . It just describes karo's experienced. The book is fun to read and anyone i think will like it. whether you're looking foward to college, an old veteran, don't plan or going, or if you're in school, there's something in this book that everyone can relate to.
The humble beginnings of "Ruminations" has given it the title of being a cult classic. and that it is.

Rating:
Summary: Karo is a mind reader!
Review: Karo delicately uses his lyrical wit to write about what every college kid around the country experiences and can't quite put into words. From freshman dorms to hooking up to frat houses to that little dance that everyone does to avoid being seen naked in the communal freshman bathrooms, Karo points out and puts a funny spin on all of the absurd things about college. BEWARE: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IN PUBLIC BECAUSE YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF BELLY-LAUGHING AND KNEE-SLAPPING ON THE SUBWAY/BUS, ETC...

I recommend to all, pre-frosh, college students, and especially alumni who want to reminisce and laugh!