Well... This was possibly one of the best books I have ever read. You know that I am stingy with my 5-star book ratings but this one was sorely deserved. The book is non-fiction, following the stories of several high schoolers and providing a commentary on the US education system and the beginning of the Age of the Comparison. It was written around 2008 and so the statistics are obviously outdated but I think one of the most shocking things is that, despite Robbins's clear and factual critique, the same trend in student anxiety continues. This in itself is a cause for concern. Why are we not doing more to investigate and improve student well-being and the corruptness of much of the system?

Not only is this factually interesting, however, but also personally enlightening. I would identify as an overachiever myself (having been called this by multiple people) and I did find myself relating intensely to many of the characters interviewed by Robbins. This was especially powerful, I think, because she wrote it as a story, meaning that there was substance, suspense and progression in a way which is rarely seen in pieces similar to this. If you are frequently anxious about your grades at school, I would definitely recommend this book to you. If you feel as though you always have to be the best, you should read this.

This has made it into my Top Five.