CSUN University Library

School’s Out for Summer Reading

The concept of “summer reading” is a distinction between school year reading and summer leisure reading that has endured for generations, shaping contemporary summer reading programs and recommended books that emphasize choice, relaxation, and the joy of reading for its own sake. Summer reading has long been associated with leisure reading rather than academic study. The tradition of reading for pleasure rather than assigned reading began in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as formal education became more structured and seasonal.

During the summer months, when schools closed and families often spent more time outdoors or traveling, reading was promoted as a pleasurable pastime that could offer entertainment, personal enrichment, and support intellectual curiosity. Public libraries, publishers, and educators encouraged readers, to explore books of their own choosing rather than assigned texts, reinforcing the concept that summer reading should be driven by curiosity and enjoyment.

Recommended reading picks: https://library.csun.edu/about/leisure-reading-room/book-drop/schools-out-summer-reading

By Librarian Lynn Lampert, Coordinator of Instruction & Information Literacy

School’s Out for Summer Reading | CSUN University Library Cue the iconic chorus from Alice Cooper’s 1972 hit School’s Out: “School’s out for summer!” With classes on break (or perhaps a lighter summer course load) hopefully you have more time to unwind, making now the perfect opportunity to read for the sheer pleasure of it. Choose a book not bec...