Dr. Paul Penn
Award winning lecturer, author of: 'The Psychology of Effective Studying: How to Succeed in Your Degree' and host of 'Presenting Psychology'
Do you want to get the best out of your degree?
The Psychology of Effective Studying: How to Succeed In Your Degree shows you how. Based on psychological research and written in an accessible, engaging style by an award winning lecturer, this practical guide helps you study more effectively and excel in your degree-level studies.
Learn how to: conquer procrastination; read and make sense of academic sources; take better notes; prepare stronger assignments; give compelling presentations; and revise with confidence
The 2nd edition is thoroughly updated with new material on using AI constructively and ethically, critically evaluating sources, and managing exam stress.
'One of psychology’s unsung gifts to the world is evidence-based advice on how to understand and remember material. Dr. Penn’s book is an excellent invitation to these fascinating and enormously practical discoveries—including guidance on how they can be applied to studying in the age of AI.’
Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and the author of 'When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows:…Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life'.
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About me:
I have spent my working life helping people to study and communicate more effectively. I hold a BSc (Hons) and a Ph.D. in Psychology in addition to a PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS), member of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology, Chartered Scientist (CSci) and a fellow (fHEA) of Advance HE (formerly known as the Higher Education Academy).
I maintain an active interest in both research on learning and teaching and the communication of psychology to the general public. In June (2021) I won the Higher Education Psychology Teacher of the Year Award in recognition of my efforts to improve the communication of advice from psychology on effective studying to students in higher education and those who support them. If you are interested in learning more about my work, you can follow me on Twitter and also visit and subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
‘Imagine the ideal academic advisor, who knows all of the tricks of the trade and is happy to take the time to guide you. Now make that advisor not only deep and wise, but also very funny. If such an advisor exists, it is probably Dr. Penn. This book is a marvelous tutorial on how to succeed as a student and scholar ... I recommend it with enormous enthusiasm.’
Professor Stephen M. Kosslyn, President and CEO of Foundry College and former founding dean and Chief Academic Officer of the Minerva Schools at the Keck Graduate Institute.
"This is a cracking book: it's an irreverent but thereby very helpful book for everyone studying within Higher Education, which by addressing readers directly and conversationally, while covering (and referencing) all the key concepts an undergraduate would need brings the subject to life. I will buy it for all the prospective undergraduates in my family."
Professor Sally Brown. Emerita professor, Leeds Beckett University and Independent consultant
