Reading can help you feel less alone, more grounded and introduce you to new ways of thinking during these turbulent 20s. A book can hold decades of wisdom in just a few hundred pages. Through reading, you can arm yourself with the knowledge needed to thrive, without needed to go through the mistakes and life experience to gather it. These are the top books to read in your 20s to grow more capable and confident in your journey during this important decade.
101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna West
Reframing and contextualizing thoughts and beliefs you have, 101 Essays is powerful for someone in their 20s looking for a deeper self-awareness. It challenges beliefs you hold and invites you to think deep about what values you want to live by. 101 Essays is comprised of short, powerful essays so you’re not just reading through the same concept for 300 pages but rather delving into new topics during the whole book. The topics include emotional awareness, toxic past and how to heal and letting go of things in our 20s we hold onto so tightly like the ego and external validation. This book will influence your mind in profound ways which is why it’s a top recommendation here.
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
If you’re having a quarter-life crisis, read this book. The Defining Decade slashes the notion that the 20s are a throwaway and instead shows you how to make the most of this critical time period. Clinical psychologist Dr. Meg Jay makes a strong case for why these years matter more than you think and why putting off “real life” could cost you in the long run. From her experiences talking with her 20-something clients in her clinic, she gives powerful advice on career, love and personal growth with the regrets and thought processes of her clients. It’s like getting a glimpse into your alternate reality shaped by the decisions you make right now in your 20s. A must read if you feel like you’re drifting in your 20s and craving more direction.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
This book developed a bit of a cult following when it was released, but I can say it definitely lives up to the hype. Your 20s are when you’re laying the foundation for the life you want and the habits you start in this decade compound tremendously. James Clear shares how small, incremental changes snowball over time.
He also explains how building systems in your life is key for sticking to habits. For example, if you want to start working out every morning, make it easy on yourself. Lay out your workout clothes the night before so you’re not relying on willpower first thing in the morning. This is called setting up a system, reducing the friction that gets in the way of building the habit. This book is an essential read to help you develop those foundational habits in your 20s by giving you a set of rules to break your bad habits and create good ones instead. Habits that will carry you for the rest of your life.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Money is one of the most powerful things you can understand in your 20s and Ramit Sethi makes this overwhelming topic feel approachable. Sethi rejects the notion to cut out lattes and live small to save money and instead shares how to build a financial life system that you actually control.He teaches you to think about money as a tool that serves you and gives actionable steps on how to invest, save and spend, without being preoccupied with where every dollar is going. Money is such an important topic to understand in your 20s since decade is a valuable time to build your financial future, and Ramit Sethi gives actionable, systematic advice to help you flourish in this facet.
The book is aimed at young people who want to build wealth but don’t want to be obsessed with frugality. It’s highly actionable as the book includes a 6 week action plan to take control of your money. A must-read to get your financial house in order in your 20s.
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
So Good They Can’t Ignore You tackles something most 20-somethings are just beginning to figure out, their career. It’s daunting picking a career this early in life, but Cal Newport shares his advice on what will make a career truly rewarding. He spins conventional wisdom on its head. Newport contends that following your passion for a career is misleading and instead says that passion comes only after you get good at something. So instead, chase your natural strengths and build a career around them. This is a must for 20 somethings who are struggling to figure out what career they want by providing a logical framework you can follow.
