Books That Every 20 Year Old Should Read

20 year old is a milestone age, no longer can you be considered a kid by no measure. In this second decade of your life is where you’ll find a myriad of new challenges you probably never even imagined existed.

It is also crucial that you learn a couple of new things about life so you can face the hardships ahead, and what better to teach you than books? Here are the best books for a 20 year old.

#1 Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose your Mind and Create a New One

This may be one of my favorite books of all time. Dr. Joe Dispenza brings together the topics of quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, biology, and genetics to prove that what we do really becomes who we are. It provides several studies to back its findings, some of which I have attempted myself with surprising results! Could someone who has had lifelong depression actually change their brain chemistry to eliminate its symptoms and live a happier, fuller life? Yes. I recommend picking up this book up if you want to learn how to change your own brain to achieve the goals you want in life. As a 20 year old with all your life ahead of you, now is the time to learn these secrets to make the changes that will lead to your future success.

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#2 Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This book is a gamechanger. Napoleon gives us the simple steps we must take in order to reach success. This is a classic and is a highly discussed book at business events. It’s a good one to have in your back pocket as a 20 year old looking to grow and develop in the workplace. If you have a passion or burning desire to achieve something and want to know the way, this is the book for you. I have had several successful friends preach to me about this book and I didn’t understand why until I experienced it for myself. Now I’m passing it onto you so that you can let it work its magic in your life.

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#3 The Art of War by Sun Tzu

It’s a #1 Best Seller for a reason. The book summarizes ancient Chinese military strategies that as a pleasant surprise can actually be applied to every day scenarios! Reading this has changed the way I negotiate with others and in the workplace. It’s a great way to understand your competition whether it be in sports, on the job or elsewhere- and how to come out on top. I’ve spoken with several others about how this book has impacted their careers and have only received positive feedback about its influence. It is a great business management tool and a masterpiece of wisdom.

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#4 Break Up! With Your Rental by Courtney Poulos

Financial Independence Is Sexy and Real Estate is within reach, at all income levels and price points. Courtney Poulos, expert real estate broker, skillfully shows howl linking the buying of real estate to dating can liberate you from culturally entrenched beliefs. Women should invest in their financial future earlier on and this book can show you how to buy a home all by yourself, build equity and create financial independence!

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#5 How Not to Move Back in With Your Parents by Rob Carrick

With a rough financial climate and an increasing number of kids moving back in with their parents after college, this book is a must-read for any 20-year-old. It will teach them how to make smart financial decisions by reviewing topics such as saving for higher education, how to have good credit, paying off student loans, how to budget, insurance, and bigger life purchases. The book discusses how adolescents can think independently about these issues while also consulting with their parents for advice.

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#6 The Channeler: A Future Forewarned (The Continuum Series)

The Channeler is an urban fantasy/scifi fiction based on Caleb Swift, a twenty-one-year-old going through the struggles of college and finding himself, all the while suffering from visions of the future. While Caleb deals with the supernatural and being psychic, the reader can relate to his thoughts and feelings when it comes to entering the early stages of adult life. Caleb still worries about normal problems, like college classes and his grades.. He attends parties with his friends, and develops feelings for a girl. He lives through difficult, realistic ordeals that people of any age can understand, such as anxiety or the loss of a loved one. He keeps secrets and he is stressed over everything, all the time. But he also has friends who stick by his side through it all, even when life gets increasingly mysterious, stranger than they ever thought possible.

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#7 The Student Book by Chris Davies

It’s a tough world out there for graduates and students definitely know it. As a result, we’re seeing more and more that they’re preparing for post-graduation life early. The Student Book and The Graduate Book are invaluable resources, showing them exactly how to get ahead of the game whilst still at university, and what to do if they have left their career planning until the very last minute! From a real-life success story, it offers crucial advice in an engaging and light-hearted way. An essential wherever you are in your university career or graduate job search! Lucy Miller, Senior Editor The National Student We talk and interview with literally thousands of students every year and less than 5% of them really know what they need to do to land that vital first job. These books should be compulsory reading for every student and new graduate.

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#8 Anxiety, It’s Time to Go by Kevin Mullin

“Anxiety, It’s Time to Go is not just another self-help book. It is ‘the’ self-help book. It uses cutting-edge tried and tested methods that have been used time and time again to remove anxiety from people each day.
Anxiety, It’s Time to Go will explain everything in simple terms and then show you exactly how to combat the things that hurt and control us when it comes to anxiety. The easy-to-follow exercise and instructions have been made straightforward without all the psychobabble that most people use. We say it as it is and then show you exactly how to remove it. This might just be the best thing you have done when it comes to beating crippling anxiety once and for all.”

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#9 Have Courage: Live Your Passion by Phui Yee

Conceived as a way of counselling her daughter about the potential pitfalls of life, and taking examples drawn from her own experience, Phui Yee’s Have Courage: Live Your Passion combines an endearingly personal approach with a more rigorously structured method for creating a prosperous future. As such, it is for anyone questioning the path their life has taken, coping with past traumas or hoping to improve, both spiritually and materially, the way they live. Divided into ten chapters covering such subjects as Emotions, Money, Relationships and Health, this book offers wise, uplifting and above all practical advice. Phui Yee urges her readers to open their minds up to new concepts, before laying out, in clear, uncomplicated steps, the tools and techniques that she believes will be of use in their future lives. Ultimately, the aim is to be courageous in your beliefs, take responsibility for your actions, avoid muddled or hackneyed ways of thinking, and above all, never give up. ”A beautifully warm and inspiring work by a mother for her beloved daughter, that will not only help parents, but anyone in search of a better grasp on life and how to make the absolute most of it. Phui Yee not only grasps the greater truths that transcend time and space, but she knows how to leverage them with love and humility.” Mike Dooley, NY Times bestselling author of Infinite Possibilities.

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#10 Beauty Redefined by Seline Shenoy

In our beauty-obsessed culture, women have become accustomed to using the standards set by society and the media as a barometer to measure their own worth. They perpetually wonder where they stand on the attractiveness continuum and question everything about their outward appearances, from their skin colour to their waistline, to their fashion sense. They keep asking themselves, Am I good enough? Do I matter? Will others love and accept me for who I am? Beauty Redefined explores this critical issue by looking at beauty from a cultural, biological and historical perspective and provides solutions on what we can do on a collective and individual level to redefine what it means to be a beautiful woman. By reading this book, you’ll be convinced that your voice matters and you’ll feel empowered to make your own unique mark in the world, no matter what your size, shape, colour or ethnic background is. You’ll learn how to love yourself (warts and all!) and embrace every unique aspect of your being and use it to make the world a better place.

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#11 Searching for God in the Garbage by Bracha Goetz

Searching for God in the Garbage is an extremely candid coming-of-age memoir about a young adult’s struggles to enjoy life. Based on diary entries and journals of a Harvard grad searching to fill her inner emptiness, this book is filling many hungry souls with pleasure and meaning they are craving.

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#12 Habits for Success: Inspired Ideas to Help You Soar by G. Brian Benson

“Habits for Success is the perfect blueprint to help manifest positive changes with author Author G. Brian Benson’s unique look at growth, self-awareness and success. Learn to identify triggers and warning signals when you are out of balance and how to counter them while building confidence. A self-help book for an authentic life, the author weaves genuineness and vulnerability into his habits and ideas through personal stories.

They are beacons of light guiding the reader to their own personal version of happiness. Habits for Success is written with an incredible amount of depth. It is a wonderful mix of heart, informative ideas and entertaining journey.”

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#13 You Can Be a Winning Writer by Joan Gelfand

Joan Gelfand has been teaching the 4 C’s Approach to aspiring authors at book festivals and writer’s conferences for the past ten years. She has helped writers around the country realize their dreams of becoming successfully published. From writing the first draft to building a reputation, the 4 C’s discuss craft and commitment and give solid tips on how to build a literary community and a fan base. With a splash of humor, a dose of empathy and a volume of support, Joan’s book includes real life anecdotes from famous and not so famous ─ but successful ─ authors. You Can Be A Winning Writer is the go-to book for writers just starting out, writers stalled after their first or second book, and students. More than just a book about writing skill, You Can Be A Winning Writer includes post-publication strategies; the mistakes that even the most talented prize-winning authors have made; how, with the help of the 4 C’s, those same authors could have enjoyed greater success; and what it means to ‘fire on all burners” and work to develop each of the 4 C’s simultaneously.

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#14 You Can Do All Things by Kate Allan

When you have anxiety of depression, you can feel deeply alone. You can feel like you’re the only person on the planet who’s struggling with weird worries (which won’t go away), who can’t go grocery shopping without getting sweaty and panicked, who fears everything. When we feel this way, one of the greatest gifts we can receive is knowing that there’s someone out there walking a similar path, someone who understands the sorrow, the struggles, the symptoms, the hardships. Someone we can relate to, someone who shares their story, with vulnerability and without filters. With You Can Do All Things, Kate Allan has given us such a gift. In You Can Do All Things, Kate shares her struggles with anxiety and depression, which started when she was just a child. Through her honest words, uplifting illustrations, and actionable suggestions, Kate also encourages us to keep trying and to keep going.

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#15 You’re Going to Survive by Alexandra Franzen

No matter what kind of career you’ve chosen, you’re going to deal with discouragement, frustration, and situations that are, shall we say, “less than ideal.” It could be a job interview that goes nowhere. Or a book that gets rejected…48 times and counting. Or a vicious one-star review that rattles your self-esteem and makes you question your talent, your identity, everything. When that moment arrives, open this book. Inside, you’ll find inspiring true stories from all kinds of people―from authors, chefs, lawyers, website designers, and Broadway performers to personal stylists, jazz musicians, business consultants, non-profit fundraisers, and more―each describing one of the worst moments in their entire career, and how they got through it. Each chapter is filled with honesty, humor, and heartfelt encouragement to help you stay motivated, keep marching, and never give up― even when things feel incredibly tough. No matter what’s going on in your career right now, this isn’t the end of your story. You’re going to survive.

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#16 The Feminist Financial Handbook by Brynne Conroy

Sometimes the best way to stick it to the man is by doing well for yourself. There’s just one problem: it’s hard to do well for yourself when systemic oppression has placed innumerable hurdles between you and your aspirations. The Feminist Financial Handbook provides real motivation and resources for real women who may be struggling―not only those who have already accumulated wealth. In this book, author Brynne Conroy provides actionable tips for women in business to overcome these obstacles without dulling the visceral experience of the real-life struggles women face as they try to master their money management and their lives. Because women’s experiences don’t exist in a vacuum relegated to their gender, the handbook explores financial issues with anecdotes and perspectives of women of different races, sexual orientations and abilities. Whether you want to learn more about general financial planning principles, like saving or earning a higher income, or delve into issues that disproportionately affect women, like the wage gap or the long road to economic recovery after experiencing domestic violence, The Feminist Financial Handbook has stories and advice from women who have been there, worked through the struggle, and achieved personal success.

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#17 Force of Habit: Unleash Your Power By Developing Great Habits by Tamsin Astor

Feeling overwhelmed, stressed and that there isn’t enough time or energy to get everything done? Follow the steps in Force of Habit: Unleash Your Power Through Healthy Habits to create a life of joy and freedom by making connections in your daily habits, thereby reducing your decisions. Dr. Tamsin Astor blends her scientific background and awareness with her Yoga, Ayurveda, Meditation & Coaching training to give a unique approach to mastering your daily habits and gaining control over your day. Using tools from Health and Executive Coaching, Tamsin provides a plan to help you navigate from a multi-tasking, low energy, time-deprived existence to one of abundance, nourishment and fun! Tamsin lays out a simple plan to master your key habits in your two key relationships: with yourself and with others. You will learn about the “Shoulds” and why they don’t serve you; what stress is secretly doing to you; a new way of thinking about everyday habits and how you need to change them; and how to think about your relationship with yourself – are you falling into learned helplessness? This book gives you a step-by-step guide to organizing your life. By establishing healthy habits, you can unleash your true power.

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#18 Geek Sweets: An Adventurer’s Guide to the World of Baking Wizardry by Jennifer Burgesse

A baking cookbook for the truly geeky, filled with recipes for cookies, cupcakes and cakepops in increasing difficulties, as well as party ideas with a fantasy / adventure theme. Big, beautiful photographs, recipes, printable templates and step-by-step how-to’s for every adventurer – from the squire just starting their journey, to a well-worn dragon slayer looking for a challenge. Quest through a tome of countless fandoms, including Minecraft, Dungeons & Dragons, The Legend of Zelda, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and many more!

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#19 Bad at Adulting, Good at Feminism: Comics on Relationships, Life & Food by Produence Geerts

A top online illustrator, Prudence Planet Prudence Geerts presents her take on the struggles of adulting and finding your own voice. Bad at Adulting, Good at Feminism is the debut collection from Prudence Geerts. This book will make you laugh at the awkward moments we all go through as we learn to be functioning adults in society, in an effort to make the world a better place. We all think: “Am I the only one who acts like this? Am I the only one who goes through this moment in life?” Bad at Adulting, Good at Feminism shows you that you’re not. It laughs with you at the struggles we’re going through as we fight for equal pay, respect and realistic role models. Filled with love, laughter and food, Bad at Adulting, Good at Feminism helps us realize that we’re not so different after all.

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#20 Badass Affirmations: The Wit and Wisdom of Wild Women by Becca Anderson

If you affirm yourself every day, you can rule the world. More importantly, you can live a life filled with love, joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction thanks to your own positive self-regard. Badass Affirmations is the ultimate motivating, encouraging, and uplifting book to enjoy and share. Create your own ideal life and build your self-esteem with these positive daily affirmations. These very wise words have the power to touch our hearts, build confidence, make us laugh, and alleviate our stress―all while realizing the vast potential life has to offer. Becca Anderson, bestselling author of The Book of Awesome Women, serves up a memorable and inspirationalbanquet of positive self-affirmations, delicious bon mots, quips, and unforgettable quotes from movie stars, musicians, politicians, and women writers. Everyone from Malala to Madonna to Michelle Obama weighs in on the meaning of life with badass wit and timeless wisdom.

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#21 Guerrilla Kindness and Other Acts of Creative Resistance by Sayraphim Lothian

Craftivism is a non-violent form of activism that gives people a voice when they feel voiceless and power where they feel powerless. It is an international movement for our time, and noted Craftivism expert Sayraphim Lothian has put together the first-ever tutorial book on the subject. In Guerrilla Kindness, this master craftivist shows you how to make and use various crafts for political and protest purposes, including crafting methods like embroidery, cross stitch, knitting, stenciling, decoupage, stamping and much more. Craftivism, a growing worldwide movement, uses hand-crafted works to highlight political issues, creatively engage in activism, and encourage change in the world. Craftivists employ their works to open a space for people to be introduced to issues and to broaden the discussion surrounding them. Creative resistance has been with us for centuries around the globe, and craftivism and makers stating their mind through the medium of art is here to stay.

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