10 books every 20-something girl should read
Navigating your 20’s is no easy feat. We’re expected to launch a career, snag the man of our dreams and set off on a globe-trotting adventure on a shoestring budget – but how, when, why?!
Fear not – there are tons of wise words to guide you through – so turn off the telly and get reading!
1. Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill
Gaitskill’s now-legendary début collection, full of longing, weird sex, dislocation and disillusionment, reminds us that no matter how damaged we may find ourselves, we are not alone.
2. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Woolf is a universally beloved female author and this is her beautiful masterpiece. The book is layered with cool symbolism so you’ll get more out of it, every time you pick it up.
3. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
Facebook COO and female billionaire Sheryl Sandberg studies what holds women back from reaching the top and puts forward some compelling solutions for women to succeed at work.
4. Pitch Perfect: How to Say It Right the First Time, Every Time by Bill McGowan
Media guru and Emmy Award-winning writer Bill McGowan gives you the knowledge you need to get your message across and avoid falling into communication traps. It’s no wonder why this guru coaches people from Eli Manning to Kelly Clarkson!
5. White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Smith’s witty, epic début takes on race, gender, class, immigration, middle age, suicide, faith and everything in between. It’s also super fun!
6. The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun
You cannot read this book and look at your life the same way. The author captures the restless voice within every 20-something and explains how to craft your life into a story worth telling. Gripping!
7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen Covey
An inspiring book praised by presidents and CEOs everywhere, Stephen Covey’s bestseller will help you strike that tricky work/life balance.
8. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Telling the story of a woman in love with a man torn between her and his mistress, the novel traces the events and decisions that the characters build their lives around.
9. How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman
For when you’ve exhausted every take-out menu imaginable, there’s this one-stop resource for simple cooking with great ingredients and basic tools. With over 900 pages of easy-to-follow recipes, here’s to hoping that you’ll be a whizz kid in the kitchen in no time!
10. Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal
This book was written for the new generation of people who don’t want to follow the traditional career paths. Agrawal wrote this book to remind you that you have a backbone and that it’s cool to get excited, mess up and keep trying when the odds are stacked against you.
