What are the best books to read in your twenties in the year 2022? Whether books for men in their 20s or females, here’s the ultimate must-read booklist for all twenty-year-olds!
If you’re looking for a graduation gift or Christmas gift for a 21-year-old. Or you just need some ideas for the best books to read in your 20s, well I’ve got THE list for you.
I’m not going to “officially” put my four books on the list, but I am going to thank every one of you as 101 Secrets For Your Twenties now has 945 1,186 Five-Star ratings on Amazon and has sold over 100,000 copies!
Then there’s my follow-up book 101 Questions You Need to Ask in Your Twenties and my new book that just released March 2, 2021 — 25Lies Twentysomethings Need to Stop Believing.
What are most influential books I read in my twenties? Also what are some of the newest books now in the year 2022 that twenty-year-olds should be reading?
Here are the 29 books that influenced me on this quest for finding the best questions and answers for our 20s.
(If you’re looking for 35 movies every twentysomething needs to watch in their 20s, check out this list)
1. Man’s Search for Meaning – Victor Frankl – Books to Read in Your 20s
Writing about his survival of concentration camps, Vicktor Frankl’s powerful book shows twentysomethings the power of hope and belief to get us through any situation. This book was an extremely powerful read in my twenties when going through the really hard seasons of my early twenties.
Dr. Frankl creates a powerful lesson in what it looks like and what it means to find purpose and meaning, even in our greatest pain. When we can understand the importance of what we’re going through in the bigger picture of our life, we can better sustain ourselves and thrive in those hard crisis seasons of our twenties and beyond. (Link to Man’s Search for Meaning)
2. Atomic Habits – James Clear
This book is the number one seller on Amazon right now in 2022, so needless to say, people have been resonating with it. If you’re looking to make big changes in your life through habit building practices, this books is for you. (Link to Atomic Habits)
3. Let Your Life Speak – Parker Palmer
If your grandpa, who just happened to be an incredibly wise, well-spoken educator who is 100% authentic and honest, just took a day and talked you through how to truly find what you love by looking at your life, this would be that book. (Link to Let Your Life Speak)
4. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho – Books to Read in Your 20s
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
This is one of those classic fables that captures you with the story and then peppers you with life wisdom on what it means to pursue a dream and find where your treasure is. (Link to The Alchemist)
5. Atlas of the Heart – Brene Brown
Brene Brown churns out best-selling books like it’s her job. Well, I guess it is her job, and she is doing it really well! In her latest book, Dr. Brown helps readers better understand their emotions and feelings to help make more meaningful connections with yourself and others. (Link to Atlas of the Heart)
6. Love Does – Bob Goff
Bob Goff is absolutely one of my favorite people to hear speak in person and he is able to capture that same joy, excitement, and love for life and people in this incredible book. Love Does is incredibly life-giving, joy-filled, while also challenging us to reexamine how we love ourselves and love others. I love what Bob Goff is about and this book will transform your heart.
7. Transitions – William Bridges – Books to Read in Your 20s
Life after college is one of the most significant transitions we will ever go through. William Bridges provides a stellar framework for how to handle transitions and not freak out! (well at least not too much). (Link to Transitions)
8. Amusing Ourselves to Death – Neil Postman
We are obese on information and entertainment – useless facts that are high in fat and sugar, and that require us to do absolutely nothing. This is an incredibly timely and needed book for plugged-in twentysomethings. And it was written in the 1980’s. (Link to Amusing Ourselves to Death)
Read my full review of Amusing Ourselves to Death.
9. Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer
Into the Wild is a powerful and provocative warning that we need to know, and be known. So much so, that in 101 Secrets For Your Twenties it became Secret #14 — “Don’t go Into the Wild all by yourself.” (Link to Into the Wild)
To find important life answers in your 20s, you need to start with good questions.
Check out 101 Questions You Need to Ask in Your Twenties.
10. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years – Donald Miller
Encouraging book for twentysomethings looking to take an active role in their own life story. (Link to A Million Miles)
11. The World is Flat – Thomas Friedman – Books to Read in Your 20s
“On such a flat earth, the most important attribute you can have is creative imagination.” – Thomas Friedman.
In the infancy stages of All Groan Up, I did a video review of the World is Flat – full of stop-motion, phrases like “Wii me please“, and the like. If you want to have a 300 page book given to you in three minutes, check it out. (Link to The World is Flat)
12. How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
It released way back in 1936 and continues to stay a bestseller. There’s a reason for that. It’s one of those classics that stays current. (Link to How to Win Friends)
13. Quiet: The Power of Introverts – Susan Cain – Books to Read in Your 20s
Recommended numerous times in the comments below, it was time this book officially made the list. If you’re an introvert, this book will quickly become your favorite. (Link to Quiet)
14. Wait, How Do I Write This Email? – Danny Rubin
What Danny Rubin has created should be THE required career manual for every college graduate, young professional, savvy professional and basically anyone who communicates. Seriously, it’s jammed-packed with career wisdom and how-to’s. (Link to Wait, How Do I Write This Email?)
15. Defining Decade – Meg Jay – Books to Read in Your 20s
The basic premise – your twenties are not a throw-a-way decade. When her Ted talk came out, I had email after email telling me I needed to check it out. (Link to Defining Decade)
16. Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom
This book is a beautifully written, powerful reminder on how to live the beginning of our story from someone who has lived well until the very end. I cherished every second of this book like I cherished every second with my own grandfather. Such an important read. (Link to Tuesdays With Morrie)
17. The Hiding Place – Corrie Tenboom – Books to Read in Your 20s
If life feels difficult right now and you’re struggling to find hope and meaning, please read this book. This one rocked my perspective on the power of being thankful. A true story of two sisters harboring Jewish refugees and struggling to survive Holocaust camp, this book will literally change your life.
I write more about the powerful lessons of The Hiding Place in my new book 25 Lies Twentysomethings Need to Stop Believing, under the lie “Nothing good can come out of this.” The powerful lesson of the Ten Boom sisters shows us that our troubles today might actually be saving our lives later. That what we are most complaining about in our twenties, might actually be the exact thing that becomes our life purpose. Especially as we have gone through, and continue to go through all that is COVID, this is an important reminder to us all.
As Corrrie Ten Boom wrote, “Every experience God gives us…is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.”(Link to The Hiding Place)
18. Pivot – Jenny Blake
For any mid-twentysomething looking to make a career change, you have to read this book. For any entrepreneur or future solopreneur, you must read this book. An encouraging, insightful read for anyone looking to take their side-hustle to the next level. (Link to Pivot)
19. Blue Ocean Strategy – W. Chan Kim – Books to Read in Your 20s
For anyone who has a deep yearning to create, innovate, and find a way to do your own thing, this business book really blew my mind years ago. The authors talk through strategies, business concepts, and case studies on how you make competition obsolete and create opportunities where none seem to exist. (Link to Blue Ocean Strategy)
20. No Man is an Island – Thomas Merton
Written by a Catholic monk, this book is packed with so much wisdom on spirituality and living life well, that you could sit with this book for a year and just scratch the surface. (Link to No Man is an Island).
21. Linchpin – Seth Godin – Books to Read in Your 20s
Love me some Seth Godin. Really this whole list could just be books from him. Linchpin might be the most encouraging, challenging, and thought-provoking kick-in-the-pants you’ll ever read. Be challenged to take chances, fail, and become indispensable. (Link to Linchpin)
22. Start with Why – Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek blew up with this Tedx Talk and re-enforces in this book the power of starting with your “Why?” A great book for anyone looking to uncover their Signature Sauce. (Link to Start with Why)
23. The Book of Awesome – Neil Pasricha – Books to Read in Your 20s
One. This book is hilarious and insightful.
Two. There was a lot of heartbreak that lead to so much awesome. As author Neil Pasricha described on Huffington Post:
“My best friend took his own life and my wife and I went separate ways. We sold our house, I moved to a tiny apartment, and I tried to get things back on track by talking about one simple, universal little joy every single day — like snow days, bakery air, or watching The Price Is Right when you’re at home sick.”
When life is tough you just have to laugh at the small sweet goodness that weaves through the details. (Link to The Book of Awesome)
24. Capitol Gaines – Chip Gaines
I’m a big Chip Gaines and Fixer Upper fan, so I loved reading the truth and advice from this down-to-earth, wise, relatable and hilarious mentor. (Link to Capitol Gaines)
Find help for your 20s with Paul Angone’s best-selling book 101 Secrets For Your Twenties.
“Hilarious, moving, and life changing…” – Amazon Review
“Really encouraged me during my own quarter life crisis through entertaining narration and crazy honest scenarios.” – Amazon Review
25. The War of Art – Steven Pressfied – Books to Read in Your 20s
For any twentysomething trying to create something worth creating, this is your battle guide. (Link to The War of Art)
26. Mindset – Carol Dweck
The difference between a “growth mindset” and a “fixed mindset” might be the biggest difference you can make in your twenties.
(Link to Mindset)
27. Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale – Frederick Buechner
As I struggled with my own faith in my 20s this book was paramount in helping me wrestle with the questions in an authentic and honest way. (Link to Telling the Truth)
28. The Boys in the Boat – Daniel James Brown – Books to Read in Your 20s
I’d eat inspiring, historical books for breakfast if my budget and body would allow it.
Boys in the Boat is one my newest favorites because it’s packed with so much life-wisdom, specifically for emerging adults struggling to find their place.
Through the true story of Joe Rantz struggling to survive during the Great Depression era and persevering through great odds to make the University of Washington crew team, his story of triumph as his team embarked on a miraculous journey to the Olympics, is definitely a book worth reading. (Link to The Boys in the Boat)
29. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! – Dr. Seuss – Books to Read in Your 20s
Because you’re never too old for Dr. Seuss. (Link to Oh, the Place You’ll Go!)
I’d love to hear from you within the comments on this article: Do you have any favorite books for 20somethings in the list above? Did I miss some books every 20 year old should read?
If you buy any of these amazing books through the links above, you’re also helping support the work here at All Groan Up as well! Double-win!
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