17 Excellent And Life Changing Books For Twenty-Somethings (2024)

The Defining Decade is THE definitive book for twenty-somethings today. The author, clinical psychologist Meg Jay, is an expert on this demographic. Contemporary culture sees the twenties as throwaway years where you're meant to be "exploring" and having vaguely defined "experiences." However, the things we do or don't do have consequences for the rest of our life. Jay offers a concrete guide to navigating this uncertain landscape, taking control and taking concrete action with what you know and have right now. I've recommended this book to all my twenty-something friends.

Price: ₹458

Even if you had a "good enough" childhood, you've probably dealt with serious troubles and traumas by the time you enter adulthood — parental divorce or separation, alcoholism, poverty, mental health issues, abuse, bullying, etc. Narrated through intimate case studies of real people, this book helps us realise the impact these traumas have on us, how we coped with what we didn't understand, and how we can overcome today.

Price: ₹219

Although primarily aimed at cis-hetero women, people of all genders and sexual orientations who want a committed, long-term partnership someday would benefit from reading Marry Him. Don't let the funny and provocative title fool you. If you've based relationships on criteria that may not matter long-term, lost perspective or swiped left on the right partner for all the wrong reasons, you have to read this book. Psychologist Lori Gottleib is full of major truth bombs on getting out of your own way when it comes to finding true love and your own, authentic happily ever after.

Price: ₹800

"What important truth do very few people agree with you on?" This is the question at the heart of Zero To One, a short, powerful book about deliberate creation, believing in your own vision no matter how contrarian, and making something out of nothing. Although it's primarily about building startups, the lessons are quite universal. (PS - If you've never heard of Peter Thiel, he's a leading entrepreneur and investor who co-founded PayPal, invested early in Facebook, and more.)

Price: ₹312

“You are growing into consciousness, and my wish for you is that you feel no need to constrict yourself to make other people comfortable."

How do you live in a world that does not treat you as an equal human based on your identity? This is the question at the heart of Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between The World And Me. Written as a letter from a father to his son, it explores the specific realities of being black in the United States, but also contains insights on being "a conscious citizen of this terrible and beautiful world" that would universally resonate with anyone who lives in the world today.

Price: ₹467

Unlike the glamorous, consumerist image of the millionaire depicted in media, the majority of high net worth individuals tend to be self-made, have regular jobs, and live modest lives. This practical and engaging book explores how these people accumulate and grow their wealth, and offers key lessons in personal finance.

Price: ₹849

If you know what you want, but struggle to get there, Goals! is #goals when it comes to goal-setting and goal-achieving. It simplifies the process down to a system that can be used by anyone to achieve any goal, no matter how small or big.

Price: ₹218

Eating is something we do everyday, and good nutrition can help us reverse disease, defy our genes and get healthy. This book offers scientifically-proven nutrition strategies to prevent the most common diseases (like heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes) and helps you make simple dietary shifts towards exponentially better health.

Price: ₹284

First published in 1937, this bestselling book has principles that hold true to this day. For decades, Napolean Hill interviewed some of the wealthiest, most successful people about how they achieved their wealth and well-being. Based on this, he created actionable principles for self-improvement and success.

Price: ₹99

This bestselling book (now a popular Netflix show) by Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo is about picturing your ideal, uniquely personal lifestyle and then discarding everything that doesn't suit it. Although it's primarily about decluttering, keeping only that which "sparks joy" in your space using the KonMari method tends to have dramatic consequences for the rest of your life too. Taking control of their space has helped Marie Kondo's clients become more themselves in other ways like getting fit, ending toxic relationships, launching their own businesses, and more.

Price: ₹966

This is a hilarious how-to-be-an-adult guide for people who still feel, well, not-grown-up-enough. From setting up a comfortable home to breaking up with frenemies to avoiding common, stupid mistakes, this book covers it all in a relatable tone.

Price: ₹806

Most people operate with only three degrees of action — no action, retreat, or normal action. But to attain big goals quickly you need to take the fourth degree of action — "massive action" also known as the 10x rule. Narrated in a very no-bullsh*t tone, The 10x Rule will help you break out of apathy, take risks, gain momentum, and crush your goals.

Price: ₹1,306

One third to half of people are introverts — they prefer less stimulating environments, enjoy quiet concentration, listen more than they talk, and think before they speak. However, culture today idealises and rewards extroverts, which has led to many introverts giving into the culture of personality and masking as extroverts to fit in. They lose touch with who they really are, along with their unique powers, like focus, imagination, and depth. Cain argues that big ideas and great leadership can come from introverts too, and advocates for individual awareness of the strengths of introversion as well as societal understanding and inclusion of people of various temperaments. If you've been described as sensitive, serious, shy or quiet, this book is a must-read.

Price: ₹516

This amoral best-selling book for those who "want power, watch power, or want to arm themselves against power" educates you on the nature of power through the successful and not-so-successful strategies of historical figures of the past. Perfect for twenty-somethings or anyone who feels they need to break out of their naïveté.

Price: ₹449

Lean In is Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's bestseller about work-life balance and the gender leadership gap. It examines structural issues that pressurise women into leaving successful careers to be homemakers, "imposter syndrome" and how female ambition is perceived differently (ambitious women are less liked; women face more scrutiny and are promoted basis their proven track record, while men are promoted based on their "potential"). Backed with statistics as well as personal anecdotes, Lean In also offers practical advice for individuals, organisations, and society to create better opportunities for women to thrive in the workplace.

Price: ₹274

There's little research or funding devoted to women's health, so it's unsurprising that most women don't even know their own biology. WomanCode fills this gap, helping educate and empower you about your hormones, menstrual cycle, fertility, and health. You learn to manage your period and any period-related issues (including PCOS, endometriosis and more), hormones and endocrine function. Vitti provides guidance on minimising environmental toxins and improving your diet to be in harmony with your feminine energy and your body's natural rhythm. (Fun fact, actress Frieda Pinto counts this book as a must-read. In an interview with New York magazine, she said: "It’s no longer, 'Oh, I’m PMSing.' I don’t even use that term anymore. I just say, 'I’m in the luteal phase.'")

Price: ₹938

In this book, psychiatrist Viktor E Frankl shares his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. He shares his idea of "meaning", purpose (every patient has unique, deeply personal reasons to be alive that are connected to their life purpose), having a positive outlook on life, and his theory and method of psychoanalysis. Although written in 1946, it contains lessons on grit, survival, and purpose that hold true across place and time.

Price: ₹224