There are often books that we read that we wish we came across at an earlier age or at a specific point in our lives. The message you get from a book in your teens, however, will not be the same message you comprehend when you are older. In this article, we look at the 10 best books everyone should read before 30. I chose a mix of different genres for you to get a slice of different pieces of the “quarter-life” experience!
- Audible Audiobook
- Gretchen Rubin (Author) – Gretchen Rubin (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 12/29/2009 (Publication Date) – HarperAudio (Publisher)
This is definitely one of the books everyone should read before turning 30. The pursuit of happiness is often one we don’t think about because we’re too busy with everyday life. Which is exactly what happened to Gretchen Rubin. This book follows Rubin on an epic 12-month journey spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.
- Audible Audiobook
- Paulo Coelho (Author) – Jeremy Irons (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 12/26/2004 (Publication Date) – HarperAudio (Publisher)
This book has been around for ages and is often recommended to people looking for a good read with a timeless lesson. The book follows the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy from Spain. He follows his recurring dream about treasures lying in the pyramids of Egypt. The book details his journey following his dream and the lessons he learns along the way. It’s an age-old lesson of the power of self-discovery, determination and resilience.
- Audible Audiobook
- Sean Covey (Author) – Stephen R. Covey, Sean Covey (Narrators)
- English (Publication Language)
- 05/19/2020 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
Even though this book was published in 1989, it is also one of the best books for millennials to read right now. Covey describes how real effectiveness comes from clarity about your principles, values, and vision. After reading this book many people realize that there are so many simple things they could do in order to make a change and navigate their life towards their different ideas of success. You can actually check out our detailed summary here.
- Audible Audiobook
- John Townsend (Author) – Henry O. Arnold (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 02/13/2018 (Publication Date) – Zondervan (Publisher)
This book is one that I feel should be one of those books you should read before 30 for sure. We often don’t know the values of boundaries when we are young because we are still finding what those boundaries are to us. Cloud and Townsend set out to make this easier. The first half of the book explains what boundaries are and what they should look like before taking a look at examples and stories to see what boundaries look like when in effect. Great insight into friendships, relationships, work and family.
- Audible Audiobook
- Adam Grant (Author) – Fred Sanders, Susan Denaker (Narrators)
- English (Publication Language)
- 02/02/2016 (Publication Date) – Penguin Audio (Publisher)
Another millennial book to get the brain going, Originals takes a look at how to recognise a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, choose the right time to act and manage fear and doubt. Grant uses various case studies to demonstrate how this can be achieved and the different areas to focus on. It is an interesting read for those who want to learn how to use their creativity effectively.
- Audible Audiobook
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Author) – Stephanie Richardson (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 05/23/2020 (Publication Date) – Bore srl – Youcanprint.it (Publisher)
This may be a children’s book but it is one that you should definitely read again as an adult. It is beautifully written with gems of knowledge and hidden meanings that you only understand when you read it as an adult. The story follows a pilot who crashes in the Sahara desert. He then meets a prince from another land who tells him the story of his life whilst the pilot repairs his plane. It is a timeless tale because it touches upon childhood, imagination and the inevitability of growing up. It is more than a children’s book, it’s a lesson in life.
- Audible Audiobook
- Mark Manson (Author) – Roger Wayne (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 09/13/2016 (Publication Date) – HarperAudio (Publisher)
Don’t let the title fool you. At its core, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a book about finding what’s truly important to you and letting go of everything else. Manson doesn’t bother about elegant prose or getting the message across eloquently; his in your face approach, filled with case studies (and profanity) makes the book effective and easy to read. It’s definitely one to add to the list if you want to build self-awareness around the kind of lifestyle that will make you happy in the long term.
- Audible Audiobook
- Khaled Hosseini (Author) – Khaled Hosseini (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 08/01/2003 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
The Kite Runner tells the story of a young boy as he transitions into adulthood surrounded by turmoil in Afghanistan. The book is rich in culture, explaining how our past defines who we become as adults. It’s not the “happiest read” since it is quite a sad book but it has strong themes of family, friendship, betrayal, guilt and redemption which gives one perspective on life and the bigger picture.
- Audible Audiobook
- Marie Kondo (Author) – Emily Woo Zeller (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/06/2015 (Publication Date) – Tantor Audio (Publisher)
If you’ve watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix you know the change that Marie Kondo can make in your life. This book, which inspired the series, gives the reader a detailed account on how to achieve a decluttered lifestyle. This is definitely one of the best books for you to read as you get older and understand the need to reduce clutter in your life and “spark joy”.
- Audible Audiobook
- Ramit Sethi (Author) – Ramit Sethi (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 05/14/2019 (Publication Date) – Audible Studios (Publisher)
A reading list for 30-year-olds is not complete without a book about finances. At least I can say this one is not dry and boring. Sethi provides a six-week plan to get you on track for your financial future. With questions about your life and priorities, this book will get you thinking about your finances in a different way, or maybe even for the first time! We have a detailed summary of this book here!
In conclusion: Get your book on!
I know that there are a number of other books that everyone should read before 30 but these are, in my opinion, the 10 best books everyone should read before 30.
As we stumble through adulthood, it’s always nice to hear that we’re not alone in our struggles. These books provide perspective, insight, knowledge and humour from authors who decided to share their experiences with us.
