"What is that one book that everyone MUST read in their 20s?"
The discussion was amazing!
People came forward with books that changed their life.
They were amazing recommendations!
Too good to let it waste.
So I thought of curating the 20 best books from there.
Some of them I swear by.
They helped me at a time when nothing else could.
The others I found too irresistible not to add.
These are going to my reading list.
So here are 20 books you must read in your 20s:
1. Not Nice by Dr. Aziz Gazipura
This book was a wake-up call for me.
It was painful. But it was empowering.
In this book, Dr. Aziz Gazipura uses stories, humor, and vulnerability and cuts through your "nice" conditioning.
2. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Chris Voss is an FBI hostage negotiator.
In this book, he offers negotiating approach that's effective in any situation.
This book taught me the mental frameworks that help me steer conversations while staying assertive.
3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The timeless book with timeless advice.
With over 30 million copies sold worldwide, it's one of the best-selling books of all time.
4. Man's search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist who survived Auschwitz.
There, in history's darkest hour he came to believe that man's deepest desire is to search for meaning and purpose.
This book offers a way to find meaning in suffering.
5. Influence by Robert Cialdini
This book is the result of thirty-five-year-long extensive research by Dr. Robert B. Cialdini.
It defines six universal principles of becoming a skilled persuader
It also teaches you how to protect yourself from other skilled persuaders.
6. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
In a sea of feel-good vibes, Manson's book sticks out like a sore thumb.
It cuts through the crap and teaches you how to stop trying to be “positive” all the time.
7. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Rich Dad Poor Dad has changed the way I thought about money.
Kiyosaki has earned a reputation for irreverence and courage.
His perspective contradicts conventional wisdom.
This book teaches you how to make money work for you.
8. Atomic Habits by James Clear
In this book, Clear reveals how tiny changes will help you get 1% better every day.
It's a simple system that can transform your life.
The concepts are easy to grasp but hard to execute.
This book has changed me in more ways than I can count.
9. The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene
In this book, Greene draws from famous personalities all over the world and teaches us
- how to detach ourselves from our own emotions
- how to develop the empathy
- how to look behind people's masks
It's a masterpiece.
10. Bhagavad Gita by Vedvyas (Commentary by Swami Chinmayananda)
The Bhagavad Gita is the compilation of Arjuna's questions and moral dilemma and Lord Krishna's answers and insights to them.
The timeless classic remains the founding father of all self-development books.
11. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
In his book, Malcolm Gladwell looks at everyone from rock stars to professional athletes, software billionaires to scientific geniuses.
He shows that the story of success is far more fascinating than we imagine.
12. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
In this book, acclaimed clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson provides twelve profound and practical principles for how to live a meaningful life.
13. The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason
The Richest Man in Babylon is a book on thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth.
It's hailed as one of the greatest books on personal wealth.
It offers an understanding and a solution to your personal financial problem
14. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
Allen’s book deals with the power of thought and its effect on human life.
It establishes the notion of “mind as the master”.
Your thoughts have the power to remake your life.
It's a “pocket companion for thoughtful people”.
15. Mindset by Carol Dweck.
Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck argues that it's not just your abilities and talent that bring us success.
It's whether you approach them with a fixed or growth mindset.
16. Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
This modern epic became an instant bestseller upon publication in 1974.
It starts with a summer motorcycle trip by a father and his son.
But then it evolves into a personal odyssey to the questions of how to live.
17. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon hill
Napoleon Hill spent "a fortune and the better part of a lifetime of effort" to produce the "Law of Success" philosophy that forms the basis of his books.
Think and Grow Rich is called the "Granddaddy of All Motivational Literature."
18. Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
This book denounces violent means of communication.
Instead, it champions nonviolent communication.
It's an integration of:
- Consciousness
- Language
- Communication
- Influence
It's a guide to connect empathically.
19. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes is the creator and producer of works like Grey's Anatomy and, How to Get Away With Murder.
But she is also an introvert who has panic attacks before media interviews.
In this book, she shares how saying "Yes" changed her life.
20. Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins
David Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight man into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and the world's top endurance athlete.
In this book, he shares a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, and reach their full potential.