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10 books every Millennial should read

I remember the time I read a book about how ideas are made. I cannot remember the name of the book, but what it said really stuck with me. It stated that ideas are nothing but a combination of your experiences and knowledge, and in order to have new ideas you need to have more experiences. It suggested things like travelling, doing something unusual, or taking a different route home every once in a while. The overall point of the book was that the more you know about different things, the easier it is to improve them or integrate them in order to create something new. The book made an impression on me, and I have tried to follow its advice. I think it has made me more open to experiences and exploration of new things that I do not find that attractive at first, but end up being very useful to me in the end.

Books are an important medium for sharing knowledge, insights, imagination, and life stories. I have given some thought and did research online, as to what books I can suggest for Millennials to read. Here are the books that I think are interesting and might provide new knowledge and experiences, and therefore new ideas, just like the book about ideas did for me.

 

Into the Wild – John Krakauer

This is a real-life story about a young man, Chris, who went into the wilderness of Alaska by himself. Unfortunately, it is a sad story of a man seeking adventure that has a tragic ending. It will leave you wondering about the different ways people choose to live their lives and what it takes to be happy.

“Happiness is only real when shared” – excerpt from Chris’s final message

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Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes – William Bridges

Change is ever present in our lives. We either seek it out or life pushes us in that direction, but one thing is certain: changes are not always easy. You are bombarded by changes in your twenties! You deal with transitioning into student life and then into a working one, becoming more independent and then finding a partner with whom you will become more dependent, and on and on it goes. This book was first published 25 years ago, and it can help you better understand all the changes that you will deal with in life. This book will also offer you some insight into change in the workplace. Whether the change is good or unpleasant, you always need some time to get used to it, and his book gives insight into how to do that.

“You can’t follow the thread of your life very far before you find ‘the past’ changing. Things that you haven’t remembered in years reappear, and things that you’ve always thought were so turn out to be not so at all. If the past isn’t the way you thought it was, then the present isn’t, either. Letting go of that present may make it easier to conceive of a new future.”Transitions: Making sense of Life’s Changes

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The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

This book will definitely leave you inspired to pursue what you want in life. It is a story about recognizing opportunities, pursuing what you believe in, and much more. It is full of lessons and thoughts on life that will move you. When I was reading it long time ago, I remember taking a pen and writing down the many lessons I found in the book just so I could remind myself from time-to-time!

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”The Alchemist

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How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

This is a book that will give you concrete advice and empower you to navigate the complexities of the modern age and help you realize your potential. This book was first published in 1936 and has sold more than 15 million copies! Discover why for yourself.

“Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn—and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” How to Win Friends and Influence People

 

Wait, How Do I Write This Email? – Danny Rubin

Danny Rubin is a communications expert who has developed a guide filled with templates for emails and documents that will help you with networking and job searches. If you are still a student and will soon be venturing into the world of networks and careers, this guide could be especially useful to you. If you ever wondered how to write an email to turn down a job offer or how to write private LinkedIn messages, this book is for you! It will also show you how to write your resume, cover letter, emails for contacting alumni, and much more.

 

Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want – Jenny Blake

Confused about what to expect after graduation? This book will give you examples, quotes, tips, exercises, and much more to keep you focused on the bigger picture and help you find confidence in dealing with almost any aspect of life after school, including work, money, friends and family, and health.

 

The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter -And How to Make the Most of Them Now – Meg Jay

Here is another book that will show you why your twenties matter! Meg Jay is a clinical psychologist that uses both professional experience of working with people in their twenties and research to demonstrate exactly why your twenties matter and how to make the most of this period of your life! She also tries to address misinformation about age that young people are exposed to. This book is provocative and it will provide another perspective on your twenties.

“For the most part, "naturals" are myths. People who are especially good at something may have some innate inclination, or some particular talent, but they have also spent about ten thousand hours practicing or doing that thing.” The Defining Decade

 

The Book of Awesome – Neil Pasricha

The Book of Awesome is exactly that: a book of funny observations about what makes life what it is. When everything starts to overwhelm you and the world makes no sense, this is a great book to remind you of all those small things that make our lives awesome.

“A long hug when you really need it. Sometimes we all get rattled. When bad news surprises you, painful memories flash back, or heavy moments turn your stomach to mush, it’s great to fall into a warm and comforting pair of big, wide open arms. Shaking with sobs, dripping with tears, you snort up your runny nose and smear snot across their shoulder as that hug relaxes you and comforts you and helps you get through everything, even for a minute, even for a moment. Maybe there are ‘It’s going to be okay’ whispers, some gentle back rubbing, or just the quiet silence of knowing that they’re not going to let go until you let go first. As their steady arms support you, and the pain washes over you, the hug gives you a warm glow in a shivery moment. So when you eventually pull back, smile that classic ‘I’m sorry and thank you’ smile, and swipe wet bangs off your forehead, you still might not feel great, but if you’re lucky you’ll feel a little more AWESOME!” The Book of Awesome

 

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles - Steven Pressfield

Creativity and generating ideas can sometimes feel like a great struggle. This book investigates what stands in our way of realizing creative opportunities and tapping into our creative potential in any situation, from creating a painting or novel to starting a business.

“Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”The War of Art

 

Brain Pickings

Okay, the last one is not a book. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the amount of amazing books I would like to read. A couple of years ago, I stumbled on a wonderful book alternative called the Brain Pickings blog. This blog collects lessons from books and many interesting stories and puts it in a different format. You can read advice from great writers about writing, love, life, and much more. It can be your window into many books without having to read them in their entirety!

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I hope you will enjoy reading these suggestions. Free tip: they are even better with some coffee and cookies!

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