What To Read

Good-bye quad. Hello real world! With the school year winding down, millions of graduates are getting their caps and gowns ready to walk the stage and accept their diplomas. But after the pomp and circumstance wears off, they will face the brave new world of adulting. Here are the books that we recommend giving to a new college grad to navigate this exciting, but often uncertain period—plus, a few picks for the high school grad, too. Whether your graduate is launching his or her career, looking to change the world, feeling lost or just needs help adulting, we’ve got you covered.

For every graduate

1. Congratulations, By the Way: Some Thoughts on Kindness by George Saunders

Based on a commencement address Saunders delivered at Syracuse University, the book is a meditation on the importance of kindness. Saunders shares personal stories and insights that reflect kindness not only as a virtue in itself but also a key to success and happiness. With his signature blend of humor, empathy, and wisdom, Saunders offers a timely reminder for graduates to prioritize kindness and compassion in a world that often prioritizes achievement and "success" above all else.

For the graduate who needs a little structure to their lifestyle

2. The Algebra of Happiness and The Algebra of Wealth by Scott Galloway

NYU marketing professor, author, and podcast host extraordinaire, Scott Galloway may be known for his brash humor, earning the nickname "the Howard Stern of business." But he's also amassed a growing following of fans who look to him for advice on how to make values-driven career decisions. In both his 2019 book, The Algebra of Happiness, and his brand new book, The Algebra of Wealth, Galloway employs his typical no-nonsense approach to practically explain the steps readers can take to cultivate their best lives, both financially and interpersonally.

For the graduate who is still working on developing a way with words

3. Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg

It shouldn't come as a surprise to recent grads to hear that communication is key to career success. Supercommunicators reveals the hidden layers lurking beneath every conversation - practical, emotional, and social. From pitching ideas to managers to negotiating salaries to resolving conflicts with colleagues, Supercommunicators equips you with the practical tips and skills to navigate conversations with anyone more effectively. Through gripping stories and deep research, you'll learn why some excel at making themselves heard while others struggle.

For the graduate who can't stop grinding

4. Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

For graduates entering the work force, one word they are sure to become rapidly familiar with is "productivity" – a word which is frequently used as a way to basically measure how much stuff you get done. But bestselling author, Cal Newport believes that our current understanding of productivity is misguided and counterproductive. Newport looks to history's most creative minds like Galileo, Austen and O'Keefe, as inspiration for cultivating truly lasting accomplishments through a slower, more thoughtful form of productivity, where the quality of the work, not the quantity, is put into focus.

For the graduate more concerned about the NBA Finals than their final GPA

5. There’s Always this Year by Hanif Abdurraqib

Growing up in 90s Columbus, Ohio, Hanif Abdurraqib witnessed the golden age of basketball first hand, when Michael Jordan was dominating the cultural landscape, and future stars, like LeBron James, were being forged in his image of excellence and perfection. It's through this lens that Abdurraqib explores how we view success, the role models we choose, and the culture that shapes us.

For the graduate who is an aspiring writer

6. On Writing by Stephen King

Stephen King is a tireless booster of other writers, including debut authors. His now-classic book includes tips for aspiring writers and insights into his artistic process, while also serving as a quasi-memoir. The book is divided into two parts: the first part covers his childhood, his struggles with addiction and his path to becoming a successful writer. The second part is a guide to the craft, in which King offers advice on everything from developing characters to editing drafts.

Perhaps the best lesson of On Writing for aspiring writers is his encouragement to approach work with discipline and humility. He argues that unless you are one of a very few genuine geniuses, there are no shortcuts to success, in writing or otherwise. Every young writer is well-served to internalize that an extreme and persistent dedication to the craft is a prerequisite for success.

For the graduate who wants to see the world before starting a career

7. The Half Known Life by Pico Iyer

Exploring identity, belonging, and the endless human quest for "paradise," a celebrated travel writer and novelist draws on his own far-flung soul-searching to offer insights into the unsettling mysteries of existence. “Iyer’s meditation on paradise... is much more than a diary of his country-spanning travels. It’s a work of philosophy, probing the scientific and the spiritual to understand why the most beautiful places often become such sources of pain, and how paradise might be re-discovered," wrote Elle staff writer Lauren Puckett-Pope.

Iyer combines intimate introspection and philosophical contemplation with sharp observations of the world around him. He relays his own challenges of reconciling multiple cultural identities and reflects on the insights he’s gained over years of seeing many different corners of the world. This book offers a unique take on the travelogue, which is sure to strike a chord with recent grads searching for purpose through travel and intercultural encounters. 

For the graduate coming out of a messy relationship 

8. Normal People by Sally Rooney

The extraordinarily popular Irish author’s second novel follows Marianne and Connell, two Irish students from different class backgrounds who first meet in high school, as their relationship shifts between lovers, friends, and something in-between over several years. The book follows the pair as they struggle to reconcile their own desires and feelings with the expectations of their families and peers. As they move on to college and beyond, their connection remains fraught and intense, and complicated by their personal traumas and poor communication.

What makes Rooney’s novels so compelling is her ability to authentically capture the nuance and complexity of relationships. Her work has been profoundly relatable to so many young readers, and young men in particular may be surprised by how much they relate to the characters and their predicaments.

For the graduate who still wakes up at noon and needs a better routine   

9. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

This book offers a practical guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones. Based on the idea that small, incremental changes can have a powerful cumulative effect over time, Clear demonstrates that by focusing on tiny habits, we can transform our lives and achieve lasting change.

Combining scientific research, real-world examples, and personal anecdotes, Atomic Habits is a compelling and actionable guide to improving routines and creating the daily life that is most in line with your priorities. This is a great gift for college grads struggling with the rude wake-up call of a 9-5 job and doing laundry more than once a month. 

For the graduate who is a dreamer — and could do with some downhome practical advice  

10. Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier by Kevin Kelly

“The title really says it all. Buy more than one, or people will keep stealing it out of your bathroom,” wrote Kirkus in its review of this collection from the founding executive editor of Wired, Kevin Kelly. 

The book began as a list of 68 tips, marking the author’s 68th birthday, and intended to serve as advice to his adult children. Instead, the idea snowballed and Kelly now presents us with 450 practical aphorisms to help navigate life’s hurdles, both small and large. 

Recent graduates are faced with the daunting task of navigating the "real world" and establishing a career, while also balancing relationships, finances, and personal growth. Excellent Advice for Living offers practical and actionable advice on a range of topics, while also providing inspiration on how to pursue a fulfilling and meaningful life.

For the graduate who wants to change the world

11. The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power

In this memoir, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power recounts her journey from a young idealist who joined the civil rights movement and worked as a journalist in war-torn countries to a seasoned diplomat who played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Obama administration.

The book offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of diplomacy and international relations and provides valuable insights into the challenges and complexities of working to promote peace and security in the 21st century. It’s an especially great choice for future wonks or human rights activists who studied international relations and foreign policy.

For the graduate who is very indecisive

12. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

This beloved bestseller from Nobel Prize-winning economist and psychologist Daniel Kahneman provides wonderful insight into the way our brains work and offers practical strategies for improving our decision-making abilities.

Kahneman's book divides the human mind into two systems. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and automatic, while System 2 is slow, deliberate, and analytical. The book examines the ways in which these two systems work together and sometimes against each other in our thinking, and provides a comprehensive overview of how we make decisions.

As graduates set out on the long road with many forks in it, they will be able to make more informed choices by understanding the cognitive biases and heuristics that influence our decision-making. 

For the grad who is having an identity crisis

13. How Should a Person Be?: A Novel from Life by Sheila Heti

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2013, Sheila Heti's breakthrough novel is part literary novel, part unconventional self-help manual and part exploration of the artistic and sexual impulses of narrator Sheila (a character once-removed from the author). Marie Claire once compared the book to Lena Dunham's TV series Girls for its upfront sex scenes and musings on life in your 20s. If your grad seems a bit tortured about how to show up in the world and spends a lot of time thinking about how they look to other people, they'll feel right at home in this entertaining novel.

For the grad who eats pizza most nights

14. How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

Now this is potentially the most practical gift for any graduate: a beginner cookbook. Mark Bittman's super easy-to-follow minimalist recipes are compiled in this 20th anniversary edition of his classic kitchen companion.

For the grad who is filled with ambition but doesn't know exactly where to channel his or her energy

15. Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

This wildly popular life-coach-in-a-book, named after a Stanford University design school course, is based on the concept that we can apply the same principles used to design amazing tech and products to building our career and life. The authors provide structured "design thinking" frameworks for how we can make life decisions that reflect our values and personal goals.

Whether you want to give your grad a practical guide to life skills or a book that will invite them to reflect at this inflection point, there's something on this list that will fit the bill. Still unsure? Buy your grad a Tertulia gift card and let them choose what to read next!