Early adulthood from about ages 18 to 22 is described as deeply formative. Some people use higher education to read widely and reflect on their future, but anyone in that stage can draw inspiration from books recommended for graduates. The guidance emphasizes that figuring things out is lifelong and offers no guaranteed success. Inspiration is framed as coming from writers who demonstrate what to emulate instead of those who command or exhort. The recommendations are presented as surprising and wise, with personal connections to missed opportunities and regret about not reading certain books at the right time. Examples include a Norwegian novel read at age 20 that later prompted feelings of lost time, and ongoing experiences of missed connections as adulthood continues.
"“‘Figuring things out’ is a lifelong endeavor with no guarantee of success,” she writes. But “the best way to locate inspiration is by looking to writers who illustrate what you might want to emulate, rather than those who lead by edict or exhortation.” Her choices are surprising and wise, full of picks I'd pass along to many of the younger people in my life."
"“The earliest years of adulthood-ages 18 to 22, give or take-are deeply formative. Some people spend that period in higher education, where they're encouraged to read broadly and think deeply about their path forward. But I think anyone in that phase of life can take inspiration from the list of books Anna Holmes named this week as great for graduates.”"
"“That book-and that course-made me feel that I'd lost precious time I should have spent learning Norwegian, my mother's native language, and getting to know the country she's from. (My anxiety about wasted years is hilarious now, considering I was only 20 when I read it.) Judging by my colleagues' recommendations on that same list, I'm not alone in feeling regret over not having read the right book at just the right time.”"
Read at The Atlantic
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