12 Books Every New Graduate Should Read (And Really, All Of Us)

Recommendations for living an excellent life in chaotic times

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been asked several times what books I’d recommend for new graduates. It’s a fun question because I’m about to turn 40, and it’s prompted me to go back in time and imagine 22-year-old me, but in today’s world. What would I find useful? What ideas and tools would help me to better understand myself? What would inspire and motivate?

What follows is a list of books I pulled from my shelves, along with brief descriptions of each. As I was finalizing the list, it occurred to me that I’d recommend all of these books to someone who is 30, 40, 50, or 60 too. So hopefully it inspires you to grab a few books to gift the new graduates in your life, and also to grab a few books for yourself.

We are living in an extremely serious time dominated by extremely unserious people. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: reading books is becoming a radical counterculture act, and it’s more necessary than ever.

Enjoy the list. Pick one or two books to gift and to read. Be the counterculture.

Written in 1985, this book argues we are getting so caught up in entertainment and performance that we losing sight of what’s serious, let alone the ability to act on it. Postman predicted a reality TV star would be president over 40 years ago. There’s a reason people call him an oracle. Amusing Ourselves to Death is must-read to understand some of the biggest problems of today, and also to protect yourself from getting swallowed by the slop-stream.

A comprehensive look at the difference between chest-thumping fake toughness, (which is pervasive these days) and the real thing (which is rare and desperately needed). Steve has been my collaborative partner for years, and Do Hard Things is his biggest idea—and his best book—to date.

My favorite book on how to do focused work in a distracted world. Cal Newport, who happens to be one of my best friends, coined the term “Deep Work,” and it’s never far from my mind. (I actually think about and use it almost every day.) I’ve come to believe that Deep Work is key to not only a productive life, but also a good one.

A philosophical exploration of the limited time each of us has on Earth, and how to ensure we are focusing on what matters most in that limited time. Four Thousand Weeks will help you reflect on what is worth doing, and just as important, what is not.

The book on the power of sticking with things—even, and perhaps especially, when they get hard. If you want to be the kind of person who can hang in there when the going gets tough, when you face setbacks and obstacles, Grit will help.

A great overview of how we think about money, biases and traps to avoid, and how to develop a good relationship with saving. The Psychology of Money is like financial literacy 101, only for the human psyche instead of a spreadsheet.

An ode to the power of the human spirit, resilience, and the skill of staying hopeful in trying times. Hope in the Dark shows how people can come together and do incredible things, even against the odds, even in trying times. It’s essential to understand and hold onto this, because once you lose hope, there’s not much left.

Being a generalist, amassing diverse experiences and exploring your interests, can be the greatest competitive advantage there is. It’s true even in unlikely places such as sports. Range shows you how and why.

A poignant reminder that each and every one of us carries doubts and insecurities; it doesn’t mean we are broken. It means we are human. We can use those doubts and insecurities to help lead us toward an authentic life of connection and meaning. Herein lies The Wisdom of Insecurity.

If grit is a crucial skill, so is knowing when to quit. This book, from a world-class poker player, explores when to hold em and when to fold em—and not just in cards but in all of life. A huge key to success is knowing when to grit and knowing when to Quit.

The Comfort Crisis was written ahead of its time. Over five years ago, Easter argued that if you engineer too much friction out of your life, you begin to suffer. A life of convenience and ease sounds nice, but it’s actually pretty empty. We need to struggle, albeit in the right ways.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t include what I think is my best book. The Way of Excellence is an urgent call to reclaim the lost art of excellence and to aspire toward it in our own lives. Based on a decade of research and reporting, it outlines the mindsets, habits, and practices that give rise to an excellent life.

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