Looking for non-fiction books for your 20s? This blog post will give you the best recommendations for 20 somethings! Ranging from self-help to business and understanding people that you can leverage in the real world.
The single best non fiction book every 20 something must read then it has to be The Millionaire Fastlane.
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Best Non-fiction Books For 20 Year Olds
Not into Non-fiction but would give an arm and a leg for some fiction books? I go about all the best fiction books every 20 year old must read in this post. Definitely check it out!
The Defining Decade
The defining decade by Meg Jay is one of THE best non-fiction books for 20 somethings! As a therapist, she incorporates bits and pieces from her sessions as examples to help you understand concepts of life.
From friendships to relationships, career and identity capital, Jay gives real advice on how to navigate life!
Quote from the book: “It’s the people we hardly know, and not our closest friends, who will improve our lives most dramatically”
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman is one of the best nonfiction books to read in your 20s!
Instead of feeding the BS of how to get a million things done in a day type productivity book, this book acknowledges the fact that we have limited time on this planet and it is most definitely not possible to achieve everything we set out to. And even if we did, it wouldn’t matter in the end.
The main premise of this book is focused on doing things that have intrinsic value to YOU and taking a stoic approach to time. The perfect short book to read on a Sunday.
Quote from the book: “We’ve been granted the mental capacities to make almost infinitely ambitious plans, yet practically no time at all to put them into action.”
Atomic Habits
If you’re stuck in a rut, can’t get yourself to do things you set out to do, Atomic Habits by James Clear is what you need. Everybody talks about this book and rightfully so.
It is one of the best non-fiction books for 20 year olds as it goes over how to build habit systems that compound over time completely skipping the cliché motivation/ goal setting approach to success.
Quotes from the book:
- Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.
- The purpose of setting goals is to win the game. The purpose of building systems is to continue playing the game.
The Courage to be Disliked
The courage to be disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga is one of the best non-fiction books to read in your early 20s as it talks about how we are free to live in the present and determine our future regardless of our past.
How freeing ourselves from the shackles of our circumstances, others’ opinions, doubts and insecurities is super liberating and helps us develop the courage to outgrow the limitations placed on us by ourselves and others.
Quote from the book: A healthy feeling of inferiority is not something that comes from comparing oneself to others; it comes from one’s comparison with one’s ideal self.
The Psychology of Money
The psychology of money by Morgan Housel is one of the best non-fiction books for 20 year olds as it approaches personal finance from a behavioral perspective.
Instead of talking about how to start investing, stocks to buy, etc., Housel digs deeper into the relationship between humans and money.
This quote from the book sums it up perfectly: “To grasp why people bury themselves in debt you don’t need to study interest rates; you need to study the history of greed, insecurity, and optimism.”
As a 20 somethings, understanding the psychology behind money, greed and your spending habits can help you achieve your financial goals faster AND sustain your wealth.
The Elephant in the Brain
The Elephant in the Brain is like the elephant in the room but that room is our brain.
The Elephant in the Brain by Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson is by far the best non-fiction books for 20 year olds that talks about hidden motives of our brain and how it affects a big chunk of our behavior!
Quote from the book: A man always has two reasons for doing something: The good reason and the real reason.
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before
A nonfiction book that makes you shake your head and wonder why has no one told this before? Yes, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before is one of those non fiction books by Julie Smith all 20 somethings must read!
Julie Smith, a clinical psychologist who I’m sure you’re aware of if you’re on TikTok, gives insights to life through simple examples that you can actually use in real life.
If there’s one non-fiction book every 20 something must read from this list then it has to be Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before!
Quote from the book: When we focus on trying to fix the problem, it is easy to underestimate the power of simply being there.
Never Split the Difference
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss has to be one of the best books to learn the art of negotiation. A major part of your 20s will be working around people so this skill is something you need to have!
The ideas in this book give an insight into peoples’ behavior and how to understand them to your advantage by negotiating.
Quote from the book: Negotiate in their world. Persuasion is not about how bright or smooth or forceful you are. It’s about the other party convincing themselves that the solution you want is their own idea. So don’t beat them with logic or brute force. Ask them questions that open paths to your goals. It’s not about you.
The Millionaire Fastlane
The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco is the top non fiction book everyone in their 20s HAS to read! It’s far from the online get rich easy schemes, you’ll see why.
DeMarco talks about how to avoid the “slow lane” and build a business that actually makes money. Slow lane being the classic go to college -> get a job -> get a better job to become rich.
From x to switching from the consumer to producer mindset to showing commitment rather than just interest, there’s so much every 20 somethings can learn from this non fiction book!
Quote from the book: Interest works on your business 1 hour a day Monday to Friday, commitment works 7 days a week whenever time permits.
These were some of the best non-fiction books everyone in their 20s must read to change their outlook on life! What’s on your list? Lemme know!
