9 Must-Read Books For Anyone Who Needs Help Adulting

9 Must-Read Books For Anyone Who Needs Help Adulting

Life Skills All Adults Should Learn

• Cooking
• Handling finances
• Choosing the right job
• Cleaning and organizing a home
• Maintaining mental & physical health
• Communicating with friends, family, and co-workers
• Doing taxes
• Basic first aid
• Traveling alone

Advice for Entering the "Real World"

In Depth

When you're just starting to live on your own, it can be hard to get a grip on all the basics. From paying your electricity bill to figuring out how taxes work, adulting is rough, and it takes time to truly feel like you have a grip on it. Luckily, there are plenty of informative works out there that can give you the help you need. In no particular order, here are nine books that can help even the most errand-phobic people get their lives under control.

At #1, we have Patrick O'Shaughnessy's "Millenial Money." Finance experts agree that money functions differently in the Internet age. Jobs, investments, and retirement aren't the same today as they were when the baby boomers were coming of age. With the new generation set to be the savviest investors of all time, it's a lost opportunity for young adults to be passive about money matters. For readers who want to create a sustainable financial future for themselves, this book may provide some valuable insight.

For #2, we get "Finding Your Way in a Wild New World" by Martha N. Beck. For many, being young means being full of existential questions about the future and the meaning of individuality. If you have often wondered, "Who am I and how did I get here?" this book may serve as a helpful guide for navigating a number of deep concerns and unanswered questions.

For many, being young means being full of existential questions about the future and the meaning of individuality.

At #3 is Rolf Dobelli's "The Art of the Good Life." When you're starting a career for the first time, it can feel overwhelming to find the right work-life balance. Anyone who's struggling to juggle the demands of their jobs, relationships, and hobbies, will appreciate this eye-opening resource. By answering a few core questions about themselves, readers can use this text to set off on the fulfilling, exciting journey into independent life.

Coming in at #4 is "Succeeding as a Student" by David R. Gross. As a teenager, it's common to put in the work at school so you can attend a good college. But once you're there, how do you make the most of it? This book gives students helpful tips for time management, efficiency, and work skills that could help prepare them for the workplace before they've even started to apply for jobs.

In the #5 slot is Anna Sabino's "Your Creative Career." Everyone tells young adults and teens to follow their dreams. But that advice, while good, can be frustratingly vague. In Sabino's book, readers get a blueprint for turning internal creativity into success in business and beyond. For anyone who's thought about pursuing a less traditional path, this is a must-read.

But that advice, while good, can be frustratingly vague.

For #6 we get Erin Olivo's "Wise Mind Living." Growing up isn't just about getting a job and a new apartment. It's about learning how to be emotionally mature and deal with conflict. These skills are incredibly important for young people to learn, and yet they're notoriously hard to teach. Olivo wants to help. Her book emphasizes the importance of compassion-based thinking.

At #7 is "Being Happy" by Tal Ben-Shahar. Everyone wants to be happy. But actually trying to achieve this can be overwhelming in and of itself, especially when you're just figuring out the basics of adulting. If you're ready to stop stressing out and start living a fulfilling, independent life, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Coming in at #8 is Asa Don Brown's "Waiting To Live." It can be confusing to be in your teens or early twenties. While half the messages you receive from the world tell you that you're fully grown, the other half make you feel like your life hasn't truly begun yet. So how do you actually start living and stop being self-conscious about who you are? Dr. Brown's book may be able to help readers who are looking to take full advantage of their early adult years.

So how do you actually start living and stop being self-conscious about who you are?

Finally, at #9, we have Ulrich Boser's "Learn Better." As creative organisms, humans never really stop learning. For students, this can be an overwhelming phenomenon. What if you could harness your natural curiosity and find a better way to retain information? With its revelatory insights about the modern brain and the human condition, this is a perfect read for young adults everywhere.