Three Books for Getting Started in Adult Life
Somehow I’ve already reached a point in life where “What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?” is a valid question. Even though my knee-jerk reaction is, “Wow, I constantly am running up against the same realization that I had when I turned 18 - no one really knows what they’re doing! Adults are making it up! Holy cow, I’m an adult now! I still don’t know anything!” the truth is that I have learned some hard lessons and acquired some skills. It’s just difficult for me to recognize that because, like all growth, it happens gradually to the subject in question (me) and therefore in my memory, the lines that mark before/after are blurry at best and mostly unobservable, as good as non-existent.
While I’ve been pondering how to summarize the key lessons that I wish I could go back in time and emphasize to my own young-ass self, other wise sages have published books to capture much of that critical advice we all seek in life to help guide us towards shared goals (in greater eloquence than I possess, and backed up by more extensive research than I could have ever devoted). I have read and am confident I will continue to read books that inspire and move me, but here are my top three definitive choices to guide The First 10 Years (after college).
The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security by Scott Galloway (2024)
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman (2021)
These three books collectively contain eminently practical advice that I have either concluded through my own experience or still find helpful as reminders today (progressing along in my third decade of life). To the extent that I value the applicability of the advice within, I recognize that it’s also because I fundamentally agree with some of the ideals underlying where the advice stems from - that is, I agree with these books, and my evaluation of them reflects that I am aligned with whatever assumptions the books make about what I want out of life and what I think a good life is.
What follows is my attempt to summarize each book, highlighting the portions I resonate the most strongly with, and adding my own reflections as supporting argumentation. If it serves you in any way, I hope you find it useful. If for no one else, I hope this exercise reminds me of the lessons I wish not to forget.
P.S. Yes, it does bring me some modicum of comfort that all three books were published long after I embarked on my first decade post-graduation, so it was literally impossible for me to attain this wisdom neatly packaged in single volumes. I’d be lamenting my own loss much more had they been around and had I either ignored them or never known about them until now.