5 Books Every College Graduate Should Read
Congratulations class of 2019, you did it! You walked the stage, grabbed your degree, and are now ready for your next life phase. For some of you, your next step is clear. For others, you are taking some time to figure things out. Either way, I have made a list of 5 books that will help you – HELP YOU. Trust me, as a recent graduate myself, they work, I promise.
“A guide for women in their 20s and 30s who are hungry for a job they love, a supportive network of friends, respect from their bosses and partners who want all those things for them as badly as they do…”
Thoughts: Ahh, this book. I cried a lot when reading this. In fact, I cried when I reread it too. The book which isn’t sad, I promise, was relatable, honest and the push I needed to move forward. I sat there, highlighter in hand reading the guide that helped me navigate college graduation. Today, as I step into my career it is helping me navigate the world, again. When writing this book, the author Ann Shoket didn’t speak from her experience alone, she told it by asking women to share their stories, too. When reading this book, I not only saw myself in these women, I learned from them and their experience.
Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis:
About: “Do you ever suspect that everyone else has life figured out and you don’t have a clue? If so, Rachel Hollis has something to tell you: that’s a lie.”
Thoughts: Like, Ann Shoket’s book The Big Life, I dived into this one more than once. While it is relatable, I liked it because it is not the normal guide or self-help book. Instead, it is the author's story that is filled with inspiration, passion, and honesty. It gave me a new outlook on perseverance and made me think deeper and harder about the goals that I myself am trying to achieve.
The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein:
About: The Universe Has Your Back, New York Times best-selling author Gabrielle Bernstein teaches readers how to transform their fear into faith in order to live a divinely guided life. Each story and lesson in the book guides readers to release the blocks to what they most long for: happiness, security and clear direction. The lessons help readers relinquish the need to control so they can relax into a sense of certainty and freedom. Readers will learn to stop chasing life and truly live.
Thoughts: I chose this read because it is filled with faith, spirituality and trust. I wanted to learn about my goals and my dreams, on another level. You, however, might choose it for another reason. I myself recommend it because it does teach readers to be happy with not just their future selves, but who they are today. I learned, that yes, my goals are apart of me and who I am becoming but to also appreciate my present!
Get It Together by Lauren Berger: “This super-practical guide to personal success is packed with no-nonsense tips that will get anyone where they want to be in business and in life.”
I began to read, Get It Together, days before I graduated from college. Today, as a young professional I refer to it often. This book has helped me in more ways than one, mainly with goal setting! As a graduate, I have focused a lot on my career goals, but this book has helped me with my personal aspirations, too! Before reading Lauren Bergers book, I did have strategies and plans in place for achieving each of my different dreams, but her guide has helped me reassess and refocus when needed. For recent graduates this book is helpful for those like me who need to reexamine their plans, or for those are coming to the drawing board for the first time.
You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero:
About: In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want.
Thoughts: We all learn differently, right? Well, this one is for those who need a mix of relatability and humor. Trust me, this book, which is filled with story, after story is a perfect combination of the two! I chose this one because although we might want to take our career, dreams, and aspirations seriously, we all need to laugh a bit as well.
About the Author:
Alyshia Hull is a freelance writer, inspirational speaker and a recent college grad. Her work has been published in magazines like Girls’ Life and by businesses such as Bossbabe and ThredUp.
