13 Most Life Changing Books to Read in your 20s

Looking for life-changing books to read in your 20s? You’re in the right place.

I’m an avid reader in my late 30s. I’ve been in several book clubs, and read 5-6 books every month.

Many of the books I read are self-development books, and let me tell you – there are some I wish I’d read much sooner in life.

There are so many things I did in my 20s that were sabotaging my chance to live the life I really wanted:

• Have the friends, romance and relationships I wanted
• Choose a career that would feel most in line with my passions and talents
• Be free to live life the way I wanted to
• Find my true potential
• Become more connected with who I really was

Regardless of what kind of life-changing book you’re after, I have some great ideas below that will shift your perspective and open up doors that you didn’t know were there.

The Most Life-Changing Books to Read in Your 20s

Rather than group the books to read in your 20s (relationships, career, personal development and creativity) I’ve grouped them all together.

1. Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

By: Adam Grant
Published: 2023
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.6)
Theme: Self-help, personal development, leadership

Hidden Potential will change the way you think about ‘god-given traits’ that people are naturally good at.

A lot of emphasis is often put on initial assessments and how someone does at something on their first try.

But in reality, it’s often people who present as mediocre that go on to really excel and accomplish record-breaking, awe-inspiring things. The book will show you several examples.

A big way Hidden Potential changes your life is you’ll realize how much you’re really capable of, and to not allow past failures or evidence that you’re ‘not good at something’ impact your decision to try!

This book will change how you think about your own abilities and potential, as well as those of others.

It was so fascinating that I constantly jotted down new things I learned.

2. The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings of Authenticity, Connections and Courage

By: Brené Brown
Published: 2013
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Theme: Personal development, self-help, communication and relationships

Reading a Brené Brown book would be so beneficial in your 20s (I didn’t find out about her until my 30s.)

The Power of Vulnerability is her most popular ‘book’ – it’s actually a  6-talk series on Audible- and a great one to start with.

Brené highlights very day experiences of shame, guilt and fear such as:

• asking someone out
• waiting for someone to call or text back
• being evaluated at work
• job interviews
• promoting your business on social media
• reaching out to an old friend
• saying I love you first

These are all vulnerable situations. This book will guide you on the path to living in a way that is truly and honestly you. It will show you how it’s ok to let others really see you.

Watch Brené’s TED Talk on Vulnerability to get an idea of what this book will be about. Even just watching this 20-minute video alone will be inspiring to you, and help set you on the path to self-love and acceptance, which we need in order to fully accept, and be accepted by others.

3. What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing

By: Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry
Published: 2021
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Theme: Self-help, personal development, healing, trauma, leadership, relationships

Oprah is such an inspirational person in herself, and in What Happened to You, she pairs up with a psychologist to explain how childhood trauma impacts people and their behaviours later in life.

Having experienced trauma as a child, I felt so seen reading this book and it helped me understand and forgive myself for the way I think and act.

If you happen to work with kids or vulnerable people, this book would be helpful in your career. But it’s also just so ground-breaking in discovering the reasons behind behaviour. You will understand yourself, and other people so much better from reading this book.

4. Get Rich, Lucky Bitch: Release Your Money Blocks and Live a First Class Life

By: Denise Duffield Thomas
Published: 2018
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Theme: Money and wealth, business, self-worth, law of attraction

Don’t let the name put you off – Get Rich, Lucky Bitch is a book that will change your finances, and your life.

Get Rich Lucky Bitch will show you how your early experiences with money, and what you learned about money impacts how much of it you think you’re allowed to have later in life.

Are you the kind of person who’s afraid to ask for a raise, tends to undercharge for your products or services, or overall has impostor syndrome?

A lot of this is tied to your self worth, and often – early memories about money from your childhood that continue to dictate your income as an afult.

Get Rich, Lucky Bitch is aimed at women – but I wouldn’t let that turn you off if you’re a guy. Yes, it’s obvious she’s talking to a female audience, but the advice applies to anyone. My husband read it too, and both of us found this book life-changing. If it weren’t for this book (and Denise’s other books and teachings), I wouldn’t be where I am today.

If you’re a guy and prefer a book that isn’t aimed at women, then that’s ok. I recommend the other money mindset book on this list instead – Secrets of the Millionaire Mind– which teaches many of the same things with a slightly different approach, and with a tone that is more gender-neutral.

5. How to Live Without Fear and Worry

By: K. Sri Dhammananda
Published: 1989
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.7)
Theme: Self-help, Buddhism, spirituality, healing

How to Live Without Fear and Worry isn’t about Buddhism; it’s advice for the reader from a Buddhist point of view.

if you’re someone who struggles with anxiety and rumination, then this book will help restore some peace to your mind.

I read this book when I was a busy and stressed single mom teacher, and it brought me a lot of calm. I remember thinking when reading it, that if everyone read and took this book’s advice, the world would be a better place.

I’m not a religious person personally, but I really admire the philosophy of all beings being equal and non-judgment of others, and peace. This book may reach you regardless of what religion you practice (or don’t.)

6. Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find – And Keep – Love

By: Amir Levine and Rachel Heller
Published: 2012
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Theme: Psychology, self-help, relationships, dating

Attached is a book that I wish I’d read in my early 20s -it would have saved me so much dating misunderstandings and hurt feelings in my journey to finding the right person.

 If you’ve ever wondered why:

• you keep being ghosted or stood up
• people end up being really clingy or intense
• overall feel like you keep attracting the same kind of people with the same problems

Then it might be time to consider adult attachment theory, and how it plays into your dating life.

Your attachment style dictates your behaviour and feelings in a dating relationship, and other people’s dictate theirs. Once you understand the principles behind this, it’ll be a game-changer.

You’ll understand other people’s behaviour, as well as your own.

In addition, if you have a problematic attachment style (anxious or avoidant) then this book will also help you have healthier, more fulfilling dating relationships.

Attached can be read alone or with a partner to help understand each other better. I read it with my now-husband while we were dating, and it helped us understand our communication problems.

7. Meeting Your Half Orange: An Utterly Upbeat Guide to Using Dating Optimism to Find Your Perfect Match

By: Amy Spencer
Published: 2010
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
Theme: Psychology, self-help, relationships, dating

Meeting Your Half Orange is a book to read if you’re still single and looking for the right person to share your life with.

Do you find that a lot of the people you date end up having similar downsides?

While the other dating book I recommend helps you to understand attachment styles, this book will show you how to attract people that will be good for you, instead of repeating patterns of attracting the same toxic people.

Meeting Your Half Orange comes with activities and exercises to help you work out what you really do want in a partner – and work on noticing and finding that kind of person.

Disclaimer: This book does use the Law of Attraction principle, which I was neutral on when I read it. I had been single for 6 years and nothing else had worked I figured I’d give it a shot. A few months later, my now husband came into my life. We’ve been married for almost 5 years now – so it works.

8. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

By: James Clear
Published: 2018
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8)
Theme: Self-development, healing

Atomic Habits will show you how little daily habits can have lasting impacts that change your life in the long run.

You don’t have to do much to make a difference. Whether it’s weight loss, building wealth, or building a business, it’s often the small things you can commit to every day that make the biggest difference in the long run.

I found it so inspirational to know that even just 5-10 minutes dedicated to something a day can have massive outcomes.

It’s not about the huge differences you make, it’s the small ones on a daily basis.

9. Everything is Figureoutable

By: Marie Forleo
Published: 2019
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Theme: Self-development, finances, healing, pursuit of dreams

Everything is Figureoutable will show you how your beliefs can have large impacts on your outcomes.

If you’re stuck in life or struggle with motivation or fear, then this book will help you with whatever goal you’re working on – personal or professional.

Marie Forleo shares several real-life stories of people who’ve pushed past some of the biggest barriers in the world, and managed to make their dreams come true.

This was one of the first books I read when I was trying to make a huge pivot in life and it really had an impact on me. It’s one of the first books I now recommend to people who feel ‘stuck’.

10. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth

By: T. Harv Ecker
Published: 1999 (originally) and reedited in
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Theme: Money, building wealth, limiting beliefs and attitudes around money, money mindset

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind is one of the best money mindset books I’ve ever read (and I read a lot of them.)

Don’t let the cheesy title, website, and the author’s salesman look put you off – this book has valuable, honest and no-nonsense wisdom that will guide you on the path to building wealth.

You will learn how rich people think, and see how some of your thought patterns have been making you lose out on money.

Secrets of the Millionnaire Mind touches on some of the things you’d read in Get Rich Lucky B*tch that I mentioned above, but goes deeper with some practical tips that aren’t covered in the other book, such as:

• building passive income
• healthy attitudes towards spending
• getting rid of debt

If you’re interested in the 2 money mindset books I’ve recommended here so far, then take a look at the full list of all the money mindset books I recommend for anyone

11. The Big Leap

By: Gay Hendricks
Published: 2009
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Theme: Career change, self-development

The Big Leap is about creating change in your life. The author has based his life around helping people find careers and jobs that are most suited to their unique talents and interests.

You will especially find this book useful if you don’t like your job and dream of finding another one. But, I read it when I’d already made the career change I wanted (quitted teaching to become a writer) and I feel its useful regardless, because there is some good life advice in there too.

Hendricks teaches us about an ‘upper limit problem’ which is about how we tend to have a level in our head about how successful or happy we’re allowed to be.

If things seem too good to be true, then it doesn’t feel safe or familiar to us so we end up sabotaging it. It’s mostly a career change book but the big message in here can be applied to other areas of your life too (relationships, family, etc.)

12. The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About

By: Mel Robbins
Published: 2024
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Theme: Family,friends, relationships, communication

The Let Them Theory teaches you to take your focus away from the actions, behaviours of others, and find peace in knowing what you can change, and what you can’t.

It sounds very simple -the old “you can’t change others, you can only change yourself“- I’ve known that my whole life, and wouldn’t think I’d need to be told again.

But apparently I still needed to read it. I still found this book pretty ground-breaking in how I approach dealing with other people. The phrase “let them” is powerful in letting go of things that ultimately aren’t in my control or are none of my business – and shifting your focus to things that are of use of your time.

13. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

By: Eckhart Tolle
Published: 2004
Amazon rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Theme: Healing, trauma, anti-anxiety, mindfulness, living in the present

The Power of Now is a book that teaches you to live in the present, with inner peace and wonder of the world around you.

This is something that children do, and even animals – but our minds have blocked the ability to do this out with all the things that have happened to us and continue to happen to us (debts, late fees, job rejections, past failures, the way others have treated us, the list goes on.)

As someone who was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety and struggled with insomnia for several months, this booked helped promote my inner calm. It helped me reframe how I was thinking and what patterns I let my thoughts wander in.

Tolle’s books tend to be spirituality-based, but are not stuck on any one religion. Eckhart Tolle has been influenced by many religions, which he references in his books. If you like this one, then I recommend reading Stillness Speaks after.

Most Important Life-Changing Authors to Consider Reading in Your 20s

Different authors will resonate with you differently, based on your personality, needs. They each offer something different. During your 20s, (or beyond) I recommend picking up at least one book by all of these highly inspirational, influential authors below.

• Oprah Winfrey
• Brené Brown
• Eckert Tolle
• Mel Robbins
• Denise Duffield Thomas

FAQ – Best Books to Read in Your 20s

Here are some commonly asked questions for books to read for young adults

What book should every 20-year-old read?

It’s hard to say which book that every 20 year old should read because it depends on the 20 year old. If I was going to recommend one book to my future 20 year old daughter, I would probably choose something by Brené Brown or Denise Duffield Thomas, depending on what they’re lacking in.

Final Thoughts

I hope that this collection of best books to read in your 20s will land you with a few books in your hands that will change to course of your life for the better.