Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about growing up, maturing, accumulating wisdom and all that jazz. maybe it’s because I’m turning 30 this year (sidebar: what what?). As I approach that birthday milestone and think about how much I have learned and changed since another milestone birthday, my 18th birthday, my feelings can best be summed up in the words of the grateful dead: how long and strange is been.
Of course, books were a constant companion along the way and a source of much of that accumulated wisdom. From coping with being myself for the first time to the evolution of relationships with friends and family to the myriad mysteries of the male sex, the books were there to teach, challenge, enlighten, comfort and, when all else failed, provide much more. -needed a reprieve from the overwhelmingness of that incredibly transient period.
You are reading: Books for 18 year old female
Of all the books I read when I was 18, though, there are so many more I read after 18, or hadn’t been published yet, that I wish I’d made known at the time. particular moment of my life. since time travel doesn’t exist yet (damn you, back to the future ii ), I’ll have to do the next best thing: pass all the books I wish I had read to 18s to a younger generation: women who will be better informed and better prepared to face all the triumphs and challenges of not being a girl, not yet a woman (am I dating myself? I’m dating myself).
yes please by amy poehler
In her 2014 memoir/advice book, amy poehler proves she’s the big sister we all wish we had. Not only does she give great advice on relationships, careers, and how to become a strong, confident woman, but she also reminds us that it’s okay to have no idea what the hell you’re doing when you’re 18, as long as you keep an open mind. , try new things until you find what you love, and when the opportunity presents itself, always say “yes, please.”
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forever by judy blume
if amy poehler is our fantasy big sister, judy blume is our fairy godmother. What’s remarkable about forever is that even though it was written 40 (!) years ago, much of it is still relevant to the whirlwind of emotions that accompany first love: the excitement, the uncertainty, the heartbreak. . . How does Blume manage to capture the timelessness and truth of teenage relationships so well? maybe in reality she is not a fairy godmother, but a wizard …
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he just doesn’t like you that much by greg behrendt and liz tuccillo
sweet baby jesus in a christmas tree, reading this book at 18 would have saved me a lot of time, energy and tears. I’m not usually one for dating advice books, but the simple idea this book is built around is that if a guy likes you, he likes you, I like you, I don’t He will let no obstacle stand in his way. on his way to pursue you, and if he does, then he just isn’t that interested in you and therefore isn’t worth your time; it’s so obvious to me after two decades of dating that i don’t know why it’s not included as a self-evident truth in the constitution. save yourself some stress and angst – read this book, accept what it says about relationships, and find a man who’s worth it because he knows you’re worth his.
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divine secrets of ya-ya sisterhood by rebecca wells
The period between childhood and adulthood can be difficult for families, especially mothers and daughters. it’s that point where you start to realise, “shit, my mom is actually a person with wants, flaws, and complexities, not just this machine nagging me with homework and doing my laundry.” Rebecca Wells’ wonderful 1996 novel investigates the delicate and dynamic relationships between mothers and daughters, reminding us that at the end of the day, we’re all human doing the best we can. there are also tons of great ya-ya words of wisdom like, “it’s life. you don’t realize you just get on the beast and ride.” amen.
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tina fey’s bossy pants
Like her former Weekend Update co-host and “comedy wife” Amy Poehler, Tina Fey’s 2011 memoir shows what a 21st-century bad bitch looks like. With her trademark daring wit, Fey lays out some easy-to-follow keys to success: work hard, take risks, and, yes, be a little bossy from time to time.
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divergent by veronica roth
Hopefully your post-high school experience doesn’t involve a grueling initiation ritual or a hostile government takeover, but there’s still plenty in Veronica Roth’s 2011 dystopian novel that recalls the experience of building a new life. for yourself in a college setting. From not being sure you’re where you belong to leaving family and familiar surroundings behind, divergent is a reminder that whether you’re in the 21st century or in the distant future, you’re not alone face the challenges of growing up.
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generation wins: the young professional’s guide to spending, investing and giving back by kimberly palmer
Nothing makes money sound less sexy than the phrase “financial literacy,” but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start learning how to manage your money as soon as possible. this book was written by u.s. world news and report alpha consumer columnist kimberly palmer in 2010, in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis, so the information and advice is based on saving and spending in our contemporary circumstances.
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preparation by curtis sittenfeld
curtis sittenfield’s 2005 prep novel may be about boarding school, but reading it as a college student, I was able to relate to a lot: the challenges of being away from home, the delicate process of navigating roommate relationships, the struggle to blend in and stand out at the same time. If, like me, your transition to college life is a bit difficult, prep is a great book to remind you that you’re not alone.
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make good art by neil gaiman
Even if you’re not an artist, this book, which includes the full text of a commencement address that writer Neil Gaiman delivered at the Philadelphia College of the Arts in 2012, contains some helpful words of wisdom on career planning. (or lack thereof), not being afraid of failure, and remembering to enjoy success. It’s good advice whether you’re 18 or 81.
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the red tent by anita diamant
There are a lot of things about being a woman that are hard to deal with, one of which is having your period (although if you’re 18, the alternative is probably no better). The beauty of Anita Diamant’s 1997 novel based on the biblical story of Dina is the way it embraces femininity and the power of it in ways that are too often overlooked. If you are still learning to love all the magical mysteries of womanhood, this book will reveal some of them while telling you a fascinating story.
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weird girl: the hidden culture of girl aggression by rachel simmons
The sad truth is that by age 18, most girls have a victim, perpetrator, or witness of girl-on-girl bullying. Rachel Simmons’s book (first published in 2002 and updated in 2011) peels back the layers of this distressing culture and provides valuable insights into why and how girls treat each other so poorly, and how we can treat each other —and ourselves— with more respect.
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I’m malala from malala yousafzai
Need a dose of inspiration? Look no further than this 2013 memoir by activist and Noble Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who survived a Taliban attack in Pakistan because of her outspokenness about educating women. Not only is yousafzai’s determination, intelligence, and grace inspiring, but reading her account of how she grew up in a world so different from our own is a valuable and eye-opening experience.
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spring awakening by frank wedekind
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franz wedekind’s expressionist work may have been written in the early 1890s, but it captures teenage angst in a way that still seems perfectly relevant in the 21st century. it also serves as a warning that only curious young adults can be kept in the dark for so long before nature takes over, a lesson some people need to remember even today.
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1984 by george orwell
more and more, george orwell’s classic 1949 dystopian novel is looking more and more like non-fiction, especially when you consider that every day, people are finding new ways to use technology to observe each other 24 hours a day , 7 days a week. For a generation that barely remembers a world without the internet, smartphones, and Facebook, it may seem like no big deal, but 1984 remains a chilling warning about the dangers of living life with big brother looming. over his shoulder.
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bad feminist by roxane gay
You’ve heard the word “feminist” a lot lately, but you’re probably still trying to figure out what exactly it means for you and for society in general. that’s fine, most of us are. Roxane Gay’s 2014 collection of essays is a good place to start in unraveling all the complexities of what feminism means in the 21st century: they’re witty, smart, and fearlessly honest.
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seagull by jonathan livingston by richard bach
Being 18 is the best time for some deep soul-searching about what your values and goals are, which makes Richard Bach’s 1970 novel the perfect companion piece. This modern fable may have a seagull as its protagonist, but there is something innately human about her desire to break free from the ordinary and expected path and fly higher than most people dare.
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to the virginia woolf lighthouse
what would a list of coming of age books be without virginia woolf? As one of her most experimental and challenging works, to the lighthouse isn’t exactly a beach read, but it is an intriguing exploration of the passage of time, the struggles of creativity, and family relationships in woolf’s life brand of sober and conscious style.
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where the sidewalk ends by shel silverstein
what’s a book of children’s poetry doing on an 18-year-old book list? Sometimes, in our quest to be more of an adult, we lose sight of the wonder, quirkiness, and invincibility we felt as children. Poems like “Hear What You Shouldn’t” by Shel Silverstein are a great way to stay in touch with those feelings, at 18 or any age.
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