Twenty life-changing reads: what got these experts through their twenties (part one)

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by The Conversation, click this post to read the original article.

Your 20s can often feel like a whirlwind—filled with hope, confusion, freedom, and loneliness all at once. To help make sense of this turbulent decade, 20 academics shared the books that guided them through these formative years. These recommendations span genres, time periods, and continents, but all offer unique insights into growing up, finding purpose, and facing disillusionment.

If you’re searching for identity and belonging, novels like Andrea Levy’s *Never Far From Nowhere* and Yvonne Vera’s *Butterfly Burning* explore culture, race, and womanhood in deeply personal ways. For those navigating early career fears and uncertainties, Nicholson Baker’s *The Mezzanine* offers a quirky take on the monotony of office life, while Raymond Chandler’s *The Long Goodbye* wrestles with morality and friendship in a cynical world.

Books such as Kazuo Ishiguro’s *The Remains of the Day* and Malcolm Bradbury’s *The History Man* examine themes of emotional restraint, ambition, and power within both personal and professional settings. Meanwhile, Honoré de Balzac’s *Lost Illusions* serves as a reality check for the idealism of youth, showing how dreams clash with societal corruption.

You might also find comfort in Anita Brookner’s *Hotel Du Lac*, which gently explores solitude and recovery from emotional setbacks, or Joe Sacco’s *Palestine*, a graphic narrative that humanizes political conflict and challenges mainstream narratives. Whether you’re feeling aimless or inspired, these books offer reflections, cautions, and encouragement throughout the complexities of your 20s.