Books You Should Read Before You're 30

There are also fantastic classics that may not have been assigned to you in school but that you should pick up ASAP simply because you're missing out -- books like Doris Lessing's "The Golden Notebook" or "A Collection of Essays" by George Orwell.

Check out the 30 books we think you should read before you're 30:

"The Dream of a Common Language," by Adrienne Rich

Pivotal to the feminist movement, Rich's poetry collection is one of three books Cheryl Strayed brought with her on the trek she chronicles in her book, "Wild." A wise choice -- the "Power" section of the book will inspire you to achieve great things.

"Even Cowgirls Get the Blues," by Tom Robbins

All of Robbins' books are great reads for 20-somethings, as the author tends to serve up prettily packaged life advice with a lot of moxie. Writes Robbins in "Even Cowgirls," "There are many things worth living for, a few things worth dying for, and nothing worth killing for."

"The Sun Also Rises," by Ernest Hemingway
Not only can you get your literary passport stamped twice with Hemingway's romp through Paris and Pamplona, but you can enjoy an immersive mood piece about the highs and lows of drunken, rambling youth.

"Anna Karenina," by Leo Tolstoy
As we revealed on Tolstoy's birthday, this book is a classic for a reason: There's much to be learned from Anna's mistakes, but also the successes of her peers, such as Levin, who, as he gets older, embraces simple living.

"The Secret History," by Donna Tartt

Tartt's contemporary Greek tragedy about an unraveling clan of Classics majors is enchanting but may seem a little overwrought once your college days are decades behind you.

"A Collection of Essays," by George Orwell

You ripped through "Animal Farm" and "1984" in high school. Now it's time to take some of Orwell's insight straight, sans pig metaphors. He discusses British Imperialism, but it's not all political: "Such, Such Were the Joys," an essay about prep school, is particularly delightful.

"Hamlet," by William Shakespeare

We strongly advise against entering your 30s without having read (and we mean really read and fully ingested) one of Shakespeare's tragedies. If you have to pick just one, pick "Hamlet." Perhaps it'll help you with that pesky indecision you're likely experiencing if you're a 20-something.

"The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay," by Michael Chabon
Chabon's answer to what happens when childhood dreams meet the sometimes grim realities of adulthood centers around a Jewish refugee. It captures the heartbreak that can come with discovering your sexuality and chasing your dreams.

"Hateship Friendship Courtship Loveship Marriage," by Alice Munro
Munro writes short stories about small worlds, often centered around Canadian women like herself. She reminds us that quiet foibles and triumphs can be as beautiful and significant as sweeping, epic tales -- an important insight to keep in mind as you leave your more self-centered, dramatized youth behind.

"Native Son," by Richard Wright
Wright's book is literary naturalism at its finest, creating empathy for the impoverished and downtrodden -- an important lesson to learn if you haven't already.

"Demon-Haunted World," by Carl Sagan

Sagan's shtick is science for dummies, and this book is no exception. In fact, it may be the best introduction to the author, as it details the scientific method for laypeople and defends skeptical thinking -- a great means of stepping out of the psychobabble our 20s can be characterized by.

"Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace
It may be a doozy to lug around, but you won't regret it. DFW's contemporary classic is available on audiobook now, too, so there really is no excuse. Besides, if you can tackle this, you can tackle anything.

"The Unbearable Lightness of Being," by Milan Kundera
Kundera offers keen insight into gender dynamics and the universal struggle to achieve both independence and meaningful relationships -- sounds familiar, right, 20-somethings?

"Song of Solomon," by Toni Morrison
Aside from being the favorite author of some of America's most successful people (including Obama!), Morrison writes glittering prose and remarkably moving stories. Who knows what you can accomplish with this book under your belt!

"Critique of Pure Reason," by Immanuel Kant
After spending some time with Sagan, you may find Kant's argument against only thinking analytically rather refreshing. Your feelings and intuitions domatter (and in your 20s, you have a lot of them). He's a fan of a metaphysical understanding of the world and has some pretty good points to back it up.

"Siddhartha," by Hermann Hesse

Your 20s are the perfect time to read this novel about self-discovery. The title literally translates to "he who has found meaning (of existence)."

"The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," by Junot Díaz
Díaz's moving story about the beauty and power of optimism amid inherited cultural setbacks will make you cry, but it will likely also embolden you.

"You Shall Know Our Velocity," by Dave Eggers

It's a toss-up between "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," and Egger's second book (his first novel). "Velocity" follows two young men on a philanthropic journey, running into unforeseen obstacles that stand in the way of their youthful idealism.

"How Should a Person Be?" by Sheila Heti
Heti blends fiction and memoir in her story about friendship, art, sex and love in the Internet era. The New York Times called it, "part literary novel, part self-help manual."

“Leaves of Grass,” by Walt Whitman

Whitman is large, he contains multitudes. And so do you! "Song of Myself," his transcendentalist, free-verse poem that starts off this book, is an especially inspiring ode to "living amongst the animals." This notion will never be more appealing than it is in your 20s.

“Enormous Changes at the Last Minute,” by Grace Paley

Like Alice Munro, Grace Paley is a master of the short story. Her stories are widely anthologized and offer a helpfully no-nonsense, if sometimes cynical, look at relationships.

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