Congrats graduates! As you set off on the next chapter of life, don’t forget to take Poudre River Public Libraries along with you. Not only can we connect you to books, movies, music, and magazines (all for free!), but we also have great classes and programs to entertain and educate (like job searching and career development workshops).
To get you started off on the right foot as you begin adulting, we’ve pulled together a fun (and funny) list of books recommended just for you and the next phase of your life.
Be sure to stop by the libraries to pick up a library card – why pay for stuff when you don’t have to? You’ll need to save your money for other things (like groceries and insurance).
Congratulations!
General Adulting
| Adult Stuff: Things You Need to Know to Win at Real Life by Robert Boesel and Matt Moore | “Not everything in life is possible. Not everything in life will be perfect. But if you approach it the right way, you may discover that an imperfect life is better than a perfect life, because that means you’re actually living one.” |
| Lean In for Graduates by Sheryl Sandberg | Expanded and updated exclusively for graduates entering the workforce. Includes new material like finding your first job, negotiating your salary, and listening to your inner voice. |
| The Quarter Life Breakthrough: Invent Your Own Path, Find Meaningful Work, and Build a Life that Matters by Adam Poswolsky | “A fresh, honest, counterintuitive, and inspiring career advice for anyone stuck in a quarter-life crisis (or third-life crisis) figuring out what to do with their lives. It shares the stories of many twenty- and thirty- somethings who are discovering how to work with purpose (and still pay their rent).” |
Duct It, Don’t Chuck It
| Dare to Repair Your Car: A Do-it-Herself Guide to Maintenance, Safety, Minor Fix-its, and Talking Shop by Julie Sussman | “A basic car care and safety book written by women for women … and men, and new teen drivers, and senior drivers. Okay, it’s for every person who dares to drive a car.” |
| The Useful Book: 201 Life Skills They Used to Teach in Home Ec and Shop by David and Sharon Bowers | “An encyclopedia of DIY with everything you need to know to roll up your sleeves and cook it, build it, sew it, clean it, or repair it yourself.” |
| When Duct Tape Just Isn’t Enough: Your Complete Pocket Repair Guide by C.J. Petersen, Popular Mechanics | “This guide gives anyone the basics to tackle those frustrating quandaries that crop up in the house: plumbing problems, appliance failures, computer and electronics breakdowns, pest infestations, and furniture in need of renewal.” |
Feast or Famine
| Alton Brown EveryDayCook by Alton Brown | A collection of recipes from Brown’s personal collection combined with science, humor, and great photos. Highlights include everything from pancakes to fried chicken. |
| How to Cook Everything. The Basics: All You Need to make Great Food by Mark Bittman | The next best thing to having Mark Bittman in the kitchen with you! A great guide revealing fundamental techniques, foundation recipes, and more. |
| Rich Food Poor Food: The Ultimate Grocer Purchasing System by Jason and Mira Calton | You can shop smart and healthy, save time and money, and avoid the marketing hype and harmful ingredients in your food. |
Self-Aware in the City
| Assume the Worst: The Graduation Speech You’ll Never Hear by Carl Hiaasen | “This commencement address will never be given, because graduation speakers are supposed to offer encouragement and inspiration. That’s not what you need. You need a warning.” |
| Insight by Tasha Eurich | A look at “why we’re not as self-aware as we think, and how seeing ourselves clearly helps us succeed at work and at life.” |
| Wait, What? And Life’s Other Essential Questions by James E. Ryan | Celebrates the “art of asking – and answering – good questions. Five in particular: Wait, what?; I wonder…?; Couldn’t we at least…?; How can I help?; and What truly matters?” |
| What Should I Do with My Life by Po Bronson | “It’s a question many of us have pondered with frequency. Author Po Bronson was asking himself that very question when he decided to write this book—an inspiring exploration of how people transform their lives and a template for how we can answer this question for ourselves.” |
You Look Maahvelous
| Capsule Wardrobe: 1,000 Outfits from 30 Pieces by Wendy Mak | “Introduces thirty wardrobe essentials—tops, bottoms, footwear, and accessories—that will create the ultimate mix-and-match wardrobe for the working woman.” |
| Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans | The authors “show us how design thinking can help us create a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling, regardless of who or where we are, what we do or have done for a living, or how young or old we are. The same design thinking responsible for amazing technology, products, and spaces can be used to design and build your career and your life, a life of fulfillment and joy, constantly creative and productive, one that always holds the possibility of surprise.” |
| Style Bible: What to Wear to Work by Lauren A. Rothman | For the modern professional male or female: the basics of “fashion and executive presence” that will help you avoid any fashion faux pas in the workplace. |