Your 20s are not about finding yourself. They’re about building yourself—sometimes painfully, often blindly, and always under pressure.
If you’re in your 20s and confused, overwhelmed, or just trying to figure out where the hell your life is going, welcome. You’re not broken. You’re just… early in the game.
Books saved my life.
In my own journey—from a confused teenager to clearing UPSC, to facing criminals as an IRS officer, to finally building the syllabus of life—I found three books that rewired me- in good ways and bad.
They will challenge and push you the same, I am sure.
Let’s get into it. Detailed video is here
1. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Read it for: Raw motivation and dangerous self-belief
This book is not “inspiring.” It’s intoxicating. It lit a fire in me when I was 16, and honestly, I wasn’t ready for it. I don’t recommend it before you hit 20—because it can warp your worldview if your foundation isn’t strong.
But if you're already wrestling with the question: “Should I do what I believe in, or what everyone expects of me?” — then this is the book.
You’ll meet Howard Roark, an architect who refuses to compromise. He chooses dignity over comfort, solitude over popularity. He suffers—and survives.
⚠️ Warning: Rand glorifies extreme individualism. She ignores family, relationships, even community. But maybe that’s what you need in a world constantly trying to soften your edges.
( Check out the book here )
2. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Read it for: Grounding when success feels hollow
Most people discover spirituality when they burn out at 35. But you’ll face the seduction of money and pleasure much earlier.
That’s why this book is essential in your 20s.
Siddhartha walks through life’s extremes: wealth, lust, religion, withdrawal—and emerges with an inner clarity that no Instagram quote can offer.
It doesn’t give you a spiritual path. It gives you perspective. And in a world that’s always selling you something, perspective is power.
( Check out the book here )
3. Range by David Epstein
Read it for: A career compass when the world wants specialists
You’ll be told to “pick a lane.” But the most successful people I’ve met—including officers, CEOs, and creators—are generalists.
This book explains why.
It shows how dabblers outperform prodigies, how experimenters evolve faster, and how a diverse skill set is your secret weapon in a chaotic world.
It gave me permission to not have it all figured out.
And if you’ve ever felt like you’re “wasting time” by exploring too much—read this now.
( Check out the book here )
Final Thought:
Your 20s are not a waiting room.
They are the battlefield where you build your inner arsenal.
And these books?
Don’t just read them. Let them destroy your mental patterns. Let them rewire your ambition. Let them make you dangerous—in the best possible way.
See you on the other side.
-RK