On Generation X
Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis by Ada Calhoun
The author explores the midlife experience of Gen X women, the first generation of women that were supposed to “have it all”. With many interviews of women from multiple perspectives, the issues are very relatable.
Slackonomics: Generation X in the Age of Creative Destruction by Lisa Chamberlain
This book is like a jaunt down memory lane, reminding us of how music and television made us feel, and suggesting how it made us who we are today.
On Midlife
The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning by Scott Galloway
The author is a professor at NYU, and this book is the result of a lecture he gives his students on pursuing happiness – so it is written for a young person starting out. But I love this book and think it’s essential for the older crowd. It serves as a reminder of what is important that is deeply necessary by midlife.
On Careers
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
No book list on careers and success is complete without this one. This book popularized the 10,000 hours rule. It’s a unique look at what factors create success and achievement.
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
For someone who prefers career changes over becoming an expert in one field, this book is validation. The author uses anecdotal and scientific evidence to make the case for generalized knowledge and experience.
Rise: How to be Really Successful at Work AND Like Your Life by Patty Azzarello
This is one of those rare books that delivers on its title. The guide is filled with genuine, practical, easy-to-implement advice on how to advance your career without neglecting the rest of your life.
Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger
If you think you are not in the right career for you, but you don’t know what the right one might be, this book is a good starting point. It uses Myers Briggs personality typing to guide you to your own personality type, and provides a list of careers that suit that personality type.
On Aging and Health
Lifespan: Why we Age – and Why We Don’t Have To by David A. Sinclair, PhD. with Matthew D. LaPlante
This book was published in 2019 and shares brand-new, groundbreaking science on aging. The authors view aging as a disease, a treatable disease. The science is new and fascinating, but they do offer some practical tips you can use now to limit your aging while waiting for the science to mature.
On Tech/Science/Media
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell
This book is all about how, why, and when some idea begins to spread – or goes viral. It’s an exploration of the phenomenon and human behavior behind it. It explains a lot about how products are sold and how ideas are disseminated.
Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday
I read a lot of horror books, and yet this is the scariest book I’ve read. The author explains how the news is manipulated for clicks and advertising dollars. This is an essential read for anyone who doesn’t want to be fooled by fake news or manipulated by the media machine.