30 Books to Read Before 30: Not My Choices

Recent Huff Po piece provides a list of book everyone under 30 should read.  https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/10/books-to-read-before-you-are-30_n_7538880.html?utm_hp_ref=arts.  The writer, Katherine Brooks, does not explain what criteria she used to compile the list.  I must say that 30 for under 30 raises all sorts of questions for me:  What is the goal of the list?  Life changing books?  Amazing writing?  Thought provoking?  Historical?  For what age and stage?  All fiction?  Some non-fiction?  Plays?  Poetry?  Easing transition into higher education?  Workplace struggles?  Life struggles? Romance? Marriage? Sexual orientation?  Experimentation?  Mistakes made?

For me, they can be in print or online or both. They can be audio too. They can be highly popular and recent; they can be old trusty friends.

Now some years ago, when I first became a college president, we ran a contest: if you were named a college president, what five books would you cite in your inaugural address?  This generated lots of fascinating chatter on and off campus.  In one of life's ironies, I named the books I had chosen well in advance of my address.  We had copies all over campus. I assume some folks read some! Then, I changed my topic for the address -- wee oops. Still used the same books. 

Turned out it is not so easy to even pick five books (and they were keyed to each of the college's divisions): See:https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2006/11/07/gross

I raise this because I think there is value to lists and reflecting on books and their messages.  But, I need to come up with a counter-list to this one in Huff Po.  Many books I think would be hugely beneficial to those under (and some over) 30 are missing.  Here's one that I think would have value:  I Will Always Write Back.  Pondering whether it  would make the list.

A new list will appear soon -- perhaps 10 for under 10; 20 for under 20...you get the idea.  Join me. Make your list and let's compare.