As a therapist, I see young adults every day who have been taught everything in school except the skills, habits, and wisdom they need to navigate their lives. In How To Be a Grown Up, Raffi Grinberg combines solid research with relatable personal stories and engaging illustrations to guide newly-minted adults on topics from how to build healthy habits of mind and initiate productive conversations with parents to how to pay taxes, meet financial goals and create fulfilling relationships. This is an absolute must-read for every person in their twenties!
– Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
Testimonial by Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
Raffi Grinberg is a born teacher with a keen eye for what his students most need to know and with a talent for explaining even complex ideas about finance, love, and critical thinking in a way that is clear, compelling, and fun. I wish all twentysomethings could take his class, and now, with How to Be a Grown Up, they can.
– Jonathan Haidt, Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, bestselling author of The Anxious Generation & co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind
Testimonial by – Jonathan Haidt, Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, bestselling author of The Anxious Generation & co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind
Raffi Grinberg deftly addresses the questions that every young person asks but that nobody ever answers. How to Be a Grown Up is a far-sighted, yet down-to-earth, guide that transforms the daunting task of adulting into an achievable set of skills.
– Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret, Drive, and To Sell Is Human
Testimonial by – Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret, Drive, and To Sell Is Human
How to Be a Grown Up is a wonderful survival guide for navigating the often-overlooked challenges of adulthood. It teaches essential life skills, from launching your career and managing your finances, to handling rejection and finding love. Raffi offers practical advice, humor, and lessons designed to help readers avoid a quarter-life crisis, and thrive in the real world.
– Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of The Power of Habit and Supercommunicators
Testimonial by – Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of The Power of Habit and Supercommunicators
Readable, practical, and relatable, How to Be A Grown Up is the primer that every young adult could use. I wish I’d had this book when I was in my twenties!
– Meg Jay, PhD, bestselling author of The Defining Decade and The Twentysomething Treatment
Testimonial by – Meg Jay, PhD, bestselling author of The Defining Decade and The Twentysomething Treatment
Today’s education system is an ancient relic, designed long ago for a world long gone, leaving many of us scrambling in our twenties to learn what we should have been taught in school. How to Be a Grown Up is the solution to this problem—a fun and incredibly practical guide through all the critical lessons missing from today’s schooling, full of brilliant analogies that make the book both addictive and memorable.
– Tim Urban, writer at WaitButWhy.com and bestselling author of What’s Our Problem?
Testimonial by – Tim Urban, writer at WaitButWhy.com and bestselling author of What’s Our Problem?
This book is the guide I wish I had in my 20s. It practically and candidly addresses the questions every newly-minted adult grapples with: Who should I become? What do I really want from life? How to Be a Grown Up tackles this critical turning point of adulthood head-on, covering an astonishingly wide array of topics—from personal finance to relationships. Raffi gently teaches readers how to disentangle their identities from the expectations placed on them by parents, peers, and society, guiding them toward living fulfilling lives. This book should be required reading!
– Dr. Sara Kuburic, The Millennial Therapist (@millennial.therapist) & author of It’s On Me
Testimonial by – Dr. Sara Kuburic, The Millennial Therapist (@millennial.therapist) & author of It’s On Me
This book is truly a gem. As I read it. I kept thinking of all the new adults I wanted to share it with—and, to be honest, it made me realize I might still have some growing up to do myself!
– Rutger Bregman, New York Times bestselling author of Humankind
Testimonial by – Rutger Bregman, New York Times bestselling author of Humankind
If you had to follow the advice of one book, it would be this one.
– Tyler Cowen, Professor of Economics, George Mason University & Host, Conversations with Tyler
Testimonial by – Tyler Cowen, Professor of Economics, George Mason University & Host, Conversations with Tyler
OMG, where was this book when I was 22? It has the knowledge I needed, all the things school never prepared me for: how to build credit and invest money, how to have better conversations and relationships, how to be happy. It’s practical, funny, authoritative yet relatable. Do your future self a favor and read this book now, no matter where you are in life.
– Tara Schuster, bestselling author of Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies and Glow in the F*cking Dark
Testimonial by – Tara Schuster, bestselling author of Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies and Glow in the F*cking Dark
In my work hosting a financial literacy podcast I know just how many people struggle with the basics when it comes to sorting out their financial life. How to Be a Grown Up is your go-to guide for navigating all parts of life. It tackles everything from mindset to money, helping the reader learn all the things you should know but don’t, from finding love to dealing with taxes. Whether you’ve just graduated from college or you’re looking to make a change in your life, this book has your back.
– Nicole Lapin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rich Bitch & host of Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin
Testimonial by – Nicole Lapin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rich Bitch & host of Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin
We all want our children to become thriving adults who are able to realize their full potential. But how? This much-needed book fills the gap: a how-to on becoming an adult. Full of great (and sometimes counterintuitive) insights, presented with humor and kindness, it is a must-give for every young mind.
– Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University
Testimonial by – Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University
This wise, funny, and deeply insightful book is the manual they forgot to hand out at your college graduation.
– Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic
Testimonial by – Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic
When asked what should be a benchmark requirement of every high school and college graduate, my answer is always the same: a course on becoming an adult. Young people may need algebra, but they most definitely need to know how to file taxes; they may need to understand mitochondria, but they most definitely need to learn how to face rejection. During his time teaching such a class at Boston College, Raffi Grinberg changed the personal and professional trajectory of emerging adults for the better. Now his proven “how to adult” curriculum is available to all universities and parents to set future generations on fruitful paths into adulthood. A must read!
– Alli Frank, K-12 educator and novelist (Tiny Imperfections, Never Meant to Meet You,The Better Half, and Boss Lady)
Testimonial by – Alli Frank, K-12 educator and novelist (Tiny Imperfections, Never Meant to Meet You,The Better Half, and Boss Lady)
This is a great and helpful book. In fact, while reading it, I became angry and frustrated that I didn’t have access to this book when I graduated college many years ago. But then I used Skill #4 (reframing automatic thoughts), and decided I’m glad I got to read it at all, and am happy my kids will get to read it too.
– A.J. Jacobs, bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically and Drop Dead Healthy
Testimonial by – A.J. Jacobs, bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically and Drop Dead Healthy
This is the missing manual for thriving in the wild world of adulthood. From mastering the art of rejection to finally understanding taxes (yes, really), this book will teach you how to adult with grace. Packed with playful guidance, it transforms grown-up life from daunting to downright fun!
– Ozan Varol, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Awaken Your Genius and Think Like a Rocket Scientist
Testimonial by – Ozan Varol, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Awaken Your Genius and Think Like a Rocket Scientist
How to Be a Grown Up harnesses timeless wisdom and do-it-this-instant pragmatism in a book that gives young people the tools to *take action* as authors of their own lives.
– Kaja Perina, Editor-in-Chief of Psychology Today
Testimonial by – Kaja Perina, Editor-in-Chief of Psychology Today
Raffi Grinberg is one of my favorite modern thinkers. His thoughtful work and measured, inclusive perspective consistently blows my mind. You simply must read this book!
– Shane Snow, Tony Award winning producer and bestselling author of Smartcuts and Dream Teams
Testimonial by – Shane Snow, Tony Award winning producer and bestselling author of Smartcuts and Dream Teams
One of the tragically missing elements of modern life is a way to support “adulting” in a complex and confusing world. As someone who works with senior executives on their development, I have long bemoaned the plummeting amount of support just as the challenge of launching into adult life has never been more difficult. This book is a game changer for people eager to find their way into this new chapter with a wise guiding friend to help explore this transition and pave the way for a thriving adulthood.
– Jennifer Garvey Berger, author of Changing on the Job and CEO of Cultivating Leadership
Testimonial by – Jennifer Garvey Berger, author of Changing on the Job and CEO of Cultivating Leadership
I loved this book! Raffi Grinberg has distilled life advice that many of us grown ups don’t even know into a smart, practical guide that reads like you’re listening to an all-knowing—yet relatable—older sibling. I especially love the diagrams and visual metaphors; I’m a sucker for a good framework and How to Be a Grown Up delivered repeatedly.
– Gorick Ng, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Unspoken Rules
Testimonial by – Gorick Ng, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Unspoken Rules
A perfect graduation gift
- Recent high school and college graduates
- Parents with adult children
- Fans of self-help and life skills books
- Anyone looking to better manage their personal finances and career opportunities
- Readers of The Defining Decade, The Alchemist, What Color Is Your Parachute?, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, The Last Lecture, and The Unspoken Rules
Learn how to
- Budget and invest your money
- Negotiate your first job offer
- Have meaningful conversations
- File your taxes
- Think for yourself
- Find your purposes (for now)