DON'T WEAR SHOES YOU CAN'T WALK IN

An advertising professional shares her life lessons for 20-somethings in this debut guide.

Douglas started her own advertising career at age 21 and spent the next 10 years documenting what she learned. Thankfully, she converted her personal journal into this engaging manual that specifically targets those in their 20s with “relatable advice in the areas of work, love, practical adult life, and personal growth.” The author pays off this promise in a jaunty guide that has plenty of personality. She writes in a conversational, down-to-earth style about her own experiences, translating them into words of encouragement and positive reinforcement for others. The volume comprises eight well-organized chapters with simple titles like “Time,” “Love,” and “Work,” bookended by a “Title Lesson” and a “Farewell Lesson.” Sprinkled throughout are “prompts”—questions accompanied by blank spaces so readers can do some journaling of their own. Particularly appealing is the chapter structure. After a brief introduction, each chapter is divided into numbered sections that identify observations or suggestions, using subheads followed by brief explanatory text. Some are metaphorically related to advancement or motivation (“The greatest mountain ranges have more than one peak”), while others are more direct (“It’s what you bring to the table, not how long you’ve been sitting at it”). By dividing the content in this way, the author highlights many key life lessons yet makes the sections easily scannable—a neat trick that turns material that might be considered heavy reading into a less intimidating collection of digestible nuggets. This format seems perfectly attuned to a generation raised on texts and shorter bursts of information. Douglas writes frankly about love, advising that “when choosing a partner, find an addition, not a completion.” Her commentary concerning work is valuable; for example, “Find the sweet spot where your talents and values meet. Work there and stay there.” The author is at her best when she is doling out counsel about entering adulthood: “On the fence isn’t a bad place to be for a little while. You can see things from there that you can’t see on either side.”

Wise, witty, and worthwhile advice for readers navigating their 20s.