Five Great Books for Graduates

A graduation marks a transition to a new chapter of life. This can be terrifying, even if the grad has an idea of what they will be doing next! Books make a great graduation gift, whether that graduation is high school, college, or beyond! Use this list as a jumping off point to start thinking about what book would be the best choice.

While these five are my top suggestions, the most important part of choosing a graduation gift is to make it meaningful. Think about the books that have inspired you throughout your life. Would one of those make a good gift? Write an inscription in the front of the book to let your loved one know why you thought of this book as gift and what you got out of it. Something from the heart will always be the best book for graduates.

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All five of these books are ones that I own and enjoy. But, more importantly than that, a book is a great gift when it is fitting to where a person is in their life. Choosing a book that you have read and loved with increase the chances that it will be appreciated by the recipient.

So here it is, my list of the top five books for graduates:

Read on for information about why I recommend each one and who it might be a great graduation gift for.

When I graduated from high school, my cousin gave me a copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. He wrote me a note in the front of the book, explaining that it had helped him get through some hard times.

Well over a decade later and I still treasure my copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. It is inspirational and motivational. The method of the book is to be yourself and strive to be the best you can be, no matter what anyone else says. Jonathan was alone in his flock, different from all the rest of the seagulls in his pursuit of speed and knowledge about flight. They exiled him from the group, but ultimately he had to follow his heart.

For graduates who are looking for full-time work, What Color is Your Parachute is a valuable resource on every aspect of job hunting - networking, resumes, interviews, and finding out what you really want to do with your life. One core part of the book is identifying what you are passionate about and what kinds of skills you have that you could bring to a job.

Do you know how many high school graduates have no idea how to feed themselves? Dorm food only goes so far, and he or she will probably get an apartment at some point during college. Dining out constantly isn't possible on a limited budget and there is more to life than ramen noodles. So think about buying a good cookbook as a graduation gift.

Any list of books for graduates is probably going to include the Dr. Seuss classic, Oh, the Places You'll Go! I thought about bucking tradition and leaving the book off the list, but there is a reason that the book is always including on lists.

If you can't find the perfect book, or you want to give multiple small gifts to your graduate, there are plenty of other options! A piece of jewelry can be a reminder of their achievement for years to come.