The Defining Decade

Why Your Twenties Matter - and How to Make the Most of Them Now

New York Times bestselling psychologist Dr. Meg Jay uses real stories from real lives to provide smart, compassionate, and constructive advice about the crucial (and difficult) years we cannot afford to miss.

Our "thirty-is-the-new-twenty" culture tells us the twentysomething years don't matter. Some say they are a second adolescence. Others call them an emerging adulthood. Dr. Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist, argues that twentysomethings have been caught in a swirl of hype and misinformation, much of which has trivialized what is actually the most defining decade of adulthood.

Drawing from almost two decades of work with hundreds of clients and students, The Defining Decade weaves the latest science of the twentysomething years with the behind-closed-doors stories from twentysomethings, themselves. The result is a provocative read that provides the tools necessary to make the most of your twenties, and shows us how work, relationships, personality, social networks, identity, and even the brain can change more during this decade than at any other time in adulthood—if we use the time wisely.

The Defining Decade is a smart, compassionate and constructive book about the years we cannot afford to miss.

Really enjoyed this as a parent too.

I really appreciate this book. The points brought up by the author were great and my son really enjoyed this book and he gained a lot of confidence about big life decisions and he told me about the book so I read it also. I hope my next 2 kids read it too. Highly recommend.

So motivating! Puts things into perspective

I was assigned this book for a Developmental Psychology course, and it has honestly changed my life. To be honest, I've been thinking about my future career and personal growth from the time I was 17. My friends thought I was uptight and boring, and my parents thought I was too anxious. This book reaffirmed that the choices I make for my life right now are important and I need to take accountability for them. And more importantly, I need to surround myself with people who take accountability for their own choices. The best lesson I've gotten out of this book is that taking accountability = control. Who doesn't want to be in control of their own life?

A Must Read!

So wish I’d had this book in MY twenties! Share it with all the 20-somethings in your life. They will thank you!

wish I could have read this in high school

this book was recommended to me by my therapist, despite my being in my mid 30s. it was a really depressing book on one level, just because it's too late in some ways, but that only affirms the importance of what the author is saying for people who are actually not through their twenties. there were some really good takeaways for me despite my age. I've seen a lot of list of questions for couples to talk about when considering a relationship, but this is definitely the best list of conversations to have with a potential partner that I've ever come upon.

I loved this book so much!

this is the first book I've actually been able to finish for a while and want to listen to again. I loved the stories and the questions it had me ask myself I loved the way she read the story, I could feel her drive in this book. thank you! (: