20 Something Manifesto

Starred review from February 15, 2008
Life coach, speaker, and author Hassler ("20 Something, 20 Everything: A Quarter-Life Woman's Guide to Balance and Direction") has written this guidebook to help twentysomethings and their parents know they're not alone. She covers such territory as "expectation hangovers[" (i.e., when life does not turn out as expected) as well as features personal stories by various twentysomething contributors, grouping the entries into common problem areas and including expert advice and insights for dealing with these issues. Important information in an easy-to-digest format that targets an underserved (in the library world) population; highly recommended for public and academic libraries.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2008
The author of 20-Something, 20-Everything (2005) offers a handy guide for navigating the often rough waters of the twentysomething years. Hassler draws on her own experience, but she has also gatheredmyriadstories and quotes from a variety of twentysomethings around the world, regarding everythingfromgrappling with their expectations after college to job hunting and navigating friendships and relationships. Hassler addresses one of the biggest problems she thinks twentysomethings face: Expectation Hangovers, in whichreality doesnt measure up to what people in their twenties had come to expect from their lives, leading to depression and lack of direction. She then delves into the twenties triangle, addressing the three questions that dominate the decade: Who am I? What do I want? How do I get what I want? The chapters that follow address the biggest issues for people in their twenties: love, friendships, family, and career. Packed with stories and wisdom from their peers, this guide will definitely appeal to the many twentysomethings trying to find their way.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)