'War and Peace'' by Leo Tolstoy: Your twenties can be an overwhelming time with lots of choices to make concerning jobs, relationships and everything else in between. Tolstoy comes to the rescue by inviting us to join his characters in their quest for deeper meaning and to seek out authentic experiences. The author emphasises the philosophy that there is “a limit to suffering and a limit to freedom” and that “there is nothing in the world to be frightened of”. This is more than a book – it is a life guide. – Janani Jayabal, data and insights
'War and Peace'' by Leo Tolstoy: Your twenties can be an overwhelming time with lots of choices to make concerning jobs, relationships and everything else in between. Tolstoy comes to the rescue by inviting us to join his characters in their quest for deeper meaning and to seek out authentic experiences. The author emphasises the philosophy that there is “a limit to suffering and a limit to freedom” and that “there is nothing in the world to be frightened of”. This is more than a book – it is a life guide. – Janani Jayabal, data and insights
'And Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou: I managed to get through most of my twenties – and an entire degree in English Literature – without developing any kind of appreciation for poetry. Then I discovered Maya Angelou. First published in 1978, Angelou’s third volume of poems, 'And Still I Rise', has lost none of its resonance in the subsequent decades. It is searing, soaring, affirming and heart-rending, but also completely accessible. While Angelou may focus on the African-American experience, she manages to capture the human condition in all its complexity. Every girl in the world should have the book’s most famous poem, 'Phenomenal Woman', as her rallying cry. – Selina Denman, head of magazines and travel
'And Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou: I managed to get through most of my twenties – and an entire degree in English Literature – without developing any kind of appreciation for poetry. Then I discovered Maya Angelou. First published in 1978, Angelou’s third volume of poems, 'And Still I Rise', has lost none of its resonance in the subsequent decades. It is searing, soaring, affirming and heart-rending, but also completely accessible. While Angelou may focus on the African-American experience, she manages to capture the human condition in all its complexity. Every girl in the world should have the book’s most famous poem, 'Phenomenal Woman', as her rallying cry. – Selina Denman, head of magazines and travel
'The Drowned World' by J G Ballard: James Graham Ballard’s 1962 post-apocalyptic novel is set in a London that is now mostly underwater and broiling in the tropical fug of an overheating planet. For those under 30, it’s an unsettling and prescient depiction of how things could look if we don’t change our ways. As usual, Ballard was way ahead of his time. An honourable mention goes to Cormac McCarthy for his 2006 novel 'The Road', a pitiless portrayal of total environmental collapse. – Declan McVeigh, sub-editor
'The Drowned World' by J G Ballard: James Graham Ballard’s 1962 post-apocalyptic novel is set in a London that is now mostly underwater and broiling in the tropical fug of an overheating planet. For those under 30, it’s an unsettling and prescient depiction of how things could look if we don’t change our ways. As usual, Ballard was way ahead of his time. An honourable mention goes to Cormac McCarthy for his 2006 novel 'The Road', a pitiless portrayal of total environmental collapse. – Declan McVeigh, sub-editor
'Everyday Sexism by' Laura Bates: How refreshingly liberated (and occasionally irritating) it is to have millennials and Generation Z document every waking thought and experience, from body image (Lena Dunham) to mental health (Rachel Bloom, Bryony Gordon). Or so I thought, until a friend started bleating about the plight of the white male, who “can’t say anything any more without getting into trouble”. Laura Bates began the Everyday Sexism Project to highlight the many insidious ways women are maligned, sidelined, undermined and abused, resulting in them still being underpaid and under-promoted. Essential reading for everyone navigating the minefield of insecurities, anxieties and opportunities that are your twenties. – Tahira Yaqoob, comment editor
'Everyday Sexism by' Laura Bates: How refreshingly liberated (and occasionally irritating) it is to have millennials and Generation Z document every waking thought and experience, from body image (Lena Dunham) to mental health (Rachel Bloom, Bryony Gordon). Or so I thought, until a friend started bleating about the plight of the white male, who “can’t say anything any more without getting into trouble”. Laura Bates began the Everyday Sexism Project to highlight the many insidious ways women are maligned, sidelined, undermined and abused, resulting in them still being underpaid and under-promoted. Essential reading for everyone navigating the minefield of insecurities, anxieties and opportunities that are your twenties. – Tahira Yaqoob, comment editor
'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller: I stumbled upon this novel as a 16-year-old in my local library and was immediately seduced by the brilliant, wickedly funny prose and harrowing plot. The book introduced a side of the Second World War that I had not experienced through the boisterous Hollywood movies I was consuming at the time. The way Heller combines his anti-war message with so much humour illustrated to me the power of great writing – I knew then that I wanted to be a journalist. – Saeed Saeed, arts and lifestyle writer
'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller: I stumbled upon this novel as a 16-year-old in my local library and was immediately seduced by the brilliant, wickedly funny prose and harrowing plot. The book introduced a side of the Second World War that I had not experienced through the boisterous Hollywood movies I was consuming at the time. The way Heller combines his anti-war message with so much humour illustrated to me the power of great writing – I knew then that I wanted to be a journalist. – Saeed Saeed, arts and lifestyle writer
'To the Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf: This beautiful, lyrical novel opens in the summer of 1910 at a sun-dappled, airy house on the Isle of Skye, where the Ramsay family are spending their summer holidays. The colours are bright, the clifftop winds fresh and the chatter excitable. You can almost feel the sea spray on your face. But time has no respect for such beauty and, as the novel progresses, we see the house and its inhabitants change, as Europe is rocked by the First World War. To the Lighthouse is a novel about impermanence and the frailty of family, but it is also a joyous reminder that small things give life its meaning. Woolf’s dreamy prose, which swims loosely across the page, has the wondrous effect of untethering your mind from its moorings. – Rupert Hawksley, arts and culture writer
'To the Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf: This beautiful, lyrical novel opens in the summer of 1910 at a sun-dappled, airy house on the Isle of Skye, where the Ramsay family are spending their summer holidays. The colours are bright, the clifftop winds fresh and the chatter excitable. You can almost feel the sea spray on your face. But time has no respect for such beauty and, as the novel progresses, we see the house and its inhabitants change, as Europe is rocked by the First World War. To the Lighthouse is a novel about impermanence and the frailty of family, but it is also a joyous reminder that small things give life its meaning. Woolf’s dreamy prose, which swims loosely across the page, has the wondrous effect of untethering your mind from its moorings. – Rupert Hawksley, arts and culture writer
'Fever Pitch' by Nick Hornby: 'Fever Pitch' was the first book about being a football fan that I read. I was 13 and it still resonates to this day. Nick Hornby beautifully describes why people bother to stand in a cold stadium with limited amenities, in order to watch 22 people kick a ball around. The passion. The bonding with strangers over something as trivial as an off-side decision. The highs of victory. The despairs of defeat. These are all things that football fans can relate to. The novel has stayed relevant to me over the years as, growing older myself, I have begun to understand the challenges of balancing a passion for football with everything else that life throws at you. – Graham Caygill, sports editor
'Fever Pitch' by Nick Hornby: 'Fever Pitch' was the first book about being a football fan that I read. I was 13 and it still resonates to this day. Nick Hornby beautifully describes why people bother to stand in a cold stadium with limited amenities, in order to watch 22 people kick a ball around. The passion. The bonding with strangers over something as trivial as an off-side decision. The highs of victory. The despairs of defeat. These are all things that football fans can relate to. The novel has stayed relevant to me over the years as, growing older myself, I have begun to understand the challenges of balancing a passion for football with everything else that life throws at you. – Graham Caygill, sports editor
'Where the Heart Is' by Billie Letts: This delightful novel set in middle America was selected for Oprah’s Book Club in 1998 and starred Natalie Portman in a film adaptation. When I was in my late twenties, teenager Novalee Nation personified a “phoenix from the ashes” character that I really related to – despite never having given birth in a Walmart myself! A sweet young woman with many faults and insecurities, Nation suffers blow after blow but learns the importance of using her network and resources to build a life she and her family deserve. – Ellen Fortini, listings editor
'Where the Heart Is' by Billie Letts: This delightful novel set in middle America was selected for Oprah’s Book Club in 1998 and starred Natalie Portman in a film adaptation. When I was in my late twenties, teenager Novalee Nation personified a “phoenix from the ashes” character that I really related to – despite never having given birth in a Walmart myself! A sweet young woman with many faults and insecurities, Nation suffers blow after blow but learns the importance of using her network and resources to build a life she and her family deserve. – Ellen Fortini, listings editor
'Siddhartha' by Hermann Hesse: 'Siddhartha', which roughly translates to “he who has found the meaning”, is the story of one man’s spiritual awakening. He fasts, renounces personal possessions, becomes homeless and meditates on his quest. First published in German in 1922, the story has a simple structure, yet lessons learnt are deep and profound: “Knowledge can be imparted, but not wisdom. One can find it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.” – Michael Barnard, sub-editor
'Siddhartha' by Hermann Hesse: 'Siddhartha', which roughly translates to “he who has found the meaning”, is the story of one man’s spiritual awakening. He fasts, renounces personal possessions, becomes homeless and meditates on his quest. First published in German in 1922, the story has a simple structure, yet lessons learnt are deep and profound: “Knowledge can be imparted, but not wisdom. One can find it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.” – Michael Barnard, sub-editor
'Into The Wild' by Jon Krakaue: 'Into The Wild' charts the tragic real-life story of Christopher McCandless, a young American hiker and adventurer, who left his life in society behind to live completely off the grid. I was 23, almost McCandless’s age, when I read the book and it was just one of those stories that stayed with me. An inspiring yet heart-breaking read. – Samia Badih, arts editor
'Into The Wild' by Jon Krakaue: 'Into The Wild' charts the tragic real-life story of Christopher McCandless, a young American hiker and adventurer, who left his life in society behind to live completely off the grid. I was 23, almost McCandless’s age, when I read the book and it was just one of those stories that stayed with me. An inspiring yet heart-breaking read. – Samia Badih, arts editor
'A Kestrel for a Knave' by Barry Hines: It was 1968, and the world was in political turmoil. Paris was rioting, the Vietnam War was tearing American society apart, Black Panther salutes were being given at the Mexico Olympics, and in a crumbling mill town in northern England, Barry Hines was giving the British working class the loudest literary voice they’d had since Charles Dickens. Taking place over the course of just one day, with parts of the story told in flashback, this tale of one bullied, poverty-stricken northern scallywag and his pet kestrel is about class, education and how our background inexorably affects our chances in life. – Chris Newbould, arts and lifestyle write
'A Kestrel for a Knave' by Barry Hines: It was 1968, and the world was in political turmoil. Paris was rioting, the Vietnam War was tearing American society apart, Black Panther salutes were being given at the Mexico Olympics, and in a crumbling mill town in northern England, Barry Hines was giving the British working class the loudest literary voice they’d had since Charles Dickens. Taking place over the course of just one day, with parts of the story told in flashback, this tale of one bullied, poverty-stricken northern scallywag and his pet kestrel is about class, education and how our background inexorably affects our chances in life. – Chris Newbould, arts and lifestyle write
'The Phantom Tollbooth' by Norton Juster: Forget 30, I lost my heart to this book at 13. A story of a bored young boy and the competing worlds of numbers and books, 'The Phantom Tollbooth' is everything that can exist in literature, wrapped up in one young-adult novel: amazingly drawn characters, narrative conceits, suspense, metaphor, self-reflexivity, generosity of voice. It blew my mind – it was the first time I realised just how profound a book could be. – Melissa Gronlund, visual arts writer
'The Phantom Tollbooth' by Norton Juster: Forget 30, I lost my heart to this book at 13. A story of a bored young boy and the competing worlds of numbers and books, 'The Phantom Tollbooth' is everything that can exist in literature, wrapped up in one young-adult novel: amazingly drawn characters, narrative conceits, suspense, metaphor, self-reflexivity, generosity of voice. It blew my mind – it was the first time I realised just how profound a book could be. – Melissa Gronlund, visual arts writer
'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy: A book for those who have decided it is time to grow up, move out of mum and dad’s and start living an adult life. Starting a family might not be on the horizon just yet, but if you want to understand more about the bond between father and son in times of difficulty, this is a good place to start. Set in a post-apocalyptic America, it charts a man’s journey with his son towards the sea as they try to stay alive. Every page is horrific, every word is tender and touching. – Ian Oxborrow, homepage editor
'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy: A book for those who have decided it is time to grow up, move out of mum and dad’s and start living an adult life. Starting a family might not be on the horizon just yet, but if you want to understand more about the bond between father and son in times of difficulty, this is a good place to start. Set in a post-apocalyptic America, it charts a man’s journey with his son towards the sea as they try to stay alive. Every page is horrific, every word is tender and touching. – Ian Oxborrow, homepage editor
'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell: Increasingly and terrifyingly insightful, Orwell’s 1949 novel predicted the rise of government surveillance and propaganda, as well as how class struggle will come to define our society. Thankfully, it is all wrapped up in what is actually quite a beguiling love story. This may not be a book that will change your life, but it will allow you to confidently state that something is “Orwellian”, which is worth plenty of dinner party conversation capital. – Charles Capel, breaking news reporter
'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell: Increasingly and terrifyingly insightful, Orwell’s 1949 novel predicted the rise of government surveillance and propaganda, as well as how class struggle will come to define our society. Thankfully, it is all wrapped up in what is actually quite a beguiling love story. This may not be a book that will change your life, but it will allow you to confidently state that something is “Orwellian”, which is worth plenty of dinner party conversation capital. – Charles Capel, breaking news reporter
The Cartel trilogy by Don Winslow: Written over 14 years, with a narrative spanning more than 40, Winslow’s books – 'The Power of the Dog', 'The Cartel', and 'The Border' – are a singular achievement. Our protagonist is Art Keller who embodies the US War on Drugs in all its violent, politicised and often futile ends. Much of the first two books are set in Mexico and tell the stories of rival narcos battling for power and dominance over a multi- billion dollar empire. The books are often bloody but many of the fictionalised events and issues have at least some basis in fact. The plotting is dense – with dozens of characters – but Winslow tells a truly compelling story about what is one of the most pressing issues of our time. – Nic Ridley, night editor
The Cartel trilogy by Don Winslow: Written over 14 years, with a narrative spanning more than 40, Winslow’s books – 'The Power of the Dog', 'The Cartel', and 'The Border' – are a singular achievement. Our protagonist is Art Keller who embodies the US War on Drugs in all its violent, politicised and often futile ends. Much of the first two books are set in Mexico and tell the stories of rival narcos battling for power and dominance over a multi- billion dollar empire. The books are often bloody but many of the fictionalised events and issues have at least some basis in fact. The plotting is dense – with dozens of characters – but Winslow tells a truly compelling story about what is one of the most pressing issues of our time. – Nic Ridley, night editor
Harry Potter series by J K Rowling: J K Rowling created a magical world that spanned not just one, but seven books – and you should read all of them. I first came across the story of boy wizard Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger when I was 12. I kept up with every book in the brilliant series concluding with the final one ('Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows') when I was 19. If you haven’t read the series by the time you’re 30, what else will you talk about at a party? – Evelyn Lau, assistant features editor
Harry Potter series by J K Rowling: J K Rowling created a magical world that spanned not just one, but seven books – and you should read all of them. I first came across the story of boy wizard Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger when I was 12. I kept up with every book in the brilliant series concluding with the final one ('Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows') when I was 19. If you haven’t read the series by the time you’re 30, what else will you talk about at a party? – Evelyn Lau, assistant features editor
'Tram 83' by Fiston Mwanza Mujila: Fiston Mwanza Mujila wrote 'Tram 83' like a piece of jazz music, making it the most original novel I’ve ever read. Set in a riotous bar in a war-scarred African city state, the poet Lucien fumbles around for meaning in the darkness. A tranche of unsavoury characters – from wheeler-dealers to underage miners – bounce in and out of the narrative as Lucien attempts to focus on a single task: writing a play. As a writer, I quickly empathised with Lucien. And I felt the jazz in my stomach. – Charlie Mitchell, leader writer
'Tram 83' by Fiston Mwanza Mujila: Fiston Mwanza Mujila wrote 'Tram 83' like a piece of jazz music, making it the most original novel I’ve ever read. Set in a riotous bar in a war-scarred African city state, the poet Lucien fumbles around for meaning in the darkness. A tranche of unsavoury characters – from wheeler-dealers to underage miners – bounce in and out of the narrative as Lucien attempts to focus on a single task: writing a play. As a writer, I quickly empathised with Lucien. And I felt the jazz in my stomach. – Charlie Mitchell, leader writer
'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote: The story of the brutal killing of the Clutter family in a prairie town in 1959 is one I always seem to return to. The first time I read it I was 10 years old and away at summer camp. It was certainly stirring stuff. I returned to it seven years later as a high school senior and again when considering a career change to journalism. Capote taught me that a serious novel can also be seriously, compulsively readable. – Kelsey Warner, assistant business editor
'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote: The story of the brutal killing of the Clutter family in a prairie town in 1959 is one I always seem to return to. The first time I read it I was 10 years old and away at summer camp. It was certainly stirring stuff. I returned to it seven years later as a high school senior and again when considering a career change to journalism. Capote taught me that a serious novel can also be seriously, compulsively readable. – Kelsey Warner, assistant business editor
'The Sea Wolf' by Jack London: Jack London grew up in poverty and wrote to maintain his lifestyle. So his genius is at times tempered by uneven prose. In this somewhat pro forma plot, a soft city gentleman called Humphrey van Weyden is rescued at sea by the brutal and amoral captain Wolf Larsen. Ignoring the late entrance of an unnecessary romantic sub-plot, this is one of literature’s most memorable morality plays, in which the values of refined western civilisation represented by van Weyden are pitted against the law of the jungle in the form of Nietzschean ubermensch Larsen. You’re supposed to root for van Weyden, but Wolf is just so much cooler. – Campbell MacDiarmid, assistant foreign editor
'The Sea Wolf' by Jack London: Jack London grew up in poverty and wrote to maintain his lifestyle. So his genius is at times tempered by uneven prose. In this somewhat pro forma plot, a soft city gentleman called Humphrey van Weyden is rescued at sea by the brutal and amoral captain Wolf Larsen. Ignoring the late entrance of an unnecessary romantic sub-plot, this is one of literature’s most memorable morality plays, in which the values of refined western civilisation represented by van Weyden are pitted against the law of the jungle in the form of Nietzschean ubermensch Larsen. You’re supposed to root for van Weyden, but Wolf is just so much cooler. – Campbell MacDiarmid, assistant foreign editor
'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle: As a yoga practitioner, I use this book as my guide to tuning in and focusing on being present. But this is no new-age mumbo-jumbo. Drawing from a variety of spiritual traditions, Eckhart Tolle explains in the simplest manner how a more mindful life can benefit us all. Try and pick up this brief read – you may very well end up incorporating elements of it into your own life. In summary, though, stop worrying about the past or the future and get on with living right now. – Mary Gayen, sub-editor
'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle: As a yoga practitioner, I use this book as my guide to tuning in and focusing on being present. But this is no new-age mumbo-jumbo. Drawing from a variety of spiritual traditions, Eckhart Tolle explains in the simplest manner how a more mindful life can benefit us all. Try and pick up this brief read – you may very well end up incorporating elements of it into your own life. In summary, though, stop worrying about the past or the future and get on with living right now. – Mary Gayen, sub-editor
'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood: Atwood’s novel feels as relevant today as it did when it was written in 1985. Set in a dystopian future, it is an eye-opening and terrifying novel that should awaken readers to the not-so-distant reality of state control over the female body and reproductive rights. Interestingly, sales for 'The Handmaid’s Tale' shot up by by more than 200 per cent following the election of Donald Trump. If you’re yet to make the acquaintance of Offred et al, get your hands on a copy of Atwood’s extraordinary work. – Farah Andrews, assistant features editor
'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood: Atwood’s novel feels as relevant today as it did when it was written in 1985. Set in a dystopian future, it is an eye-opening and terrifying novel that should awaken readers to the not-so-distant reality of state control over the female body and reproductive rights. Interestingly, sales for 'The Handmaid’s Tale' shot up by by more than 200 per cent following the election of Donald Trump. If you’re yet to make the acquaintance of Offred et al, get your hands on a copy of Atwood’s extraordinary work. – Farah Andrews, assistant features editor
'Middlemarch' by George Eliot: Victorian Britain’s most polished novelist and world builder, George Eliot is my home town of Nuneaton’s best-known daughter, so perhaps I’m a little biased. Nevertheless, her greatest work is a beautiful inspection on women’s status, politics and religion in provincial life. Middlemarch is often thrust upon reluctant young English literature students but if you hated it first time around, try it again – it is a bold, realist masterpiece and for many people, it marks the transition from casual to serious reader. – Stephen Nelmes, chief homepage editor
'Middlemarch' by George Eliot: Victorian Britain’s most polished novelist and world builder, George Eliot is my home town of Nuneaton’s best-known daughter, so perhaps I’m a little biased. Nevertheless, her greatest work is a beautiful inspection on women’s status, politics and religion in provincial life. Middlemarch is often thrust upon reluctant young English literature students but if you hated it first time around, try it again – it is a bold, realist masterpiece and for many people, it marks the transition from casual to serious reader. – Stephen Nelmes, chief homepage editor
'Mornings in Jenin' by Susan Abulhawa: Susan Abulhawa’s stunning debut became the first mainstream novel in English that portrayed life in Palestine post-1948. It’s a multi-­generational story that follows the Abulhejos, a Palestinian family forced to leave the olive-farming village of Ein Hod during the Nakba. Interwoven tales – primarily told through the eyes of young Amal – explore history, identity, love and courage against a backdrop of era-­defining political turmoil that everybody should understand more about. This moving book will help you do just that. – Katy Gillett, Weekend editor
'Mornings in Jenin' by Susan Abulhawa: Susan Abulhawa’s stunning debut became the first mainstream novel in English that portrayed life in Palestine post-1948. It’s a multi-­generational story that follows the Abulhejos, a Palestinian family forced to leave the olive-farming village of Ein Hod during the Nakba. Interwoven tales – primarily told through the eyes of young Amal – explore history, identity, love and courage against a backdrop of era-­defining political turmoil that everybody should understand more about. This moving book will help you do just that. – Katy Gillett, Weekend editor
'The Rachel Papers' by Martin Amis: I discovered this sharply written and witty novel, Amis’s first, when I was roughly the same age as the lead character, 19-year-old Charles Highway, who thinks he is rather clever. Naturally, I saw a lot of myself in him as he chases after older girl, Rachel. I re-read this so many times that I even wrote my first novel Creating Rachel as a kind of homage. The original is superior in every way. – Mustafa Alrawi, assistant editor-in-chief
'The Rachel Papers' by Martin Amis: I discovered this sharply written and witty novel, Amis’s first, when I was roughly the same age as the lead character, 19-year-old Charles Highway, who thinks he is rather clever. Naturally, I saw a lot of myself in him as he chases after older girl, Rachel. I re-read this so many times that I even wrote my first novel Creating Rachel as a kind of homage. The original is superior in every way. – Mustafa Alrawi, assistant editor-in-chief
'The Course of Love' by Alain de Botton: I read this book when I was 33, but I wish I’d read it at 23. It’s a novel about a married couple, which unusually begins after the marriage, surveying the irritating, absorbing and difficult realities of a shared life. There are highly relatable philosophical musings by de Botton throughout. If we all managed to live by these ruminations, divorce rates would plummet. Ultimately, it’s about not taking yourself too seriously – and so, while I’m not a fan of re-reading books, this is one I will revisit ­whenever I find myself getting irrationally tetchy. In fact, judging by my reaction to a messy drawer the other day, I’m ripe for a re-read. – Nyree McFarlane, head of features
'The Course of Love' by Alain de Botton: I read this book when I was 33, but I wish I’d read it at 23. It’s a novel about a married couple, which unusually begins after the marriage, surveying the irritating, absorbing and difficult realities of a shared life. There are highly relatable philosophical musings by de Botton throughout. If we all managed to live by these ruminations, divorce rates would plummet. Ultimately, it’s about not taking yourself too seriously – and so, while I’m not a fan of re-reading books, this is one I will revisit ­whenever I find myself getting irrationally tetchy. In fact, judging by my reaction to a messy drawer the other day, I’m ripe for a re-read. – Nyree McFarlane, head of features
'Normal People' by Sally Rooney: The title says it all. On the face of it, this is just an ordinary story about two normal teenagers whose lives intertwine as they go from school friends to young adults finding their way at university. But the beauty of this book is what is left ­unsaid. Rooney perfectly demonstrates how words left unspoken and assumptions can alter the course of our lives. It will leave you begging for the characters to just say how they really feel. A ­lesson, I’m sure, we could all have done with at some point in our twenties. – Sophie Prideaux, lifestyle writer
'Normal People' by Sally Rooney: The title says it all. On the face of it, this is just an ordinary story about two normal teenagers whose lives intertwine as they go from school friends to young adults finding their way at university. But the beauty of this book is what is left ­unsaid. Rooney perfectly demonstrates how words left unspoken and assumptions can alter the course of our lives. It will leave you begging for the characters to just say how they really feel. A ­lesson, I’m sure, we could all have done with at some point in our twenties. – Sophie Prideaux, lifestyle writer
'The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams: If you haven’t mastered the art of cultivating a creative imagination and a sense of humour by the time you’re 30, then there’s probably no hope for you. But this sci-fi classic, which parodies every sci-fi trope you can think of, is a solid lesson in not taking anything too seriously. When the anxiety of trying to be successful and live your best life all gets too much, there is refuge in the idea that a hapless, irritable man wearing a dressing gown could be the last living man on Earth. – Liz Cookman, assistant national editor
'The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams: If you haven’t mastered the art of cultivating a creative imagination and a sense of humour by the time you’re 30, then there’s probably no hope for you. But this sci-fi classic, which parodies every sci-fi trope you can think of, is a solid lesson in not taking anything too seriously. When the anxiety of trying to be successful and live your best life all gets too much, there is refuge in the idea that a hapless, irritable man wearing a dressing gown could be the last living man on Earth. – Liz Cookman, assistant national editor
'Home of the Gentry' by Ivan Turgenev: The novels of the 19th-century Russian masters were the first that transported me to lands that felt entirely strange. Published in the January 1859 issue of Russia’s literary, social and political magazine, 'Sovremennik', this is the sad, tangled love story of country nobleman Fyodor Ivanych Lavretsky, who, betrayed by his beautiful, coquettish wife Varvara ­Pavlovna in Paris, returns to his Russian estate. The novel plunges you into the world of the endless Steppe, with its “troikas” and “dachas” – a place dripping with exotic melancholy. – Stuart James, production editor
'Home of the Gentry' by Ivan Turgenev: The novels of the 19th-century Russian masters were the first that transported me to lands that felt entirely strange. Published in the January 1859 issue of Russia’s literary, social and political magazine, 'Sovremennik', this is the sad, tangled love story of country nobleman Fyodor Ivanych Lavretsky, who, betrayed by his beautiful, coquettish wife Varvara ­Pavlovna in Paris, returns to his Russian estate. The novel plunges you into the world of the endless Steppe, with its “troikas” and “dachas” – a place dripping with exotic melancholy. – Stuart James, production editor
'Educated' by Tara Westover: Raised in a Mormon survivalist home by a doomsday-­believing father who put her to work in his treacherous junkyard, Tara Westover never went to school. Her memoir – one of the best I have ever read – is wincingly honest and articulate about the trauma she suffered as a child. But her story is also an intricate account of a brilliant mind breaking free of the bonds of ideological ­brainwashing with little outside help. – Louise Burke, homepage editor
'Educated' by Tara Westover: Raised in a Mormon survivalist home by a doomsday-­believing father who put her to work in his treacherous junkyard, Tara Westover never went to school. Her memoir – one of the best I have ever read – is wincingly honest and articulate about the trauma she suffered as a child. But her story is also an intricate account of a brilliant mind breaking free of the bonds of ideological ­brainwashing with little outside help. – Louise Burke, homepage editor
'David and Goliath' by Malcolm Gladwell: Drawing upon history and psychology, Gladwell challenges us to reconsider how we deal with adversity, offering a fresh and invigorating interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, to cope with a disability, to lose a parent or to attend a poor school. Conventional wisdom holds that a disadvantage is something we want to avoid. Gladwell brilliantly illustrates why this is not always the case. – Liza Ayach, translator
'David and Goliath' by Malcolm Gladwell: Drawing upon history and psychology, Gladwell challenges us to reconsider how we deal with adversity, offering a fresh and invigorating interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, to cope with a disability, to lose a parent or to attend a poor school. Conventional wisdom holds that a disadvantage is something we want to avoid. Gladwell brilliantly illustrates why this is not always the case. – Liza Ayach, translator

Books

From 'The Handmaid's Tale' to 'Harry Potter': 30 books to read before you're 30

From inspiring characters to dystopian tales, the team at ‘The National’ bring you this library of life lessons to lap up before you wave goodbye to your twenties. Compiled by Rupert Hawksley

The National

June 16, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Reading the right book at the right time can alter a person. This is particularly true if you're under the age of 30 and are still evolving and trying to find your place – and voice – in the world.

Scroll through our gallery above to see our book picks

We all have that book that helped us to see the world with fresh eyes. This list, which features the choices of editors and writers from across The National's newsroom, is by no means definitive – how could it ever be? – but it is certainly diverse, featuring everything from works by Leo Tolstoy and George Orwell to Nick Hornby and Malcolm Gladwell.

There are some surprising omissions – no Jane Austen, for example – but one thing we all agree on is that each of these books has something important to say to young people.

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Read more:

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RACE CARD

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.

F1 drivers' standings

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281

2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222

4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177

5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138

6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93

7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86

8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56

MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)

Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports

UNSC Elections 2022-23

Seats open:

  • Two for Africa Group
  • One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
  • One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
  • One for Eastern Europe Group

Countries so far running: 

  • UAE
  • Albania 
  • Brazil 
Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 2

Rashford 28', Martial 72'

Watford 1

Doucoure 90'

US tops drug cost charts

The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.

Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.

In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.

Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol. 

The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.

High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.

Bio

Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind. 
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.

About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Sui Dhaaga: Made in India

Director: Sharat Katariya

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

3.5/5

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Famous left-handers

- Marie Curie

- Jimi Hendrix

- Leonardo Di Vinci

- David Bowie

- Paul McCartney

- Albert Einstein

- Jack the Ripper

- Barack Obama

- Helen Keller

- Joan of Arc

Kareem Shaheen on Canada
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
On Women's Day
Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Ain Issa camp:
  • Established in 2016
  • Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
  • Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
  • Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
  • 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
  • NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
  • One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.4-litre%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E470bhp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E637Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh375%2C900%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Autumn international scores

Saturday, November 24

Italy 3-66 New Zealand
Scotland 14-9 Argentina
England 37-18 Australia

While you're here
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On Women's Day
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
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Zadie Smith among 380 UK writers calling for end of 'genocide' in Gaza

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Pakistani teenage TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf shot dead in her home

Pakistani teenage TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf shot dead in her home

Gaza's aid centre chaos laid bare

Gaza's aid centre chaos laid bare

UK Prime Minister says situation in Gaza 'intolerable'

UK Prime Minister says situation in Gaza 'intolerable'