Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

101 Things All Young Adults Should Know

Rate this book
Practical Advice for Living in the Real World John Hawkins’s book 101 Things All Young Adults Should Know is filled with lessons that newly minted adults need in order to get the most out of life. Gleaned from a lifetime of trial, error, and writing it down, Hawkins provides advice everyone can benefit from in short, digestible chapters. Readers of this engagingly conversational and informative book will take away practical, achievable advice they can implement immediately. Hawkins provides anecdotes gleaned from his own life and from the lives of people he knows to counsel a young audience without patronizing them. Each of the 101 chapters is thoughtfully structured, and doses of humor lighten some of the heavier advice. Hawkins’ heartfelt but practical counsel will be useful not only to new adults but to their parents as well.

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2017

27 people are currently reading
422 people want to read

About the author

John Hawkins

1 book2 followers
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
41 (52%)
4 stars
20 (25%)
3 stars
9 (11%)
2 stars
4 (5%)
1 star
4 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Always Pouting.
576 reviews996 followers
February 2, 2020
A nice attempt at giving advice to those who are younger but I feel like some it was a little conservative, like the gender stuff with embracing masculinity or femininity if you're male or female respectively, but none of the advice felt useless to me. A lot of it is actually pretty applicable in real life especially the stuff about taking initiative or making settling down a more practical decision rather than one based only on emotion. I do think this advice is helpful especially in a Western society and it'll help you get much more conventional success but there are other ways to live and lots of shades of grey in the topics mentioned that aren't discussed. Also I may be a little too old for this book now because I kind of learned a lot of this stuff on my own the past few years so I may have aged out of the intended audience. A good book for younger adults, more high school aged, who aren't sure about navigating the world around them yet.




Profile Image for Tiffany W..
77 reviews
April 23, 2017
Refreshing, super useful and a must-have handbook for all teens learning about pieces of life.

Overall: 4.8/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Content: 4.5/5
Appealing: 5/5

I can't say that all of the author's advice is new (Well, life's what it is, that's how the world goes..), but this book is definitely of book all teens should read. Breaking his own life experiences and life philosophy into bullet points and chapters, the author provide insights from an adult's life journey, and wrote this book in a language that all young adults are able to understand. Most self-improvement books are pretty boring for most teens like me (I'm 18) --- trust me, I read a lot, out of curiosity, mostly --- but Mr. Hawkins' book is a handbook that you wish you can have on your shelf during your teen years, and perhaps want to keep it even after you leave school and enter the workforce. Separated into categories, young readers can quickly find answers they need and new knowledge to learn while moving on forward on their career paths.

Conclusion: 100 percent recommendable, 100 percent buy-worthy.

*I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,044 reviews126 followers
March 23, 2017
101 THINGS ALL YOUNG ADULTS SHOULD KNOW BY JOHN HAWKINS
This is written for people of all ages. It is written in a conversational style. When he talks about friendships he states that YOU are the one that has to make it happen. That means with some friends, if you don't reach out to them, the friendship will die. Setting hard boundaries in your personal life. Human beings test each other's limits. It's part of what we do--and in certain areas, some of us will go further than others. So what happens when someone who likes to push it to the limit runs up against another person who can't say NO?
To put it another way, people get treated as well or as badly as they allow themselves to be treated. That doesn't mean that people with boundaries don't ever get treated poorly; it means they don't allow it to continue.

You will become like the people you spend the most time with. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Choose your friends wisely because they aren't only your friends; they're people who have an outsized influence on who you're going to become as a person. Most of this is just plain common sense, but could be helpful to the 18 year old. Don't loan money to your friends. I'm not talking about a "Hey, I forgot my wallet, spot me $20.00 until tonight." sort of loan; I'm talking about "The rent's due and I'm broke. Can you help me out? I swear I'll pay you next week!" Again common sense, but to an 18 year old could be helpful to read this book. Why shouldn't you loan your friend's money?

For the simplest reason in the world: you'd like to continue to be their friend. Most of the time when people ask you for money, it's because they're terrible with money in the first place. That's why they don't have any. They're in a mortgage or car they can't afford, they have too much lifestyle for their salary. This is very much common sense, but could be valuable information to an 18 year old. Alternatively if you have the money to spare give it to them as a gift. I have been happy to do that over the years. This is knowledge we all know as an adult that is why I would buy this book for an 18 year old. That demographic will be interested in the information or advice in this book. It is written to easily understand. It is not boring, more like a conversation. I will buy my two son's this book, whether they read it is up to them.

Thank you to Net Galley, John Hawkins and the Publisher for my digital copy for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Jana.
1,419 reviews83 followers
did-not-finish
July 6, 2017
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I dnf'ed this at chapter 2, which is the chapter about love telling young women not to sleep with a man too soon because he might realize that he's not that into you, and also if you don't willingly give sex when you're married (for whatever reason), you will ultimately be cheated on or left by your spouse. Sorry, but that's a message I just can't get behind, I find it pressuring and somewhat slut-shaming and it's just not cool in my opinion, so I do not want to read more "advice" from this person.
6 reviews
July 30, 2017
This book should be the new standard for Young Adults graduating college. It would have been immensely helpful to me at that time. Although its directed at high school graduates onward, i'm not sure most are independent enough at that stage to fully appreciate the lessons inside. I wanted to read this as I am the parent of a young adult living at home who has "failure to launch" syndrome. Since he is resistant to reading anything "preachy" I read it first to determine if the information would be presented in a suitable tone and useful. It was both. Coming from a Young Male who has navigated the modern world, he addressed life lessons (social media, dating apps) that I didn't experience so can't pass along first-hand wisdom. I even picked up some tips!
Profile Image for Tim Goering.
1 review1 follower
December 31, 2020
A very enlightening book that will prove useful throughout my life.
Profile Image for Kirsten Lost 2022.
239 reviews7 followers
May 30, 2017
This book is very Conservative American Dad. It's the kind of well-meaning but potentially damaging advice that you would expect from your dad. Dismissive of gender, sex, liberals, abuse, poverty, mental illness and has a weird fascination with guns. I give it two stars because some of it is ok advice and it's entertainingly written for the most part, but I couldn't advise anyone to get it for their kid.

Thanks to Netgalley for the read.
Profile Image for Aimee.
487 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2017
DNF. I'm a youth worker by profession and I'm always on the lookout for books to recommend to young people I work with, so when I saw this one on NetGalley I requested it straight away. Unfortunately it was not at all what I was hoping for, and I definitely won't be recommending it.

The introduction switched me off straight away because of its patronising tone. In a nutshell, the author is saying 'hey guys, I know you're young and I'm old and you probably don't want to listen to me, but guess what? I was young once too! Amazing, right?' That might work for a middle grade book, but this book states explicitly that it is aimed at eighteen year olds, and I can't think of a single person of that age who wouldn't immediately put this book down after reading the first few awkward pages.

I know it's hard to get the tone right in books like this, and I could forgive it if the advice given was good. However it's really not. The book is full of massive over-generalisations without any evidence to back them up ("typically men don’t get as attached as women after sex") and clichés we have all heard a thousand times ("women tend to spend hours analysing (…) [men are] looking for a potential solution"). The book also seems to forget its audience at times, and imagines that the reader is dreaming of yachts and beautiful women (stereotypically heterosexual male dreams), even though it's supposed to be for 'ALL' young adults, as the title suggests.

There's some deeply troubling advice too, stuff I wouldn't want any young adult I work with to read:
- MALE RAPE: At one point, the author states that men don't need to worry about being raped by a woman, which is firstly demonstrably untrue (there are research papers about male rape by females as well as court cases where women have been convicted of raping men) and secondly reinforces a stigma that has caused male rape to go under-reported for years.
- DOMESTIC ABUSE: A particularly cringe-inducing segment for me was a section on boundaries - I actually agree that this is a good topic to cover in a book for young adults, but the author has taken a very different tack to the one I would have gone for, and goes as far as to claim MORE THAN ONCE that women who are beaten by their husbands simply didn’t set ‘boundaries’ for themselves. This is an incredibly simplistic view which shows a lack of understanding of why victims of abuse don’t always seek help. This is not a subject that someone without a lot of knowledge and expertise should be tackling, and it is clear the author doesn't have this level of knowledge.
- MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES: Serious issues like depression, suicidal thoughts and, as the book calls it, "mental breakdown" are treated flippantly and described as traits you wouldn't want in a prospective partner. This example also left me wondering if the author understands the young adult market at all - we're talking about a generation who are finally throwing off the shackles of mental illness stigma and starting to talk openly about mental health on YouTube and in their friendship groups.

Maybe this book will appeal to some young adults (I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt), but it's definitely not for 'all' young adults and it could even be harmful. Please think twice before buying it for a young adult you know.

I was given a free electronic copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
874 reviews
May 20, 2017
I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

101 Things Young Adult Should Know is a collection of 101 things ya should know (duh) based on the author’s personal experience. It has a lot of important advice, not only for young adults, but adults as well. This book also has a lot of interesting stories and anecdotes that corresponds to the lessons. The thing is, some of the advice are filled with personal bias and unsympathetic to various readers condition. for some lessons, I can feel the “white, cis het priviliged male” practically oozing out of my phone (ebook reader here). And it’s a very alarming feeling. I mean, advising “man to embrace masculinity and female to embrace feminimity?” Also, there are a lot of advice here that basically said “work hard, even if that means you have to start from the bottom of the chain, it will take years and you will succeed”. This might motivate you, but it can also annoy you. For me, it's the latter.

This review is also posted on The Literary Huntress.
Profile Image for Cece.
6 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2019
I had just graduated highschool. I was working full time but felt like I wasn't, ya know, where I thought I should be in life. I was depressed and felt like maybe I was doing something wrong. So. I went and picked up this book, thinking it'll be like ever other self help book I've ever read. But, this one wasn't. Sure, he got where he wanted to be. But it wasn't immediate. He doesn't preach that it you do X, then X will happen and you'll live happily ever after. He talks about sleeping in an elevator once, he talks about not knowing what to do, he talks about the hardships and the time he put into his dreams, and that it all wasn't spontaneous. He gives actual advice that I still use today. This book made me realise I was doing ok. So for anyone who needs some advice, without too many spoilers, I advise this book.
Profile Image for Gabriella Hoffman.
111 reviews62 followers
May 8, 2017
John Hawkins of Right Wing News wrote a great book full of good anecdotes and advices for Millennials and those younger to follow. It's easy to read, full of quirks, and can easily be read in a day. Using examples from his life, Hawkins dispenses some serious truths about things from keeping your financial house in order to tips on how to live life to the fullest. Millennials will surely enjoy John's writing, as his columns are very popular at Townhall.com and knows how to write to his intended audiences. There are self-help books which drown you out--not this book. I can't recommend books like this enough! I
Profile Image for InformationSuperhero.
117 reviews42 followers
May 17, 2017
I received a ARC of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4/5

A must have for any adult, young or old who is trying to get through this thing called life.

John has the most positive, upbeat language and tone I've read regarding advice. I loved that there was no pandering through the 11 chapters which touched on Friendship, Love, Social Situations, No Regrets, Monet Matters, Adulting, Health, Career, Success, Be Responsible and Self-Awareness. All adults, young or otherwise, could use a reminder in multiple topics. Most topics are common sense and include personal experience or quotes that the author thought appropriate to include.

I looked most forward to and was most disappointed with the money section. I thought there would be more detailed information on management and comparison of financial options (renting vs. buying a house).

The love section was small and lacking some simple advice like dating multiple partners to find what works for you as well as a safe sex message. I did I find this section was highly stereotyped regarding gender in both society and attraction (masculinity and femininity). It made me a bit uncomfortable. I just carried on after it.

This book will go well with my life skills rant I give my graduating grade 12's in June. It includes more hand on life skills such as learning how to properly merge with a vehicle, writing thank you notes, digital etiquette and common things they have shared that they do not know yet. John's book and my rant make a great combination to send off for life success.
Profile Image for Elaine.
980 reviews15 followers
May 4, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am grateful to have had the chance to read it. I would actually give it 2.5 stars because I wouldn't say I liked the book, but it deserves a rating better than ok.

For the most part, this book offers good advice to young adults, who are also the most "normal" Americans possible, meaning straight, white, middle class, christian, conservative. It becomes redundant quite frequently, especially when the author brags about his current viewership of his conservative website. Coming from most of those above backgrounds, I can relate and do find much of the advice pertinent, but the title of this book is completely deceiving. This book has a very specific audience and would be mostly rude and insulting to those who do not fit that audience, which is why I can't say I liked this book. Because I don't fit one of the above categories, middle class, I feel ostracized and degraded by some in this book of advice. I could go into more personal details, but I feel that would be inviting criticism and play into what Hawkins describes in this book as playing the victim.

I would be willing to recommend this book to its specific audience with a statement: This is advice to YOU, based on your privilege from your background, but does NOT apply to all young adults. Please keep that in mind.
Profile Image for Lynndell.
1,716 reviews1 follower
May 30, 2017
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and River Grove Books for the opportunity to read and review 101 Things All Young Adults Should Know by John Hawkins. Great guide full of helpful, down to earth tips for just about every situation a young adult/adult might find themselves in. The advice is given in sections that work together and focus on keeping balance in 6 key areas of life: health, career, romantic, social, money, and religion. This nonfiction book is helpful and to the point and answers questions about friendships, all sorts of relationships, proper ways to tip waitresses and other service employees, personal time spent and how to achieve and keep happiness. 5 stars!
Profile Image for Caroline Arnold.
38 reviews4 followers
November 29, 2024
This was a worthwhile read, especially for a young adult. Anyone from late teens to mid twenties, and even beyond, could probably learn something from this quick self help book! A lot of the points that the author made seem obvious, but there is much truth in all of his topics. He writes with a lot of humor, and some of his own personal experiences which made this type of book more enjoyable and fun to read. Overall, a good straightforward self help read.
Profile Image for Michelle (MichellesBookishLife).
477 reviews22 followers
Read
June 3, 2019
This book has 101 chapters that give young adults advice about how to get the most out of life. Hawkins uses his life experience to help kids in their late teens to early 20s live their best life, and hopefully learn from some of his mistakes. A highly recommended book for all young adults!

Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.
1 review8 followers
June 15, 2017
I'm not young but I liked this book. Great advice!

I enjoyed reading this book. Common sense with wit and humor. I will share this with my kids in a few years.
8 reviews
August 20, 2025
I believe I read this when I was 21. all of it was intuitive and obvious. I don't think there was anything that I took away from this. if I remember correctly he would mention to know about something but he wouldn't go into details. for example you would say "make sure you know how to change the oil in a car" and that would be it.
Profile Image for LaBibliodeCaro.
619 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2017
After reading the summary, I thought it might be interesting to have a look and (why not?) check how I fared now that I’m more a regular adult than a “new adult”. Overall, this self-help book is very interesting and can definitely be useful to the young adult population in their early twenties.

The book offers sound advice and the author sounds like a benevolent father figure or big brother. Some things are more targeted at young men, which is logical because the book is written from a male perspective. At times, it even amused me to see advice about how to clean your place! But, there’s something for everyone in it even though I’ll go as far as saying that sometimes it’s more relevant for an American audience. As a non-American reader, I can say that some references are very foreign and non-applicable. Having said that, I would recommend this book because you can glean some valuable life tips. The author has clearly been leading a multifaceted, riveting life. So, he can legitimately offer valid guidance. There’s one tip that also applies to my situation and that I support 100% — it is about finding something you love in life and that you’ll be ready to do for free until you can make a career out it. Basically, life is short, so be mindful what you do with the little time you’ve been given.

It is an interesting self-help book with a (logically) strong American perspective, but regardless of your cultural background, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading it.
1 review
April 25, 2017
As an adult whose life constantly revolves around family and a few friends, there are so many things that I didn't know about how things work adulthood. Especially now that I moved cross country, away from family and friends, this book is immensely helpful (still working how to adult) in dealing with day to day living. A must read for young adults and adults who don't know how to adult.
Profile Image for Teagan Cook.
117 reviews
May 22, 2017
I recommend that you read this book if you want some serious yet, not serious life tips. Throughout this book, various pieces of advice were offered for the taking. Even though I couldn’t relate to all the advice, it was still enjoyable and helpful reading it as one day I might be able to give that advice to someone else.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.