The Outside Guide to Life

Age 0 to 20

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Your CV Can Wait: 8 Jobs to Do Before You Grow Up

There are only a few carefree summers in your life. Don’t waste them interning at law firms—opt for one of these adventure-packed seasonal gigs instead.

Reading for pleasure when you’re young can be a challenge. Chances are that if your parents don’t turn you off to the whole concept by preaching from dreary, socially conscious picture books (the ice caps are melting, the animals are dying, let’s all have some recycling fun!), your high school English teacher will ruin some truly great works (Catcher in the Rye or For Whom the Bell Tolls) by having you memorize any symbolism that might be helpful on a No Child Left Behind test. It’s a shame, because books, far more than movies or television or video games, impose a very useful obligation on the reader: the joy of exercising your imagination. They help you navigate around the youthful shoals of insipidness and set you on a path of adventure.—Scott Anderson
Memphis, Tennessee is one of the country's most entrepreneurial- and small business-friendly cities.

The Best Books for Teens

Books, far more than movies or television or video games, impose a very useful obligation on the reader: the joy of exercising your imagination. These are our top classic tales for formative years.

Age 20 to 30

Age 30 to 40

Age 40 to 50

Age 50 to 60

Age 65-Plus