Welcome to Booking Through Thursday, a weekly bookish meme about books and reading for everyone who loves both. Booking Through Thursday was first hosted by Deb. With permission, I’ve restarted it in 2026.
This week’s prompt:
It’s graduation season! This week, ponder what book(s) you might give as a graduation present. Something to help them navigate the world? Or maybe some fiction to remind them it’s not all hustle and grind.
What book or books might you give to a young high school or college graduate to help launch them into the world?
How to play:
- On your blog: Copy the question/image for your blog, answer it there, and post a quick comment here with a link or trackback to your post so we can read it.
- On social media: Copy the image, answer the prompt, and post a quick comment here with a link.
- Right here: Answer in the comments and start the discussion here. No need to have a blog to play.
Note: If it’s your first time here, your comment may end up in moderation. (My spam filter is aggressive.) I’ll be in after my writing sprints to set it free.
P.S. The prompt is always open, and you don’t have to play on Thursday. Comment whenever you like!
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Such a thoughtful prompt. 🎓📚 I’d choose books that offer both guidance and hope something like The Alchemist for purpose, and a collection of uplifting poetry for strength. A reminder that life is not just achievement, but also meaning, kindness, and becoming. 😊
And what a thoughtful answer! I love all of these and I think any one of them would make a great graduation gift.
Not only would I give Stephen King’s, On Writing, to a young graduate who wants to be a writer, I did give it to my nephew this year. Such a great book.
In college, oh so many years ago, I discovered John Gardiner’s On Becoming a Novelist. I remember getting tears in my eyes a few times because I had that “OMG, here’s a book that gets me” feeling. I thought I’d better read it again before giving it to my nephew. Turns out I’ve mislaid or lent my copy so I just ordered a new (used) copy for myself. I’ll be very interested to feel my reactions as a much older person.
Those are great ideas for new writers. I think On Writing is pretty timeless. I’ll be interested in hearing how you feel about On Becoming a Novelist all these years later.
Great ideas so far!
For me, it depends. If a young person is going into any sort of knowledge work, I would probably give them something by Cal Newport (So Good They Can’t Ignore You, Deep Work, or Slow Productivity). The message being: don’t outsource your brain.
But if I know a little about their reading habits, I might try to find a signed first edition of a favorite book, or perhaps a set of those fancy special editions with the sprayed edges and ribbon bookmark.
These books by Cal Newport look interesting, something to add to my TBR, for sure. Thanks for the recommendation.
Cal’s focus is knowledge-work. Other professions may or may not find as many useful things in in books. You can also try his podcast Deep Questions (for free). I think I like his latest book, Slow Productivity, best, if only for the story of how Jane Austen really wrote her books.
These all look like great ideas! My first thought, though? A beautiful hardbound journal (and a luxurious pen), and possibly an injunction to “tell your story!”
Oh, I love this idea! This would make a lovely graduation gift.