Watching your child struggle is difficult at any time, but the triple challenge of figuring out who you are, while finding meaningful relationships and a fulfilling career hits some 20-somethings very hard indeed. At a time when life holds such promise, they find themselves in a state of quarterlife crisis. These books promise understanding and advice for any 20-something, but they also offer concerned families guidance and insight into the issues their kids may be facing.

 

• Abby Wilner and Alexandra Robbins were among the first to give this syndrome a name. Their book, Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties, defines a critical and often anxious juncture in a young adult's life as he wonders who he is and where he's going. (Compare book prices)
   
• Marcos Salazar and his Turbulent Twenties Survival Guide: Figuring Out Who You Are, What You Want, & Where You're Going After College, offer practical guidance on setting goals, coping with doubt and depression, and surviving and thriving in the 21st century's global economy. ()
   
• Alexandra Robbins' sequel, Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis: Advice from Twentysomethings Who Have Been There and Survived, follows many of the people from the first Quarterlife book to find out what happened and what they found most helpful. Among the chapters: "How Do I Find My Passion?" and "What If I Spent Years Working Hard and Now Realize I Made a Mistake?" ()
   
• If either of those last chapter titles speak to you, then the next book ought to be Alexandra Levit's How'd You Score That Gig? A Guide to the Coolest Jobs and How to Get Them. This 20-something career planning guide helps young adults figure out the type of job - besides "billionaire philanthropist" - that most appeals to them and 60 ways to make that dream a reality. ()
   

• And finally, the Hundreds of Heads series provides a dash of practical, often irreverent wisdom from 20-somethings who tell you How to Survive the Real World: Life After College Graduation: Advice from 774 Graduates Who Did. It's a great little college graduation gift and good family conversation starter.()