There’s an unmistakable magic to back-to-school season. Even if it’s been decades since you last set foot in a classroom, the nostalgic pull of learning is hard to resist. Who doesn’t love the scent of fresh paper, the feel of a perfectly sharpened pencil and the crisp snap of a new notebook ready to be filled with notes and even more doodles?
Even as adults, we still enjoy the promise of exciting new discoveries and the feel of curiosity flowing through our minds. You don't need a student ID or a homeroom assignment to map out your own study plan. Being a Lifelong Learner means you get to build your own curriculum, set your own pace and choose your own required reading. Whether you enjoy science, psychology or creative writing, here’s your official adult reading syllabus to stay inspired for the semester ahead.
Chemistry: Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry is the debut novel from Bonnie Garmus, who was nearly 65 years old by the time the novel was released. The story explores misogyny, feminism and science as Elizabeth Zott pursues a competitive research fellowship, navigates an unexpected pregnancy that getse her fired and begins hosting a science-infused cooking show for 1960s housewives. It was adapted into an Apple TV+ miniseries in 2023.
Philosophy: Sophie's World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy
by Jostein Gaarder - Paulette Møller
From Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder, Sophie’s World centers on a 14-year-old Norwegian girl who studies under a famed philosopher after she receives a series of mysterious letters asking existential questions like “Who are you?” and “Where does this world come from?” Since 1991, it’s been translated into 59 languages, sold over 50 million copies and was adapted into a video game and Norwegian feature film.
Economics: Parable of the Sower
by Octavia E Butler
Penned by the late Octavia E. Butler, a MacArthur Fellow and one of our preeminent female African-American authors, The Parable of the Sower was first released in 1993, and it finally reached the NYT Best Seller list in 2020, 14 years after the author’s death. The Parable of the Sower is a dystopian sci-fi novel that explores a not-so-distant future plagued by hyperinflation and socioeconomic collapse.
Psychology: The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library takes a deep, allegorical look at trauma and human psychology as protagonist Nora Seed battles severe depression and overcomes a suicide attempt. It offers a raw look at regret, external validation and the illusion of living a perfect life.
Art: Lust for Life
by Irving Stone
Lust for Life by Irving Stone (not Iggy Pop) is one of the author's most famous works. This biographical novel delves into the passionate, turbulent life of Vincent van Gogh. It was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film starring Kirk Douglas back in 1956. Art lovers may also enjoy The Agony and the Ecstasy, in which Stone takes a similar approach to detailing the life of Michelangelo.
Music: Bel Canto
by Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett’s fourth book, Bel Canto, is a love story centered around fictional American opera singer Roxane Coss (inspired by Renée Fleming) who becomes embroiled in a South American hostage crisis after she’s hired to perform for a wealthy Japanese business mogul.
Literature: The Shadow of the Wind
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Lucia Graves
It’s 1945. Daniel Sempere uncovers a mysterious book in a secret library in post-WWII Barcelona known as the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. After falling in love with the story, he works to uncover the truth about its elusive author. Framed as a story within a story, The Shadow of the Wind pays homage to anyone who loves reading, writing and rare books. With over 15 million copies sold, it stands as one of the bestselling books of all time.
Language: Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
by R. F. Kuang
Set at Oxford University in an alternative version of the 1830s, R. F. Kuang’s Babel uses varying forms of language to explore themes of imperialism, capitalism and caste systems. It won the 2022 Nebula Award for Best Novel and debuted at the #1 spot on the NYT Best Seller list.
History: Pride and Pleasure: The Schuyler Sisters in an Age of Revolution
by Amanda Vaill
Amanda Vaill’s 2026 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography follows the lives of New York’s well-to-do Schuyler sisters set against a backdrop of the American Revolution. Eliza marries Alexander Hamilton, a penniless outsider, and Angelica elopes with a wealthy British profiteer, dancing through Europe and charming the likes of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Drawing from archival research and personal letters, Vaill paints a vivid picture of two sisters with vastly different lives.
Math: The Housekeeper and the Professor
by Yoko Ogawa - Stephen Snyder
The Housekeeper and The Professor is a bestselling book and foreign language film from Japanese author Yoko Ogawa. It centers on an aging mathematician and his unique bond with his single mom caregiver and her 10-year-old son, Root. It weaves together prime numbers, baseball stats and mathematical equations as the professor tries to cope with his 80-minute short-term memory span.
Physics: Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
Sci-fi can be a little outlandish at times, but Project Hail Mary is rooted in real science. It’s been discussed by NASA, Scientific American and other publications for its use of quantum physics, space travel, astrobiology, rotational gravity and mass-to-energy conversion. A film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling was released in March 2026.
Geology: Journey to the Center of the Earth
by Jules Verne - Mint Editions
First published in 1864, Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth remains a masterwork of science fiction. Take a deep dive through the mouth of an Icelandic volcano and past ancient layers of the earth as Professor Otto Lidenbrock and his nephew Axel attempt a treacherous journey to reach the center of the earth through a network of prehistoric lava tubes.
Phys. Ed.: Fitness Junkie
by Lucy Sykes - Jo Piazza
From the authors of The Knockoff, Fitness Junkie follows CEO Janey Sweet as she tries an array of radical health and wellness techniques, from smoothies to cult-like boot camps and eating clay, all in a quest to lose 30 pounds and keep her job.
Biology: An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
by Ed Yong
If you enjoy nonfiction and biology, Ed Yong's An Immense World is a must-read. Named one of the 10 best books of 2022 by the New York Times, Outside and a host of nationally recognized publications, it describes the radically different ways that animals perceive the world around them.
We hope you enjoyed this human-curated back-to-school reading guide for adults as much as we enjoyed created it. Make sure to sign up for the Page & Pairing email newsletter to receive more great content delivered straight to your inbox.