30 Before 30

A hilarious collection of essays documenting a young woman's attempt to accomplish thirty life goals before turning thirty.

“I resonated with Marina’s ability to knock herself down while bringing you up. This bracingly honest, brutally funny book deserves a well-tailored vest because it’s an emotional support animal.” —Guy Branum, comedian and author of My Life as a Goddess

At the apex of disillusionment with her post-college life, Marina Shifrin cracked open a bottle (or two) of wine and decided it was time to make a change. She started with a simple list of thirty goals that would inject a little chaos and eccentricity into her stagnant existence. Her only objective? Get them all done before turning thirty. Because it’s not as excusable to get naked in public, buy plane tickets instead of health insurance, or make out with coworkers when you’re in your thirties.

In essays ranging from smaller goals (Ride Bike Across Brooklyn Bridge; Donate Hair) to the life-changing (Visit Russia; Become Famous), Marina takes readers on a bumpy but brutally funny journey through her twenties, where it’s ok not to have everything, or anything, figured out. From moving to Taiwan, quitting her job on the internet (her resignation video hit nineteen million views), and buying furniture to falling in love (the real kind), Marina’s razor-sharp stories are best paired with a bottle (or two) of wine. Who knows, they might even inspire you to have a delightfully absurd adventure of your own.

“Marina Shifrin is like a millennial David Sedaris—so 30 Before 30 is kinda like reading Me Talk Pretty One Day by the light of your iPhone. This collection of writing is essential reading for anyone who is under thirty and wants to figure out how to live and be a cool person.” —Moshe Kasher