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Nobody ever tells you what goes on in the real world. Oh, sure, there are plenty of books about single women and sex, how to get a guy, how to find your inner bad girl, yada yada yada. The first time through they're entertaining reads. But after, they're about as reusable as toilet paper.

So how about a book that covers all the bases for a twentysomething starting her first job, moving into an apartment, making critical decisions all by herself?

Or a woman - a few years older - contemplating a house or condo purchase, a move back home to sort things out, an investment in stocks, or a job loss and unemployment?

Real Life Advice from Apartment Hunting to Yoga

Melissa Kirsch tells you this, and more, in The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything. And 'everything' is no exaggeration. She covers the commonplace (tipping - who and how much), the necessary (medical coverage - the difference between HMOs, PPOs, and POS), the difficult (condolences - expressing sympathy with sensitivity), the mundane (clothing labels - understanding symbols for care instructions), the practical (gossip - never do it on the job), and the sublime (spirituality - finding a place for your soul to call home).

'Everything' extends to health, career, finances, etiquette, friendships, love and sex, family, religion, homemaking, and fashion. Each topic packs fistfuls of information into an easy-to-browse layout. The book is well designed in a simple two-color format with sidebars, breakout quotes from real women, lists, helpful headings, and just enough illustrations to emphasize a point here and there.

And Kirsch writes with warmth, humor, and much-appreciated candor. She's a wise and funny friend who's happy to share with you what she's learned and graciously avoids coming across like a know-it-all.

If Only I had Known...

Kirsch explains that she wrote this book because, as a twentysomething editor for a women's media company, she saw a lot of dreck (i.e. books promoted by publishers) come across her desk, and she knew she could do better. She asked women she knew in their late 20s, 30s, and 40s what they wished they had known when they were first starting out, to save them time and heartache and make their lives easier.

She spoke to the right people because she includes literally everything you could conceive of in this book. It's not only a solid resource for someone fresh out of college, but a helpful reference for women in their forties like me.

The back cover promises it's "a colossal cheat sheet for your postcollege years." I'd go so far as to say it's a cheat sheet for life, with answers gleaned from countless women who've been there, done that, and want to spare you the worst of it. I plan on giving a copy to my daughter in six years. (I just have to get her into - and through - college first.)

Women Too

Thank you, Melissa Kirsch, for coming up with this extensive compilation. You'll be happy to know it's not dreck, according to yours truly who sees a lot of books coming across her own desk. And when you get around to writing "The Women's Guide to Absolutely Everything" for those of us in our forties and fifties, you give me a call. I sure could use the help.

The Girls' Guide to Absolutely Everything
by Melissa Kirsch
Paperback, 478pp. ISBN: 978-0-7611-3579-1
Workman Publishing 2006