Rating: Summary: I loved it, but had to take some salt with each section Review: I've been really struggling with this question and saw it at the bookstore, as I'm not one to read self-help books (mainly because normally the people writing them are the ones who really need the help). I gobbled it up and really enjoyed many of the stories.As a Republican by nature, I found most of his fawning over his Clinton staffer buddies annoying, and also had to stop reading when I found myself reverting to childish class envy. Many of the stories are about privileged pooballs from rich families who got to go to Ivy League schools without much effort and had even easier entrees into lucrative careers such as investment banking or lawyering. I skipped some of these stories altogether as a tiny violinist kept playing sad songs on the coffee table in front of me, in sympathy for the deflating egos and discovery of the fleeting nature of materialism these poor saps had to endure. I am a hick originally from a sparsely populated Western state, and had to work my way into big-city dot-com era life, and I too found myself lacking in passion for my chosen path (although I certainly did not want to return to my old briar patch). I found many of his stories humbling, intriguing, and inspiring. While he never explicitly answers the question, I think this is the point--most of us, if not all, and even the snobby San Francisco wine-and-cheese liberals have to muddle through and DO before we FIND...
Rating: Summary: A Must Read. Review: If there was ever a time that I needed this book, this was it. I quit my job as an attorney and went back to school. I also sold my house and moved to New York City. I was facing major changes in my life and in order to avoid really thinking about where I was going, I thought that keeping busy would take care of everything. School certainly did that. It kept me from really thinking about what I wanted to do. During the winter break, I picked up "What Should I Do With My Life" and every single story in it touched me in some way. The people that Bronson talks about are all around us. We may not always realize it, but everyone has dreams about what they want out of life, yet only few of us really pursue them, and less of us realize them. The book is not a guide on becoming successful, it's simply a reminder that we are not alone. A reminder that the pursuit is what really matters. After reading the book, I've recharged myself and have set goals that for the first time in a long time, are what I want and achievable.
Rating: Summary: Stuck in a rut? Review: I agree with most of the preceeding reviews -- if you feel stuck in a rut, you should try this book. I found it to be a good tool for stirring up creative ideas, and for encouraging what the psychologist Maslow advocated -- making the 'growth choice' rather than the 'fear choice' in your life.
Rating: Summary: Having the time and money to change direction. Review: This is not a self help book. It does contain interesting stories about already successfull people with money who want to do something more meaningful with their lives. Nothing wrong with that but don't look for too much inspiration or any answers in these stories.
Rating: Summary: What Should I Do with My Life? Review: I do not recommend you read this book. It will not get you any closer to answer 'what you should do with your life'. You are likely to be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: Don't buy the hype Review: If you're interested in what some unbiased reviewers actually think about this book you might want to check out the excoriating reviews in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Rating: Summary: Discover your strengths, be free, find your calling Review: This is a fantastic book. Like many people, I'm figuring out what to do with my life. This book helped ground me and let me see my choices. Read it. Then share a copy with a friend. FWIW, other books like this that I've found useful are: - "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Bruckingham and Donald Clifton - "Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself" by Daniel Pink - "Whistle While You Work: Heeding Your Life's Calling" by Richard Leider
Rating: Summary: Nice stories but no real answers to the question he poses Review: I was disappointed in this book. I felt it was a bait and switch. Some of the stories were interesting to read, but at the end of book, I was thinking "So what?" Po Bronson is a good writer, and he interviews a lot of different kinds of people, but his insights are quite limited, and colored by his limited perspective. I agree with one of the other reviewers- I found The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth am I Here For? to have a lot more meat to it. Bronson's book was entirely predictable.
Rating: Summary: The Purpose Driven Life is a far better book than this one Review: I didn't get much out of this book. Save your money and instead buy The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren. It is a far more helpful and insightful book in understand what you should do with your life. It came out about the same time as this book did.
Rating: Summary: When did Po become the story? Review: The author would be better served sticking to novels. 'Bombardiers' was a great piece of work. 'The First $20 Million..." was a good read as well. I can even stomach 'Nudist on the Late Shift' because it had some excellent reporting. But with this book, Po has clearly lost his way. As evidenced by the accompanying 'Fast Company' article, Po no longer thinks of himself as the writer. He nows sees himself as the central piece of the story. Further evidence was a recent San Francisco Chronicle article reviewing the book, replete with beefcake-like photos of the author and a 'review' that read something like a teenybooper scoring an interview with Justin Timberlake. Yo Po, your cred's in shreds.
|