Rating: 
Summary: Plenty of Food for Thought
Review: Po's new book may not provide you with more answers, but certainly will leave you with fewer questions. It is not a self-help book. It is a compelling collection of vignettes describing people 'questing' for an answer to this question. Po is on to something. As a young professional seeking my own career path (during the boom I was a chronic job hopper), there are many stories here that spoke to me. I am sure you will find resonance in some of his stories -- Po covers a wide berth of individuals. There are dog ears and blue scribbles everywhere in my book. It reminds me of how my Lonely Planet guides look when I finish a dusty backpacking trip. The journey is somewhat similar. For those who are unhappy with their career, life, journey, or spiritual direction -- and I assume that this describes the most of us -- I highly recommend this book. A must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Good stories, simple advice
Review: This book is a delectable collection of anecdotes about people who realized that the jobs they were doing were meaningless and how they found happiness by finding an occupation that they loved. The anecdotes are well chosen, cover a large spectrum of professions and from that perspective it's a good book. You'll learn about investment bankers becoming fishermen, hollywood execs becoming doctors, saleswomen becoming massueses. The anecdotes generally adhere to the following format: The protagonist works really hard to make money and/or acquire power and prestige then there was a life changing event that made him realize that what's really important is such-and-such (family, leasure, helping people) and then he gives up the lucrative but empty profession and does something that they love or allows them to do what they love. If you are at a cross roads yourself it is quite instructional to see the various creative ways other people found happiness. Don't look here for philosophical epiphanies though - the central theses of the book however are mostly rather banal: 1) If people do what they really love as opposed to what society dictates is desirable and prestigious they will bring more energy and creativity to their jobs and productivity will rise. 2) Money isn't everything. Learn to live on less and you'll be happy because it will allow you to do what you love. 3) Work does not have to be fun. The important question is whether you find it meaningful and rewarding. If you believe in what you do putting up with gruntwork will be easy. 4) Surround yourself with people who share your values. You'll be happier that way because you won't need to compromise your values (eg by selling someone a widget you know they don't need). One insight I found deep and valuable is that when you choose a profession you are not only choosing what you will do but also who you will become in a sense that you will inevitable by transformed by the kind of people that inhabit that profession and what kind of values they have. So final rating: 4 stars for the well researched fun stories. One star is lost for excessive moralising.
Rating:
Summary: Feeling restless? A must read...
Review: If you're feeling at all restless with your current professional situation this book is a must read. While the central message is fairly straight forward: discover for yourself what you *should* do with your life, and then DO IT, the stories are thoroughly engaging and thought provoking. This book is a giant kick in the pants to stop sleep-walking through a life that is comfortable yet passionless. Buy this book - for you, and for a friend (or two).
Rating: 
Summary: What's going ON?
Review: how did this get to be a best seller? Mr. Po doesn't have the slightest idea what he's talking about. It may be slightly more entertaining to read than what color is my parachute, but it's got no bearing on the real world. don't waste your time reading this ...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book that makes the reader really think
Review: If you are interested in a "5 Step" plan to finding a better job or simply reading a series of "How I became a rich from humble beginning" stories, this not the book for you. Anthony Robbins style of cheerleading plays no role in these pages. How do people change from what they really want to do for a living with what they are presently doing. How do you reconcile your dream job with how you are still going to make the car payment? What is holding you back from changing? What fears do you harbor? How do you know what is your destiny? These are some of the issues that are addressed in this book. I use the word "addressed" carefully, because you will not find a nice "bullet point" summary of steps to take in this book. Life is not that simple and neither are the issues faced by the average reader of this book.
Everyone profiled in the book (50 people... I believe a total of 900 people were interviewed) made the critical decision to act upon their desire to change the way they earning a living. Real people and real decisions. Unlike Hollywood, not every story has a perfect cute ending. The process for change is extremely complicated and ultimately takes a lot of work. Self-doubt was common. But change they did. The people in this book are just like you and me. Bill Gates has no seat at this table. Bronson does a careful job of covering all the different angles. There are people who rejected money to follow their dream ( including Bronson himself), then there are others who make a decision without the support of the their family, there are those who struggle for years to make a change and there are those who make the change immediately. Whether you are extremely rich/successful or just starting out you will be able to relate. Bronson weaves his own story throughout the book and you learn as much about him as you do about the people he is profiling. He is very geniune in sharing his own shortcomings as well as his successes. I believe the average reader can relate to him. The book is an easy read and is akin to being at a cocktail party, gliding from one conversation to another with Bronson acting as your host. The Book holds together well and you build on each conversation. Bronson does underscore some definite trends that he has observed. i.e. nobody he who made a change did it as a result of an epiphany. But stays clears from "one size fits all" type statements. The book is an excellent starting point to begin the long journey of self-examination to develop a sense how you really would like to spend your working hours. There is no magic formula. But one thing you realize is that you are definitely not alone.
Rating:
Summary: fact or fiction
Review: My friend is one of the individuals described in this book. I use the term "described" loosely. It's more like a novel--a bad novel. The person he describes in his book--my friend--is some other guy named [______], not the person I know so well. A very disappointing production of misused biographical elements to fit Bronson's preconceived and cliched stereotypes. This is not a story about real people. He should try his hand at fiction--he appears to be very good at it.
Rating:
Summary: Examine Your Life and Learn
Review: Po Bronson spent a lot of time interviewing people around this country and around the world about their careers, their callings, their regrets and their dreams. All of this based on a single question: what do you want to do with your life? If you've ever asked yourself this question before, or if you're struggling with it now, you'll find it difficult to put this book down; you will be absorbed in its pages. This is NOT some kind of new age inspirational, feel-good book! It's much better than that. It's honest, insightful and respectful of the reader's intelligence. While Bronson does add his own thoughts to many of the personal narratives, he doesn't attempt to tell you how to find your way through the forest or make the right moves in your life. Instead, he lets the tales of his interviewees stimulate your thinking and give your perspective based on their diverse experience. There's no sugar-coating here. Sometimes people pulling radical career or life changes pulled it off easily...more often, with great difficulty. Even though Bronson says that he doesn't want to be responsible for changing people's lives with this book, it seems inevitable to me that he will have to assume some responsibility. For people who are tyring to answer the question posed by the book's title, the tales in this work will simply be too powerful to ignore. After reading it, don't be surprised if it causes you to make a significant change in your life.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding, Life Changing Book
Review: Reading this book changed my life. The stories continually inspired me to be more open to the instincts within me, the "crazy" ideas that most people dismiss when the voice whispers within them. It reminded me over and over, story after story, that people CAN succeed by living outside of the lines. I am surprised that the average number of stars from these reviews is only 3. It makes me wonder if perhaps some readers are feeling bad about themselves and the path they've chosen, and misdirecting that criticism to the writer instead of honestly confronting themselves. If you approach this book with an open, willing mind, it has the potential and power to change your life. Po Bronson's comments are insightful as well. All in all, I'm incredibly thankful that I came across this book.
Rating:
Summary: What I Needed When I Needed It
Review: I was in an airport when I saw it; the question that has been on my mind for the past year, staring back at me from the cover of a book at the airport newstand. It was Po Bronson's book, "What Should I Do With My Life?" I thought about buying it, but didn't at the momement because I had a plane to catch. But I thought about it on the flight home, and downloaded the e-book to read on my PDA. I actually like that it's not a self help book. I'm not naive enough to think that any one book can tell me what to do with my life, or how to find my purpose or calling. I did find it comforting to know that I'm not the only one struggling with this question, and I was grateful to hear how other people approached this question. I could see some of myself in them, and some of their stories in mine. Until this book, I was beginning to think of myself--a 35 year old gay dad--as a late bloomer. Now I think that I haven't bloomed yet, but I'm not late. Bottom line, if you're looking for a book to give you the answers, this isn't it, and good luck finding it. But if you're looking for stories about how other people approached this question, I'd recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: We All Have the Same Questions
Review: If you are seeking your calling, you have plenty of company. Our circumstances differ, but we all have the same questions. How do you find your calling, what road do you take? This collection of memoirs is not a self-help book-- you will not find an explicit roadmap to follow-- but you may well find comfort that many share your quest for direction. The range of people covered is fascinating-- the subjects include a Buddhist monk, a Harvard MBA turned catfish farmer, a social service worker, and a cake-maker, among many others. Bronson is sympathetic to his subjects, and includes his own profile in the book. If you are looking for good company on your own life journey, this book is a worthy companion.
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