Rating: 
Summary: A Real Key To A Better Life?
Review: Self-help book junkies like this reviewer probably like the genre for its own sake. For the most part, we do not expect such books to help us make significant changes in our own lives. The number of us who actually work with them to see if they can upgrade our existence must be very small. Our skepticism runs very deep--yet perhaps one reason we are skeptical is that we have not been ready to try the techniques the books offer. Personal experience suggests that sometimes outstadning results can be achieved through some of these techniques.
Stephen Pollan and Mark Levine's "Second Acts" looks like a
good book, one worth both reading and testing. The book
purports to offer a map to the life of the reader's dreams.
It is not an easy or painless or miraculous road. That is
exactly why, in this reviewer's opinion, it has an above-avera
ge chance to work.
But only if we work it. Life is like that.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource for midlife career changers
Review: Stephen Pollan draws on his background as lawyer and financial advisor, once again demonstrating that life is the best preparation for a career as a life coach. His book offers the familiar promise, "It's never too late," but with some surprising twists.The best part of this book is the section on deciding what you want to do with your life. Pollan's exercises are original and would, I believe, help many people to discover their own next step. For instance, Pollan urges readers to review activities that they love -- and also places that draw forth a passionate response. His question, "What need does this passion address?" is extremely helpful and, unfortunately, rarely asked. Implementation sections are helpful but I would encourage readers to seek supplementary guidance. Pollan suggests that a degree from University of Phoenix may be as helpful, in some cases, as a degree from Harvard. I encourage my own clients to talk to alumni from any school. Some doors will be closed to Phoenix alums, including some adjunct teaching options. On the other hand, a fifty-plus career changer who wants to set up shop as a counselor would do as well with a degree from the fastest, lowest-cost school whose courses are recognized by the state in question.
Still, I would be careful. I have heard first-account accounts of degree programs losing acceptability by accrediting bodies. Pollan urges readers to omit dates from a resume. If you're using a back-door method to get a job (as you should!) that strategy will work. However, if your resume goes through a human resource department, it will most likely get tossed or you will be asked to submit traditional resume with dates. Finally, I was disturbed by the grammar errors distributed lavishly through the text. A top publisher should have provided a copy editor! In particular the author writes "I" instead of "me"
("he showed my wife and I...") Despite these qualms and quibbles, if you're a midlife career changer, you'll find this book more helpful than most. If nothing else, the author is a fine role model.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource for midlife career changers
Review: Stephen Pollan draws on his background as lawyer and financial advisor, once again demonstrating that life is the best preparation for a career as a life coach. His book offers the familiar promise, "It's never too late," but with some surprising twists. The best part of this book is the section on deciding what you want to do with your life. Pollan's exercises are original and would, I believe, help many people to discover their own next step. For instance, Pollan urges readers to review activities that they love -- and also places that draw forth a passionate response. His question, "What need does this passion address?" is extremely helpful and, unfortunately, rarely asked. Implementation sections are helpful but I would encourage readers to seek supplementary guidance. Pollan suggests that a degree from University of Phoenix may be as helpful, in some cases, as a degree from Harvard. I encourage my own clients to talk to alumni from any school. Some doors will be closed to Phoenix alums, including some adjunct teaching options. On the other hand, a fifty-plus career changer who wants to set up shop as a counselor would do as well with a degree from the fastest, lowest-cost school whose courses are recognized by the state in question.
Still, I would be careful. I have heard first-account accounts of degree programs losing acceptability by accrediting bodies. Pollan urges readers to omit dates from a resume. If you're using a back-door method to get a job (as you should!) that strategy will work. However, if your resume goes through a human resource department, it will most likely get tossed or you will be asked to submit traditional resume with dates. Finally, I was disturbed by the grammar errors distributed lavishly through the text. A top publisher should have provided a copy editor! In particular the author writes "I" instead of "me"
("he showed my wife and I...") Despite these qualms and quibbles, if you're a midlife career changer, you'll find this book more helpful than most. If nothing else, the author is a fine role model.
Rating: 
Summary: Second Acts Are Easier When Your First Act Was Great
Review: The authors draw upon Hillary Rodham Clinton, George Foreman and former junk bond king Michael Milken as examples of great second acts. How hard can it be if your first act was First Lady, boxing champ or Wall Street insider? These books always lose credibility when they draw upon celebrities as examples, simplistically implying that stardom is within your reach. Even using J.K. Rowling as an example is poor, since that kind of publishing success is a one-in-twenty-million phenom. If it makes you happy, buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Practical Advice, Inspirational Writing
Review: The practical advice, which you can find in the exercises and building blocks, is what makes this terrific book stand out from the crowd. It's about more than just dreaming, as the crisp, inspirational writing here shows. Pollan and Levine have inspired me to go out and try that career in acting after all.
Rating:
Summary: Dreams Can Come True: And This Book Proves It!
Review: This book changed my life. Literally. Stuck in a job rut, unsure of how to make my long held dreams come true, I picked up "Second Acts". Not only do Pollan and Levine carefully lay out a strategy for distilling your dream down to its essence, but they also guide readers through the most common obstacles those trying to change their life encounter, many of which are actually self created. Their advice is simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. If you've always dreamed of making a change in your life, either small or large, but were too afraid or unsure of where to start , then this is the book for you . Buy "Second Acts"-then start yours!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book is fantastic. It is valuable to anyone who works, even if you are not considering a second act it give you something to think about and some hard questions to ask yourself. You may decide after reading this and going through the exercises that you should consider a second act. If you are already considering one this book will help you get a better handle on what you need to do. It helps you set goals and objectives for your big move. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book is fantastic. It is valuable to anyone who works, even if you are not considering a second act it give you something to think about and some hard questions to ask yourself. You may decide after reading this and going through the exercises that you should consider a second act. If you are already considering one this book will help you get a better handle on what you need to do. It helps you set goals and objectives for your big move. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Move on when the time is right
Review: This book is really inspirational. The authors give you lots of encouragement to start afresh. Read this book from beginning to end. You won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Move on when the time is right
Review: This book is really inspirational. The authors give you lots of encouragement to start afresh. Read this book from beginning to end. You won't be sorry.
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