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What Should I Do with My Life?

What Should I Do with My Life?

List Price: $24.95
Your Price: $15.72
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Life Is Change
Review: People have complained about the book's sloppiness, but I think that the author has broken new ground and not known how to shape it: a sobering book about people following dreams and risking changes without earth shaking results. This book isn't pessimistic; it's realistic. Even bright, talented, materially comfortable people grow bored, long for change, or can't hack a profession for which they have skill. Life doubles back on you.

This book is a great counterpoint to the many that promise nirvana and self-fulfillment in five easy steps, cleverly mixing ideals of American self-making with Zen aphorisms and a few quotations by Jung. But readers can take comfort in this book's honesty: life is change with no guarantees; making changes requires compromise and sacrifice. And yes, 'miracles' can happen: you can meet the right person and a door might open. But just as likely, nothing special happens. The key is to keep looking, or hang on to a decent, not too stressful job and pursue your passions at night and on the weekends.

But isn't this in many ways preferable to the false promises of the keys to happiness & self-actualization books that prey on people's gullibility and longing? Thanks to those books, the title of Mr. Bronson's book seems deliberately deceptive, as if cashing in on a trend. But it's not. He just doesn't know where to fit himself in this distillation of interviews of people who, like him, don't have the answers.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: what I'd do if I had the time
Review: Po Bronson has done what I wish I could have done. He has interviewed a ton of people on their career choice decisions and how they have changed their lives. Don't expect this book to be a self-help book. It's not. This book is partly the story of how Bronson investigated his own internal dilemma, and is therefore interspersed with his own personal commentary and self-realizations.
This book has helped me realize something that I've always said: that each of us has our own road to take and there is no right or wrong way about it. There is no dress rehearsal, and there is no training you can do before you begin your life.
My only complaint with the book is not on its information or the writing style. It's that Bronson is not a trained therapist, but frequently gives advise to those he interviews, and intervenes in their lives. Hasn't he heard of the prime directive? Okay, maybe 2 complaints. The second is that there are no examples of people that followed their bliss and failed miserably. Is it because he has a biased sample (only people who did well wanted to talk to him), or is it that EVERYONE who does what they love succeed terrifically?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Gaining wisdom from the experience of others
Review: Like many others I am currently asking myself the very question that is the title of this book. I found it fascinating to read about the stories of others from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances who have asked the same question. I didn't find the answer to my own question in this book, but by reading about the way others have answered it I gained a great deal of wisdom and insight. The style of the book is conversational, which works given that the book is essentially a series of personal stories gathered from interviews. The author adds some of his own analysis throughout the book, which provides food for thought whether you agree with him or not.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Read Fast Company first, then reviews, then book (maybe)
Review: Never have so many idle ones produced such idol hands.

Okay, Po (bless his confused head) sought to be a voice (with white beard and staff) in the dot-com wilderness. What Po is writing has been realized since the "booming" 1980's when twenty-somethings achieved all their five and ten year career objectives in three to five years, or before age 30, so an epidemic of "early" midlife crisis. "What do I do with the rest of my life?" "Am I truly happy in my job?"

Natural questions if you're an overachiever roaring with forest fire intensity through academia and jetting through corporate or dot-com careers and facing unconditional 60-hour workweeks. Is this what I requested? my "dream"?

And, of course, the answer is simple: take time away from the coffeehouse, the timeshare, the distractions of life and job to find YOUR emotional core competencies before you're laying face-up on a guerney or covered with a sheet.

What irks me about the book and summary (with "how-can-I-pay-my-rent" stamped all over the pages) is its attempt to commoditize the concept of thumbing nose at "establishment" and pursuing alternative careers and own definitions of fulfillment and 'success'.

I regret never having seen Po's presence replete with the flowing white robe, the glowing light, the angelic choir and the fluttering doves.

Jimminie Crickets! If your job/life is bad--a bottle of aspirin, a box of Kleenix and a six-pack, are priced less than this book!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I Know What To Do With My Life
Review: Bronson's book is very entertaining. It is thought provoking and has a meaningful message. At some point in everyone's life, a person wants to make a change. It's funny, because while reading, I thought of a character from John Orozco's "Delano" who became a worm farmer because he didn't know what to do with his life.

Bronson's book doesn't go that far, but he does get you thinking about what you should do with the rest of your life.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing
Review: Po is a god. This is the most amazing public biography of indecision and fate in people's lives since Studs Terkel created the form in the 50s. It is truly genius and Po has proven (not that he hadn't already) that he is the master of the essay AS WELL as the novel and screenplay. I just get more impressed every time I open his work. Po IS a new generation in himself.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Searching for our ultimate work place
Review: While reading this book you begin to wonder if you are in the ultimate work environment. This book brings to light the fact that no matter what your age, ethnic makeup or ecnomic income you can identify with people that Mr. Bronson interviews. The interviews are short and are well analized. I enjoyed reading and reflecting on his words of other people's stories.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent
Review: The stories shared in this book are interesting and inspiring. Po is an excellent writer, and gives the reader a glimpse of others who have taken risks in their careers in order to find something that they find meaningful. I saw a few negative customer reviews here, all of which completely surprised me. I actually can't fathom how someone who read this book would have such negative reactions! I think some people might have been under the misconception that this is a book that actually TELLS one what to do with their lives. To the contrary, it is a collection of profiles which serves to give the reader insight into the risks and rewards others have found on their paths to fulfillment. A highly enjoyable read.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: What Should I Do With My Life?
Review: ...Write my own book! I have found this deplorable book a complete inspiration! If someone who is as self centered as this author is (just read the inroduction where he bemoans the intrusion of caring about those who make up his book!) is able to have a book published, then there is hope for me and many other unpublished writers!

After reading this horrible book, I believe that the best part was found in the title.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Po On The Mark, But Did He Adequately Research His Subjects?
Review: I love the book, Po rocks! After reading the story of Deni Leonard, I had to check this story out. ... It looks like this guy's some type of criminal, not a Native American hero. I love the book, but this Deni Leonard guy is somethign else.


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