arielallon's review against another edition
3.0
Would have appreciated more research-supported advice, and less anecdotal.
Nevertheless, very practical and digestible, and to some extent, inspiring.
Nevertheless, very practical and digestible, and to some extent, inspiring.
lavendermarch's review against another edition
4.0
This was well written. It had some good advice, and I enjoyed reading about the ideas, tactics, and profiles included. I would recommend it. 4 stars.
vuphong's review against another edition
4.0
This book has some interesting ideas, such as going around trying to find your dream job is like gambling, and although the best thing you can have in your job is control, you need enough capital to achieve it. In short, good book for young people.
tdanders's review against another edition
“The longer the receptionist had been a receptionist, the more likely they were to view that job as a passion. This destroys the passion hypothesis.” I couldn’t take it after this. The blatant disregard for simple logic killed me and I simply couldn’t trust the author any longer.
anjina's review against another edition
5.0
I wish someone had given me these bits of advice when I was 18 and starting my adult life. Like most people, I gave into the passion mindset in my late teens. It brought me more confusion rather than clarity. I was passionate about many things, so I did not know which passion to pursue as a career. I wish I had spent all that time building up career capital rather than getting confused.
I am in my mid-twenties and trying to get my life in order. I feel like I found this book at the perfect time. The author rejects the passion hypothesis and focuses on the importance of gathering career capital.
I do have to say that this book might not be for everyone, as many people have fulfilling careers because they decided to pursue their passions, but it works perfectly for someone like me who is utterly confused.
The goal now is to be so good that they can't ignore me!
I am in my mid-twenties and trying to get my life in order. I feel like I found this book at the perfect time. The author rejects the passion hypothesis and focuses on the importance of gathering career capital.
I do have to say that this book might not be for everyone, as many people have fulfilling careers because they decided to pursue their passions, but it works perfectly for someone like me who is utterly confused.
The goal now is to be so good that they can't ignore me!
jasminado's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.5
For my taste the author tried at some times too hard to justify why "following your passion" is bad advice, even though the thesis itself was interesting and compelling - the results of his research even more so.
I read this book at the perfect time in my life, and found some of the advices given by the interviewees enlightening, while to many of the advices I was already nodding along the way.
If anyone feels lost in their career or feels down about their current professional life, this book could serve well as a reminder that things take time and happen in stages, while the fantasy of 'follow your passion will lead to your dream job' can in worst cases simply be it: a fantasy.
I read this book at the perfect time in my life, and found some of the advices given by the interviewees enlightening, while to many of the advices I was already nodding along the way.
If anyone feels lost in their career or feels down about their current professional life, this book could serve well as a reminder that things take time and happen in stages, while the fantasy of 'follow your passion will lead to your dream job' can in worst cases simply be it: a fantasy.
thestorydoer's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I am not particularly well-versed in self help books. However, I can say very confidently this isnt your average self help book. This is for a couple reasons.
1. It emphasises the complexity and long-term nature of its findings, therefore it is not a 10 step guide to be happy forever. It is an in-depth exploration into the mindsets which give people job satisfaction (or disatisfaction). Giving simple solutions to complex problems is generally why I am ethically opposed to self help books, and this books skates on the brink of that but it never fully crosses over.
2. The author is intimidatingly intelligent. Having conducted a two year leave from his PHD Academic work in computer science, it was good to see a book such as this written so intelligently. It provides multiple demonstrations of the rules the book provides and even puts many of them into action.
3. It doesn't sugarcoat how difficult it is to do what the book is suggesting, and it doesn't use that fact as a motivational factor. The author uses the word "mental strain" and spans the effort required into of incremental improvement.
Now I do have a few issues though.
1. It says "don't follow your passion" as one of the rules but I believe this is incorrect. Many of the examples noted are passionate about their work. Therefore, instead of reading "don't follow your passion", I prefer to read the rule as "follow your passion intelligently" and the book suddenly makes a lot more sense.
2. It defines itself as provocative for a reason, but I do find the term "rule" problematic. I believe that the statements itself are provocative enough that they could've just been called parts. Rules implies this mandated lifestyle change but I could most certainly implement most of what this book said on a far smaller level.
3. The author can also be quite callous in their delivery of examples. For e.g., calling someone whose business failed during the 2008 recession, awaiting government assistance a "loser". The point remained valid, but it felt rather cruel at times.
4. I also wish there was more self-critique of the model it proposes, a little more akin to a science journal. I wish it delved slightly deeper into "exceptions" and shortcomings which I felt it didn't explore enough for something as intelligently written as this.
5. It's also very western centric, assuming you have the capacity in your life to improve a level of expertise to the point of mastery. Therefore, recommending this book to people struggling to make ends meet may come off as ignorant rather than helpful.
Overall, while it has many faults and focuses a little too much on being provocative at times, it's an intelligently written book with valuable advice for middle class workers. 4/5
1. It emphasises the complexity and long-term nature of its findings, therefore it is not a 10 step guide to be happy forever. It is an in-depth exploration into the mindsets which give people job satisfaction (or disatisfaction). Giving simple solutions to complex problems is generally why I am ethically opposed to self help books, and this books skates on the brink of that but it never fully crosses over.
2. The author is intimidatingly intelligent. Having conducted a two year leave from his PHD Academic work in computer science, it was good to see a book such as this written so intelligently. It provides multiple demonstrations of the rules the book provides and even puts many of them into action.
3. It doesn't sugarcoat how difficult it is to do what the book is suggesting, and it doesn't use that fact as a motivational factor. The author uses the word "mental strain" and spans the effort required into of incremental improvement.
Now I do have a few issues though.
1. It says "don't follow your passion" as one of the rules but I believe this is incorrect. Many of the examples noted are passionate about their work. Therefore, instead of reading "don't follow your passion", I prefer to read the rule as "follow your passion intelligently" and the book suddenly makes a lot more sense.
2. It defines itself as provocative for a reason, but I do find the term "rule" problematic. I believe that the statements itself are provocative enough that they could've just been called parts. Rules implies this mandated lifestyle change but I could most certainly implement most of what this book said on a far smaller level.
3. The author can also be quite callous in their delivery of examples. For e.g., calling someone whose business failed during the 2008 recession, awaiting government assistance a "loser". The point remained valid, but it felt rather cruel at times.
4. I also wish there was more self-critique of the model it proposes, a little more akin to a science journal. I wish it delved slightly deeper into "exceptions" and shortcomings which I felt it didn't explore enough for something as intelligently written as this.
5. It's also very western centric, assuming you have the capacity in your life to improve a level of expertise to the point of mastery. Therefore, recommending this book to people struggling to make ends meet may come off as ignorant rather than helpful.
Overall, while it has many faults and focuses a little too much on being provocative at times, it's an intelligently written book with valuable advice for middle class workers. 4/5