What Should I Do with My Life?: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question

Great book for the wealthy entrepreneur, doesn't include many stories of the middle income searching for the answer to the 'ultimate question'

As I read this book, I began to realize who this work was meant to appeal to. The majority of individuals whose stories were documented happened to be those who have made loads and loads of money, enough to feel comfortable with a major life decision or career change. Doctors, lawyers, Wall Street execs and the like. Most had advanced degrees and experienced things most Americans would never dream of but somehow still felt their lives were missing something. It seemed like the author himself came from privledge and chose to interview individuals who came from similar backgrounds. There may have been one story I could relate to in the entire 300 plus page work. Being a 29 year old, college educated individual attempting to return to business school I had hoped the book would tell at least a few stories of middle income individuals like myself. Unfortunately, there are not. I would not recommend this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Inspiring book about finding yourself...

Po Bronson has written quite the inspirational book. It's not like traditional self-help books (which I believe is the section I found it). It doesn't necessarily give you a set of rules or procedures. It tells the story of everyday people and how they found a sense of balance in their lives by trying to do something meaningful while also facing their everyday responsibilities. I found it motivating because it wasn't necessarily about living your dream. It was about people who had dreams, but for one reason or another have been unable to fulfill them in the traditional sense. But while on the journey to their dreams they found other things that were satisfying. It was about living and when you put your whole self into living fully you will lead an incredible life, even if you do not realize your dreams.

Great for those considering making a big change

I really enjoyed the stories and it reminded me of people to contact about some similar changes to my own path and decisions. I think this is a good guide to thumb thru and see if Ia few of the people touch your own concerns and goals.

Not just any book!

When I first glanced at this book, I thought it would be any normal self-help book. I thought there would be a little quiz here and there, places to journal, and a few predominant questions to answer for yourself. I was pleasantly surprised that the focus of this novel was more based on the examples of other people, rather than most books, which tend to be solely about you. I appreciated his creativity and originality while I read. I am a high school senior and I believed that by reading this I could finally answer life¿s toughest question we must all ask ourselves. Unfortunately, I have not answered that question after reading. I am somewhat disappointed because I was depending on the book to tell me what my future held. The stories taught me that no one else could decide for you, you must be strong enough to figure it out on your own. It was refreshing that real people just like me have been successful with their lives and happy with where they are. I loved that Po Bronson told stories of people through out all walks of life. It gave me reassurance because I realized that I don¿t need to be so urgent and anxious for my future. The major themes of this book are to over come fear and confusion to find a larger truth in their lives. This truth differs from person to person but moving past your animosities will help to find out how to live your life. Read this book with no expectations and no dependence, and then it will be enjoyable.

'What not to do with your life'

Po Bronson has written a unique book. Like a good anthropologist, without providing a synthesized set of lessons, he lays out the story of 50 individuals allowing the insights to emerge for the reader. While Po has been able to commit to his own dreams and be successful, the characters profiled in his book are different. Most of them do not care about anything, make career changes that are triggered by feelings of unhappiness or some abstract romantic notion in their heads or just pure randomness, and eventually fail to find fulfillment in a meaningful way. So it seems that one must do exactly the opposite of what these individuals did i.e. introspect deeply and understand one self, and find what one is passionate about before making big changes. Even if one fails to find a passion, one might attempt to live life with a bit of lightness and gratitude for one¿s good fortune relative to most people. Also, the pursuit of one¿s dreams and being practical are not mutually exclusive ideas. Charles Ives, the music composer, worked in the insurance business and T.S. Eliot was a banker. Making successful transitions requires talent, effort, passion and good fortune, and one must assess decisions on each of these factors with humility and honesty. I don¿t think these ideas are inconsistent with Po¿s, but are not exemplified by these 50 people. Po has clearly thought about this topic deeply, and that is reflected in both the questions he raises and his commentary.

Not a quick fix sort of book

This book offers insight into why we are not happy and are often yearning for meaning in our lives. It is not a career tool, it goes much deeper. There are many other books of that nature on the market. This one is unique.

This book will motivate you IF you LET it!

If the path you've chosen no longer satisfies you like you thought it would. If you're feeling like there's no way out of your dead-end job, but KNOW you can't go on doing what you currently do day in and day out for the rest of your life--then this is the book FOR YOU! It helped me SEE and ENVISION that my situation can CHANGE if I truly want it to--that it's NOT too late. Change is not easy, but I now am proud to be halfway through medical school and know that I am where I am meant to be. The book will not physically pick you up and place you in a fun and exciting new job--what it will do is enable you to SEE the possibilities and the fulfillment you deserve in your life.

No Inspiration Here

I looked so forward to reading this highly-recommended book, especially finding myself now in a position where, after 25 years, I do not have a choice as to whether or not to make a career change: The choice has already been made for me. What I was hoping for was some sort of blueprint to follow as I find myself facing so many difficult decisions. What I found instead was story after story of somebody simply stumbling upon his perfect match or dream job, rather than a guide as to how someone might find it with deliberation and planning. There seemed to be no starting point from which one might begin his search for the 'ultimate answer,' and I had no more insight as to 'Where do I go from here?' after reading the book than I did before. Definitely disappointing.

Very deep and incisive

While this book may have a somewhat narrow audience, as mentioned in the above reviews, I found it to be very good at getting right to the core of what holds us back. This book does not spoon feed the reader answers to the question posed by the title. But it does give one many things to think about some of which may be questions the reader is has avoided.

So Uh¿ What Should The Rest Of Us Do With Our Lives?

Would you give up a salary of $300,000 a year to find yourself? Po Bronson seems to think that after reading his latest book, What Should I Do With My Life?, you will feel compelled to do just that. He seems to think he has the power to influence the masses. To be fair: events surrounding the publication of Bronson¿s last book, The Nudist On The Late Shift, would seem to back him up. Published just before the dot-com industry collapsed, the book ¿ an enticing account of all things great within that industry inspired many of its readers to jump on the dot-com boat. When the industry sank these poor suckers went down with it. Bronson felt so guilty he published an apology in The New York Times Magazine. Because of these events the author emphasizes that this book, is meant only to help people find what¿s best for them. In other words, reader beware ¿ he¿s done apologizing. He doesn¿t have to worry. What Should I Do With My Life? simply isn¿t that convincing. Most of us twenty and thirty-something BA wielding working saps aren¿t making $300,000 a year. Though we¿re the ones most likely to be intrigued by such a title, we shouldn¿t be fooled: This book isn¿t about us. The author¿s passion is most ignited when he¿s detailing the stories of people who were financially successful and who, for their own reasons, turned away from that success. He seems so intrigued by these stories that he fails to realize they are essentially one story -- retold forty times. In the introduction to What Should I Do With My Life, Bronson claims to have interviewed some 900 people for this book. Supposedly, one of his goals is to show that his question is one with which people of all classes struggle. Yet of the 50 people whose stories make it into the book, all but about 10 began as highly paid professionals who found themselves asking this question in spite of their six digit incomes. Where are the high school drop outs, housewives, editorial assistants, bar tenders and others who have struggled with this question? Bronson begins the book with the story of a spiritualist who finds peace only after he leaves the monastery. He later profiles a blue collar worker who goes off to college and starts his own business and a self-proclaimed loser who invents golf equipment. But his treatment of these stories feels forced ¿ as if he is aware of the need for diversity among his subjects but isn¿t all that interested in creating it. This is unfortunate, as these are the stories that could turn this dull, repetitive book into an engaging read. If you¿re confused, frustrated and lacking direction you may feel inclined, after reading this book, toward a little late night soul searching. Just don¿t lay awake waiting for any revelations ¿ What Should I Do With My Life isn¿t likely to help you identify or live your dreams.

Good... but not Excellent!

I picked up this book looking for inspiration on how I could narrow down all the things I want to do with my life. I came not lacking inspiration or motivation, but feeling called to do too many things. This book didn't help. It tried to focus too much on the average person, trying to market itself to the Wal-mart crowd. A lot of people were interviewed but what they found seemed to be lacking somehow. Maybe the truth is one can never find what EXACTLY you want to do OR be ESTATIC about one's life, but that's why I picked up the book.

'This is sooo good!'

That's what I've said to more than one person about this book. While I'm only about halfway through, I could probably stop reading at this point and have a ton of things to think about (however, I will finish it, since the stories and people are so interesting) Being in career flux myself, I am comforted in the knowledge that other people have had/are having the same kind of problems with this question. I'm at a point in my life where I've given a large amount of thought to what I would like to do next. However, like many in this book, there is a tinge of fear in making a move just to make a move or settling for something just to make ends meet. All in all, a very interesting, revealing and inspirational read. Enjoy!

See Yourself in this book

If you are struggling with this question, you will be comforted by others why have been in the same boat. The best self-help book I have read for finding your supreme purpose in life and making the most of every moment is Optimal Thinking by Rosalene Glickman. You won't go wrong when you read these books.

Bait and Switch!

The title really captures your attention as well as the subect and the hope that you might get something meaningful out of this read. It was really boring and not well written. I would have put it down but I thought that there must be SOMETHING I am missing .... NOT! Don't waste your time or money on this drab stab at life's important question.

Very homogeneous

I was initially very excited to read this book, and got caught up in the first 50 pages or so. Then the stories and people began to seem very similar, and I lost most of my interest. I agree with a previous reviewer who mentioned that there was a definite lack of cultural diversity. It felt like ninety-five percent of those whose stories made it into the book were people who are or had been in some sort of investment banking business or in the computer tech industry, were white, middle class, and very educated. Po Bronson writes at the beginning of the book that his question is for people of all classes and educational backgrounds, but after reading the whole book, that seemed only lip service to me. I felt that his interview sampling was skewed towards people he could relate to and felt comfortable with, and that he was probably not even aware of this bias. I give the book three stars, however, because I think he deserves credit for coming up with a wonderful idea for a book, and giving us a great question to ponder.

Questions What I Want to do With My life

Recently, I have just graduated high school, I thought I knew what I wanted to do going into college. Since reading this book, I have asked myself everyday what I REALLY want to do with my life. For a long time, I wanted to find the job that will make me the most money. I have come to realize through other's experiences that it necessarily shouldn't be that way. Through each encounter, I have looked at myself in a way and questioned 'What is going to make me happy?' I recommend this book to anyone that is tired of their current job or just have no clue what they want to do in life.

It didn't work for me.

If you have an amiable or expressive social learning style this book would interest you. I have an analytical driver style so after the first chapter I was bored. I thought the book would be more like 'What Color is Your Parachute' or 'Whistle While You Work'. I expected some interesting means/methods to discover what I want to be when I grow up. If you find yourself lacking self-esteem or seek the comfort how others finds themselves, try this book. There was too much emphasis on the Generation 'Why' crowd in the interviews. Maybe the author feels more comfortable interviewing his generation.

A reality show about something interesting!

I really enjoyed this book - a window in to every man or woman's choice of life. Incredibly interesting to see how others did it.

not as good as the hype

This book isn't bringing anything new to the table. I was un-impressed with any of the stories. A better cultural selection would have been appreciated as well. The author failed miserably in this aspect.

Excellent read from cover to cover

This is not a book that strives give you the answer, but rather will help you to find your own answer. I read a chapter or two from this book each day during my spare time, and it filled me with inspiration and insight about my own life. I found myself jotting down revolutionary ideas frequently while reading. The real life stories were intriquing to read and the book flowed easily towards an excellent finish. I've even found it to be a great book to pick up and read a random passage from - every time I read it I find new insight! Highly Recommended!