Customer Reviews

20 Something Manifesto: Quarter-Lifers Speak Out About Who They Are, What They Want, and How to Get It

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In 20 Something Manifesto, Hassler takes on the 'big' issues -- self-identity, career, love relationships, money, friends and so forth -- the whole caboodle. These are lifelong issues. You certainly confront them in your twenties decade. If you solve some in your twenties, great. If not, you'll revisit them throughout life until you solve them. And, some need to be addressed more than once because circumstances change -- e.g., considering the divorce rate, some of us will face the issues of dating and finding a spouse more than once. Moreover, some are continuing processes throughout all your decades, such as the task of making relationships work.

The author offers realistic, compelling descriptions and in-depth analyses of the issues as seen in the many forms in which they appear in actual life.

What makes Hassler's book fresh, readable and very useable is the method she employs: she publishes the experiences of scores of 20-somethings, in their own words, from their own perspectives, colored by their own values. Even better, she has them write 'declarations' at the beginning of their stories -- that is, you can see the 'moral of the story' up front.

She also speaks to each of the issues exemplified by the stories from her own experience and her own training. Then she offers some advice and/or techniques for dealing with the issues yourself. All that makes it easy to scan through the book to pick and choose the issues most relevant to you. You can read the book in the order that works best for you.

Note that not all of the contributors have solved their issues. But those that don't have possible solutions to offer you have developed insights that may well lead them, and perhaps you, to those solutions. Or if there is no solution, the insights may lead to a viable way of accepting and living with the circumstances.

The author's use of contributors' stories gives an impression of a lively dialog going on in the book. It moves and flows like a live participative seminar, making it easy to read and giving impetus to your using the various techniques and exercises immediately.

The author started the book in her own late twenties, so her experience is with the issues as they relate to current 20-somethings. Nevertheless, since the issues are timeless, many folks in other decade ages can learn to resolve some of the issues that they couldn't handle in their twenties. Parents of 20-somethings can learn much about how their adult children think and feel and what are their concerns. Employers of 20-somethings can gain insight into their employees' behavior and motivation. Therapists and coaches will find it a valuable reference. Everyone will find it a good read.

Finally! A book that offers real solutions. There are so many books out there that talk about the 20-something experience and it's trials and tribulations. Well, I don't need to read about it - I'm living it! This book offers solutions and ways to improve. Real ones! Plus, reading the experiences of other "twenty-somethings" really helps you feel like you aren't alone. A must read for anyone in their twenties - or someone with a twenty-something son or daughter.

Christine Hassler has a true skill when it comes to helping guide people in their 20s & 30s. I found this book not only insightful, but also a very enjoyable read. The wisdom that Christine shares with each of her contributors stories is touching and relatable. This is the kind of book you walk away with both a smile on your face and a feeling of positivity knowing you learned something practical for how to live a better life. I highly recommend this for anyone in their 20s or 30s who simply wants to 'be a better person' and who also wants to find joy and happiness in their daily lives.

That's exactly how I felt when I read Christine's first book "Twenty Something, Twenty Everything". At the time I was lost, confused and totally unhappy with the fact that the life I had been planning since I was 16 years was anything but that. Reading "Twenty Something, Twenty Everything" put me at ease as I knew that something was not wrong with me!

When the "20 Something Manifesto" came out I picked it up immediately. Although I am past those feelings of lost and confusion and feel happy again, the "20 Something Manifesto" is a great reminder for me to reflect back on those trying years and truly be grateful for them. I feel that without those "twenty something" years I wouldn't have this clear vision of who I am and how I want to create my life that aligns with who I am. You're twenty something years are by far the most valuable and most life transforming years of your life and Christine's both books show you just that. What's great about the 20 Something Manifesto is that not only is it authored by someone who went through it and succeeded but the book is filled with twenty somethings who have been there and made it out better than ever!

This book features a collection of authentic, diverse stories about the 20-something experience. (Full disclosure: I submitted a story to the collection.) Better yet, it provides Christine Hassler's expert advice and coaching exercises to help readers who need guidance about money, relationships, work and other topics. I love Christine's warm, intelligent and understanding style -- I really wish I had this book when I was in my 20s! Highly recommended.

After reading Christine's first book, 20 Something, 20 Everything I couldn't wait for a follow-up book. It wasn't long after the release date that I had The 20 Something Manifesto in hand and have been reading it ever since. Christine has such a way about her writing that makes the reader feel as though someone finally understands what he/she is experiencing. In addition, the exercises provided allow each person the ability to truly delve into their own personal journey and discover things that might not have been very clear before.

I urge anyone struggling with their own quarter-life crisis to get to know Christine and her books. Not only are they an entertaining and engaging read but prove to become a road map through one of the most difficult times in a person's life.

This book was awesome! It gave me a million "aha moments" Christine gives loads of advice and although she doesn't solve your problems she gives you tools to get and take control of your life and create the life you want for yourself one goal at a time...not one expectation at a time! ha! But, I highly recommend this book. Get it if you are a 20 something or as a gift for a 20 something you know...they will be grateful. It is also nice this book comes with other people's quotes and stories which allows you to feel like you are not the only one going through the "roaring and ravishing twenties" in your life! College really doesn't teach the things in this book, therefore it is great companion to have in addition to your degree/educational background this gives you real world advice and stories to draw from. Enjoy!

At one point in time my young 20 something son turned to me and said, "I have no idea what I'm going to do with the rest of my life." I was a bit taken aback because he was so young and just starting out. Christine Hassler, author and life coach specializing in "transforming the twenty-something experience," just recently having achieved graduation into her thirties, could well relate to the pangs my son felt. Fortunately my son is now a very successful business person with those dreaded times behind him, but I'm sure reading Hassler's 20 SOMETHING MANIFESTO: Quarter-Lifers Speak Out about Who They Are, What They Want and How to Get It, would still strike a chord.

People in their twenties have achieved their independence, but soon find themselves, as Christine so aptly puts it, an "Expectation Hangover." Finances, living arrangements, jobs and love lives don't magically appear on the horizon in neat little packages after leaving home and school . . . that is if they can ever manage to get financially afloat enough to leave home. In this day and age being a 20 something can really be a scary proposition. As one graduate student quoted in this book states, "It's a struggle between wanting grown-up things and having to worry about the future, while still wanting to go out and be crazy and irresponsible."

Hassler, with some amount of help from the deep down feelings and confessions of many 20 something people she interviewed, covers several critical topics concerning this age group. Well thought out and put together chapters include, Your Twenty-Something Journey, Expectation Hangovers, Basic Self-Awareness, Love, Work and Career and much more. From basic qualms about living arrangements to love and the heartbreak hotel syndrome, it's all there. The anonymity of the comments from the interviewees makes the book all the more believable and interesting.

To be honest, I'm not sure many young people in their twenties are going to want to hand over the asking price of this book, especially if they are beginning to realize that time is money and they don't often have a lot to spare. However, I can bet that the parents of these young people will gladly purchase the book to find out what their children are feeling in these somewhat shaky times. As the parent of a 20 something I was very interested in this book and read it closely. The book was very well thought out and it was a plus that much of the writing actually came from a wide variety of 20 somethings at different phases and throes this age bracket goes through. I loved it and will hand it along to my 20 something with the hope that he can also get some useful information and comfort in the pages. Many people this age feel they are going it alone, but this book begs to differ!

If you're a twenty something looking for that one book that will cover it all - from expectations to love to money to career - this book is definitely it! Christine covers it all and leaves absolutely nothing to be wanted in 20 Something Manifesto!

And I was particularly impressed with the Manifesto's "Work and Career" chapter which says a lot considering I've worked with hundreds of twenty somethings on work-life issues. In her heartfelt work-career advice, Christine not only addresses how to create job satisfaction in both good and bad situations, but also covers how to overcome the fear of quitting a bad job and even outlines how to start a business for those of you wannabe entrepreneurs! And these issues are definitely something that every twenty something should read. I feel so strongly about this that I'm not only going to make 20 Something Manifesto highly recommended reading for all of my clients, but also make reading the "Work and Career" chapter absolutely mandatory!

Christine does an amazing job of explaining the twenty something experience. It's like hearing advice from a big sister who has been through it all already.

It's advice that I am definitely taking to heart and it's a book that I will continually review as my twenties proceed.