Should I Do What I Love?: Or Do What I Do - So I Can Do What I Love on the Side? [Paperback]

Katy McColl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2005

As a pragmatic reaction to the newfound “quarterlife crisis” genre, Katy McColl interviews real men and women “stuck” in their twenties and early thirties and solicits a variety of experts for advice on how to get unstuck. McColl employs a distinctively droll brand of humor and a “self-help without self-pity” approach to inspiring those disenchanted by their initial forays into the heady real world. The themes here are universal — how to negotiate that with a career, how to study a craft in an un-lucrative field, how to break into glamour industries, and what to do when laid off. Help comes via those who overcame the same problems and blazed their own trails in the most desirable fields, from noted fashionistas like Heatherette to successful musicians like Chris Conley. Organized by case study but filigreed with McColl’s comic commentary, the book offers ace advice on achieving that elusive career that’s rewarding in every respect.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sasquatch Books (September 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570614571
• ISBN-13: 978-1570614576
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,041,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and wise look at being a '20 something, October 27, 2005

By 

Bookish "Agnes K." (Tewksbury, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Should I Do What I Love?: Or Do What I Do - So I Can Do What I Love on the Side? (Paperback)

This book really helped me put the struggles I was facing at work in perspective. McColl is very funny amd entertaining as a writer (I think she is the best writer at Jane!). She interviews a very diverse group of people, and gives insight into many professions and "life routes." Life since graduating college has been harder than I expected. If you had an older, wiser, funny friend who worked in twenty or more jobs over the years but was still down to earth and young enough to give you advice you could use, you wouldn't need a book like this. But for anyone questioning their career path who hasn't found that "perfect" mentor (if one even exists)---read the book, and laugh along knowing you are not the only one out there going through this.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Started out amazing - but lost me halfway through..., January 2, 2006

By 

Andrea Mooney "treewater69" (Hallowell, Maine United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Should I Do What I Love?: Or Do What I Do - So I Can Do What I Love on the Side? (Paperback)

This book begins on a note that I was able to IMMEDIATELY relate to. The nagging feeling that I am doomed to spend the next several endless years slogging along in a job that seems to lead me down a road I am unenthusiastic about... Katy McColl very accurately names the confusion & panic twenty-somethings encounter and attempts to alleviate some of these feelings with humor, wit and the affirmation that this is a shared experience by many young people everywhere.

From this introductory part of the book, McColl goes into a second part with subsections addressing ten career "aspirations" and how her contributors from each of these job types got to where they are. For me, these subsections proved mostly irrelevant. I do not aspire to be a "rock star," "director," "gamer," or "DJ," to name a few of the highlighted career paths. I was hoping for something a little more down to earth.

Despite the fact that an average of 80% (about 160 of 200ish pages) was of little use to me, the other 20% of the book thouroughly validated my experience. For me, this 20% made the book worth buying.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THANK GOD!!, December 29, 2005

By 

Danielle (Gilroy, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Should I Do What I Love?: Or Do What I Do - So I Can Do What I Love on the Side? (Paperback)

I'm not the only one!!! :-) I happened upon this book on the New in Paperback table in my local chain bookstore, and thank goodness I did!! I'm a 23 yr old, College educated young woman, smack in the middle of what author Katy McColl refers to as the 1/4 life crisis. Just when I was getting lathargic with indecision, I'm now, at only page 33, incredibly relieved that I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE, and things will get better soon! :-) If you're frustrated with where you are, and not sure where to go, how to get there, etc. you need this book. With just enough witty humor to calm you after the panic attack induced by potential life-altering career choices; and a healthy dose of realistic, creative solutions and brainstorming techniques, Katy's a great pep-talker. I now believe it's completely in my power to have a fulfilling, enjoyable, creative job, and NOT be answering someone else's phone for the next 47 years. And I might even have a CLUE what I want to DO for the next 2 or 3! :-) Thanks!