Wow, what a mixed bag of reviews we have! It seems that DWYA is one of those books either you love or you hate; there is not much in between. I would like to give a career counselor's point of view and hopefully address some of the reviewer complaints.
The Tiegers make a sincere effort to put personality typing and careers in layperson's terms. That is not an easy task. However, in the interest of time and space, much is glossed over or left out completely. Thus, it would seem that the Tiegers want the reader to be intrigued by personality theory and do additional research. I would personally recommend books like "Gifts Differing" or "Please Understand Me." However, I also realize that many are less interested.
For that reason, I use handouts that condense sections of DWYA to provide some clarity for those taking the Myers-Briggs. Those interested in the MBTI should go to a professional counselor to take the test. The "rough indicators" that the Tiegers and others have created are not very useful. While the MBTI may serve as a good tool in understanding the self and career development, personality preference is only one factor that influences career decisions. Other things that come into play include work values, interests, education, skills...the list goes on. So if you expect DWYA to present you with THE career, you are likely to be disappointed.
With that in mind...
Before one begins DWYA, one must understand a few parameters of career development. Several readers were upset that they had no interest in the careers for their type and felt shafted. That happens more often than you might think. However, the Tiegers go to great lengths to say you are by no means limited to careers discussed. The different lists of careers only state the most popular choices for each type. Your actual choices are only limited by your imagination! You will need to explore other areas of yourself and apply them to different careers. A good career counselor can help you with that.
Someone mentioned the lack of blue-collar and "unskilled" jobs. While not as prevalent as some would like, the Tiegers DO try to give the trades fair time. However you tend to see the trades more among the "SP" types (e.g., ISTP, ESFP). This may be disconcerting to those of other types interested in blue-collar work. Again, all types may be found in blue-collar work. The challenge is to look at the characteristics of different blue-collar jobs and see if they are right for you. Sound like a lot of work? It is, but worth it.
The so-called unskilled jobs are tricky. At the risk of sounding prejudiced, the worker whose abilities are limited to "unskilled" labor is highly unlikely to be concerned with finding work that is a good personality match. Such workers tend to be much more concerned with finding work just to survive. Anything else is gravy. If DWYA appears skewed towards an educated, white-collar audience, it is because this demographic tends to be far more interested in finding personal fulfillment through career, rather than working to survive.
Aside from the weaknesses of the personality sorter and somewhat limited scope of careers discussed, DWYA does a very good job of applying the different personality type characteristics, not only to individuals, but also to jobs. The Tiegers also take another step by explaining how certain personality traits could impact the job search, as well as job functioning. Examining one's strengths and weaknesses and how they impact the self and career is an invaluable skill. As always, keep in mind that everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for another, even if they share the same personality type. Another positive aspect: The Tiegers' infectious upbeat attitude. Nothing phony about it. Trust me.
You may also need help with implementing the information in DWYA, as well as polishing your job search skills. Thus, I recommend you supplement DWYA with books on career interests and development, as well as interviewing professionals in jobs that interest you. And don't forget your friendly neighborhood career counselor. :)
Bottom Line: Two things--1) DWYA is enjoyable reading, but should not be your sole reference. Make a point of using other references as well. And take the full MBTI if you can. 2) Nothing and no one can tell you what your ideal career is or what to do with your life. Once you have gathered the necessary career information, the choice is all yours!
Happy Career Planning!