Customer Reviews

If You Don't Know Where You're Going, You'll Probably End Up Somewhere Else: Finding a Career and Getting a Life

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I read this book in its first edition back in 1974 or 1975, when it had just been published for the first time. I'd completely forgotten about it all these years, but then came across a copy in a used book store, instantly recognized it, started reading it, and realized how much it had influenced my life these past 30+ years -- for the better. I just bought a copy of the revised edition for my daughters, one graduating high school, the other mid-way through college. This is probably the best book I've read on how to rationally plan one's life, emphasizing the probable outcomes of different choices, how to make the most of one's assets, and the importance of forging ahead while making sure to create options because while life is fairly predictable in its general outline, it is highly unpredictable in its specifics. The balance of optimism and realism in the book is perfect. This book should be required reading for every teenager. The revised version updates this classic making it even more valuable. I recommend it without qualification.

I LOVE this little primer about planning an effective and satisfying life. I first discovered If You Don't Know Where You're Going, You'll Probably End up Somewhere Else about 15 years ago and can well recall sitting on the beach and sharing passages from it with a friend. She liked what I was reading to her so much that she borrowed the book from me, and within a week she and her husband had resigned from their jobs, put their house on the market, and sent out resumes to potential employers. The message of Dr. Campbell's book is that powerful!

David Campbell's book is easy to read, sprinkled with neat quotes, and packed with practical advice written in an engaging, upbeat style. I recently reordered and reread the book and was just as delighted this time around as I was the first time, especially with certain passages. The one in which he describes life as a pathway with paths off to the side is a favorite, and I've always remembered his admoniton to make certain the choice is in your hands, not a gatekeeper's. Speaking of choices, Dr. Campbell says that the greatest tragedy in life is to have no options, and this book is all about helping the reader find and develop them.

To repeat, I loved it. How could anyone not like a book that ends with this quote by Henry Van Dyke? "Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look at the stars."

I bought this book in the late 70's and found it to be full of great advice and a wonderful philosophy. Someone borrowed it and didn't return it. I was thinking about it the other day and searched for it and found it on Amazon, a revised version so I ordered it and couldn't wait to re-read it. When it arrived I read it cover to cover and unless I am just missing something the analogy about "planting seeds" is missing. That was the best part of the orginal book and I wanted to get the exact wording again. But I can't find it in the "revised" edition.
To me, having bought it twice now 38 years apart, the revision took out the totally best part. Very disappointed. This is a book for high schoolers, and would be a GREAT graduation gift. But the best part of the first publication is sadly missing. If someone finds it, pls give me a page number. The book is a lot more basic now and I felt the first one was much better. Dumbed down maybe? Must have been pretty good in the 70's as I not only remember it 38 years later but bought it again! Wish it hadn't changed.

The books we're very cheap and came in a timely matter. The owner even sent me a note saying he had more copies available