Customer Reviews

Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have four sons, so I have purchased many career guides over the years. Zen and the Art of Making a Living is one of my favorites because it doesn't assume that the reader necessarily wants to enter the corporate world. It offers a good overview of many possible career tracks, and doesn't seem to imply that one is superior to another.

I'm very pleased that the guide treats freelancing and entrepreneurship as two separate areas, and addresses important issues for each. It's true that freelancers are in business for themselves, so in a general sense they are also entrepreneurs, but since their goals and methods of working are different in many ways, it's important to distinguish between the two. One size advice doesn't fit all, here! As director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors, I was delighted to see Boldt's advice on page 370: "Whatever your specific field, if there is a 'National Association for...", join it!" as one of the necessary steps for starting a business;-).

Boldt has provided helpful forms and an enormous amount of information, including guidance to help you determine which career path best fits your talents, skills, and desires. This guide contains all the information promised, and does a visually-pleasing job of presenting it. I recommend it for anyone considering a career change, or anyone mentoring a teenager through this stage in life. It's a valuable guide!

There are shelves and shelves of career and vocational resources available on how to write a resume, use a job search board, network or ace an interview. If you're looking for a 1-2-3 checklist on how to do these things, this may not be the best book for you (though it could help). If on the other hand you believe you have more to offer than you are at present, this is a great place to start.

This is book to help clarify your vision, inspire you, and help you discover what you need to do next to bring that vision into reality.

Some reviewers on the earlier edition commented that the book was too long, too verbose or meandering. I'm personally glad that the author took his time and shared his breadth and depth. Working through the journey of this book with sincerity will deliver.

We purchased this item at a time when I am considering a new career direction. This is not just the same old stuff!
The author applies spiritual insights from Zen and Christianity to ask fundamental questions of the reader--who are you, why are you here? This is not just a book to read, it is a companion for a life journey that results in work that fulfills the individual and also blesses the community. I can't recommend it highly enough. There should be 10 stars!

Zen and the Art of Making a Living is the BEST most comprehensive career development/design book that I've ever read! I've made it a point to read every single interesting source on career development. Boldt does an excellent job providing practical guidance, exercises, and resources while weaving a sense of inspiration and empowerment into a subject area where most writers do not address the importance of a spiritual connection/perspective in your job or career seeking activities and practices. I've gone through several years of being underemployed due in part to the current economic client and a need to reinvent myself professionally. I wish that I had found and purchased this book years ago!

Richard Bolles, the author of a seminal career development book "What Color is Your Parachute?," also endorses this book. I've also read parts of Bolle's book and although I did get some benefit from that book, I could never finish it and felt a bit disconnected from the content. When I started reading this book, at the recommendation of a good friend, I knew that I would take the time to finish it. This book is thick and full of a lot of great quotes, ideas, and practices. So, expect to take your time getting through all of the pages. It's definitely worth buying and keeping as a resource throughout your professional career!

Brilliant book, fantastic resource. Reveals a beautiful philosophy on making a living, and truly, on life as a whole. This book has practically become my own personal bible.

I love this book. Found out about it from Susan Shapiro, life coach, and it is so packed with wonderful information, everything to help you learn who you are, what your vision for the world is, your values, purpose in life, and then how to craft it into a life's work full of meaning and service. Have given so many copies away, need to order more today.

Wow! this is a lot more than what I expected ! This book is FULL of info and history!!!! I'm actually reading it for a 2nd time now - I know there are LOTS of things I missed the first time! There are quotes and images, historical facts and life lessons... I love it!
The book was mentioned by Life Coach, Beverley Barnes, as a great step to better understanding our choices in careers and making a living. She was SO right when she recommended this one!
Be prepared for a BIG book and BIG info - there 's a lot. Let it sink in too ! I've actually made myself a little notebook as I read with this one!
a great buy and great read for anyone with questions about their life path and career.

This book isn't one I recommend that a person read from front to back. Yet, it has some great thought provoking chapters that have really guided me in my career decisions.

p.68 love and service to all mankind... the artist makes the work, not simply for himself but for all mankind

p.59 ...'lose ourselves' in our desire to give of our love and talent

p.46 Structure cannot be avoided. If you don't create your own structure, you have to deal with someone else's.

p.71 Rigorous discipline ultimately produces spontaneous ease

p.16 Art is the proper task of life- Nietzsche

p.xxii Coomaraswamy, Joseph Cambell, and Alan W. Watts all had the notion of work as art- the unique creative expression of the individual

p.45 Throughout human history, work has been the individuals primary means of self-expression. In the modern world, ...self-expression in consumption and possession... Your self-expression is your GIFT to the world.

p.41-42 work is not a means of achieving freedom from problem, but a vehicle for expressing the freedom to create

I was so excited when I found this book. I have an old version (1993)and thought this 2010 version would hit on the age of the internet... you know...
Self promoting yourself/work vis website, blog, social networking.

What I found? 2 pages on creating your website.

That is it. Nothing about blogging, or networking via the internet.
NADA.

So warning, if you are expecting some Zen vision about developing yourself/work using the internet, it isn't happening in this book.
Boldt's idea of life changing apparently means he's not looking to the internet that much.
Look else where my friends.