It's a question many of us have pondered with frequency. Author Po Bronson was asking himself that very question when he decided to write this book - an inspiring exploration of how people transform their lives and a template for how we can answer this question for ourselves.

Bronson traveled the country in search of individuals who have struggled to find their calling, their true nature - people who made mistakes before getting it right. He encountered people of all ages and all professions - a total of 55 fascinating individuals trying to answer questions such as: Is a career supposed to feel like a destiny? How do I tell the difference between a curiosity and a passion? Should I make money first, to fund my dream? If I have a child, will my frustration over my work go away? Should I accept my lot, make peace with my ambition, and stop stressing out? Why do I feel guilty for thinking about this?

This audiobook is like listening in on an intimate conversation among people you care about and admire. Even if you know what you should do with your life, you will find wisdom and guidance in these stories of people who found meaningful answers by daring to be honest with themselves.

"We all have passions if we choose to see them," Bronson writes. "Most of us don't get epiphanies. We don't get clarity. Our purpose doesn't arrive neatly packaged as destiny. We only get a whisper. A blank, nonspecific urge. That's how it starts."

With humor, empathy, and insight, Po Bronson probes the depths of people who learned how to hear the whisper, who overcame fear and confusion to find a larger truth about their lives. A meditation, a journey, and a triumph of storytelling, What Should I Do with My Life? is a life-changing audiobook.

Listening Length

4 hours and 41 minutes
Author

Po Bronson
Narrator

Po Bronson
Audible release date

January 17, 2003
Language

English
Publisher

Simon & Schuster Audio
ASIN

B00008ANZU
Version

Abridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	4 hours and 41 minutes
Author	Po Bronson
Narrator	Po Bronson
Audible.com Release Date	January 17, 2003
Publisher	Simon & Schuster Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Abridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00008ANZU
Best Sellers Rank	#122,047 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #265 in Ethics & Morality Philosophy #3,558 in Social Sciences (Audible Books & Originals) #5,212 in Happiness Self-Help

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

472 global ratings

5 star		71%
4 star		16%
3 star		6%
2 star		3%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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R. Smith

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 11, 2014

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I came across Po's book a few weeks ago, and I loved it. I am asking these questions in my own life, wondering what to do with the
last 6- 8 years before retiring. Started a second career writing children's books, and love it. But it's more hobby, than cuit... well, career right now.

To those who say he did not tell the whole story, for instance, in the surgeon who quit -- well that meeting happened , those doubts were expressed. Success once or twice in a literary field does not make a sure thing new career. If spending all the time, money , emotion and heartache to become a surgeon, then finding it wasn't going to be your future, you could not do it -- if that wasn't forthcoming or interesting enough for some ! I guess they have never been close to that experience, good on them.

Here's what I got out of this book:
A feeling t people , all sorts of people, successful, not successful , were asking this same question I was.
That many were taking , or avoiding the high risks involved with a change of career
That sometimes the risk is worth it, sometimes not-- you could find yourself in a worse spot... that's life!
For me it was amazingly interesting to see how some people were asking and handing the question for themselves
Really, if you are not happy or satisfied, if there is more you want to do , experience... how can you not ASK THE TITLE QUESTION - even if you don't ask it aloud.

For me, with family dependent on me, the economy shaky , the job market scarce, -- I will keep the day job , to fund the life and the dream (writing).

Loved this book, loved Po's sit down with me for coffee and let's talk of these exciting , but difficult things... life career, choices, dreams, chances and decisions. I liked this book, and feel it's time now, 12 years later, to revisit the question of a fulfilled life, this time with us baby-boomers as examples.

This book "What should I do with my life" is now available for a song here on Amazon. Under $7 including shipping -- best $$ ever spent. I found it far more honest, interesting and helpful than any pat chicken soup for books...and having mentioned it to friends, I bought two more copies to share out!
For those upset there aren't more answers or a better "ending" -- I was grateful for more questions, and a bit of direction, as well as a community of people also involved with this adventure. Okay, his book won't be for everyone, but make you own decision -- If you are looking for your "thing" the work, job, career , creation... that will make you come alive, Po's book may help you in asking the right questions, and not feeling so alone in the search.
His book contains the spirit of the quote by Nelson Mandela, I used for my subject line.
Thanks Po, great book, call or tweet, me if you want to start the baby-boomer edition. I am many of my friends are still asking this question , and we didn't start yesterday!
Robin
smithr8020@gmail.com
smithr8020@twitter.com

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Diamonds

Compelling, engaging, very well written, honest, and INSPIRING !

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 27, 2018

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Just started reading this, and each of the stories is distinctive and impressive, for a big part by the way the author has written it, including honest observations about himself as well as the person when interviewed/visited. I limit my intake to about two per night, as each story has quite some umph, or impact to it, and one wants to let that resonate in oneself, if one is to use this reading as a tool to find in oneself what it is one could be looking for. The author has ordered the stories in a particular way, and explains that upfront, which I'm still trying to understand, as I'm working my way through the first part (of eight). But it's one of those books that's a hit, and you are looking forward to the next day/story. Find it very inspiring, and recognize things being said about a person, about a situation they're in or the attitude they have that prevents them. The author sometimes presses, if needed, but most of the time seems pretty laid back in terms of providing guidance/feedback to the person in question. But I like it when there is soul-searching depth to the conversation, as to the why and why-nots. One can't help the notion that often times the 'way' for the person is found by looking under their very own 'boots' (to borrow Walt Whitman's expression). It's pretty massive the book, which should give one a lot of inspiration, for a long time. Definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for something like a goal on the level of their earthly lives, but not quite knowing what it is yet.

Update: just finished on a recent trans-Atlantic trip, which by the way it lends itself to perfectly, as the transitioning state one experiences during travel is the perfect condition for one's mind to turn reflective in regards to one's life, and the way things are going (that's what I like about that so much). The above initial assessment is still valid, albeit the overarching structure as explained by the author doesn't quite 'pan out' for me (but maybe in a 2nd reading). However, that's not the most important thing, for me; the wide range of views and takes / approaches to the subject by the personal stories of the interviewed people is. And that carries all the way to the last word, and leaves you with a gratefulness for the author's endeavor and persistence in this unique record, as well as his developed talent for candor in writing.

In fact, I used the concept for writing in my diary by imagining I'm telling my story so far in as much a nutshell version as can be, inspired by 'to-the-point' expressions and descriptions to try to do the same (as even the nutshell version is pages and pages long:), in order to process and transform my own attitudes towards my life.

13 people found this helpful

Helpful

So many stories

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 29, 2022

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I liked hearing how so many people in so many different circumstances came up with the same questions. It was Interesting to hear how they all came to find their individual answers.

Helpful

Provocative Book That Makes You Think

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 31, 2004

Verified Purchase

This book is provocative in that there are no easy answers for the people the author interviews, nor are there really any easy answers for most of us, in my opinion. Some people know from an early age what they want to do with their lives, learn to do it, are happy doing it, and never think about changing; this book is for those of us who are NOT those people.
There are many career books written to help coach you with questionnaires, advice, and other direct methods. This is not that type of book. It is a series of interviews of various types of people from all socioeconomic groups and what the author Po Bronson learned from talking with them. I found it helpful as I read along, because I would visualize myself talking to the interviewees and Po and think of how I might respond in the same situations.
Quite a view of the people interviewed were still confused about what they were doing, still didn't have the definitive answer they wanted. This is realistic, too, in my opinion. Some of them made false starts. All of them learned a lot about themselves in the process of their search/journey, and this is the point of the book.
If you have already been through the "What Color is Your Parachute?"-type of books (excellent books, of course, but not like this one) and need a different, less structured way (sans "exercises") of finding out the best work for this time in your life, I would recommend this book.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Brian Richards

Inspiration if you can afford it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 25, 2016

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Short inspirational stories about people who reached a point in their life when they needed to gaze at the stars and take stock of their values, feelings, beliefs and direction. It goes to show how life is dynamic and can be exciting and interesting if we think outside the box and don't allow ourselves to get stuck in monotonous ruts.
The only downside (and hence 3 stars rather than 5) is that most of the stories seem to be about people who are circumstantially or financially in a position to be able to make bold choices. It doesn't seem to speak to those less well off, or the single unemployed mum living in a council house. Its more to do with middle class Jeremy who comes from a financially comfortable background and whose parents are well connected.
Still, the principles of daring to think for yourself and taking occasional risks are applicable to all.
Buy this book for inspiration rather than copycat application.

17 people found this helpful

Mohammed

Alright

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 10, 2019

Verified Purchase

No step by step method or guidance considering it's a book claiming how to help you find a purpose. But good read to find out the stories of others. Just wish there was more time spent on finding key themes from various stories as a way to pull all the messages together in manner that could help someone follow a process at least.

5 people found this helpful

Should be compulsory viewing for every schoolkid and every person making career decisions

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 5, 2014

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Seriously, this should be made compulsory reading as it makes you realise that you are not the only person in the world who is at a crossroads or facing this decision. Most of all it gives you confidence that you can try and pursue which ever option you want and that its never finite, ie you can always change your mind or move on to a different option.

The best thing about the book is that it doesnt preach like many self help books, instead, it is just a collection of different people's stories, clustered on different themes, each one for you to consider and assess its applicability for you.

Without doubt I would definitely recommend this as essential reading!

One person found this helpful

Raisond' etre!

Great book, though received 18 days after the expected delivery date.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 17, 2022

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With little time to read the book now, I simply checked one of the stories in the book, and my instant judgement is that the book is worth all praise thus far!

Fruitmuncher

Just a collection of stories

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

There's no real narrative or meaning to this book. Some of the true-life stories are interesting, but are unlikely to provide any reader with inspiration.

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What Should I Do with My Life? The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question Audible Audiobook – Abridged

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