Contributors Bill Hemmer, Charles Payne, Dierks Bentley, Gillian Turner, Harold Ford Jr, Jackie DeAngelis, Jared Cohen, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, Jimmy Failla, John Roberts, Lawrence Jones, Martha MacCallum, Salena Zito, Trey Gowdy, Bret Baier, Judge Jeanine Piro, Shannon Bream, Ainsley Earhardt, Benjamin Hall, Greg Gutfeld, and many more.
Dana Perino is an American political commentator and author. Perino served as the White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, where she was the first female press secretary in a Republican administration. She was appointed to the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors in 2010 by President Obama.
Dana Perino currently anchors FOX News Channel’s (FNC) The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino and also serves as co-host of The Five (weekdays 5-6PM/ET). She also hosts a podcast Perino and Stirewalt: I’ll Tell You What.
Don’t get me wrong, I usually enjoy Perino’s books, but this isn’t so much a book but a compilation of short interviews with people she has known during her career, giving advice that everyone has heard a million times before. I got halfway through before I finally decided to give up.
My brief survey of the book left me feeling that the advice was sound but predictable and yet unexpected coming from the Fox Network. The product that they produce…propaganda masquerading as news doesn’t square with strong character values. Just lets me know that these folks know better but make choices that have such profoundly negative impacts on our national dialogue. Wished that Perrin and her colleagues actually embraced the decency and good choices she’s able to recommend.
Dana Perino’s “I Wish Someone Had Told Me...: The Best Advice for Building a Great Career and a Meaningful Life” is a breezy, wisdom-packed guide for anyone seeking to navigate the twists and turns of modern work and life. Drawing on her own experience as a White House press secretary and Fox News anchor, Perino curates a vibrant chorus of advice from over forty friends, colleagues, and mentors—including familiar media personalities, a country music star, and her beloved husband, Peter McMahon. The result is a book that feels less like a lecture and more like a lively dinner party, where each guest shares their best life lesson. Perino’s approach is refreshingly humble: she readily admits she doesn’t have all the answers, so she’s assembled a “one-stop shop” of guidance from those who’ve weathered career pivots, personal setbacks, and the ever-changing demands of the workplace. The book’s structure is practical, opening with stories of first jobs and early ambitions, then moving through chapters on getting noticed, betting on yourself, and mastering the elusive art of work-life balance. What sets this book apart is its blend of specific, actionable tips—like always doubling the tip at breakfast, or how to make AI-generated writing sound human—with broader, philosophical wisdom about resilience, curiosity, and the value of laughter in the face of disappointment. The anecdotes are often personal and disarmingly candid, such as Perino’s own story of choosing love over career anxiety, or Martha MacCallum’s advice to focus on the present rather than worry about the distant future. Ideal for new graduates, career changers, or anyone feeling adrift, “I Wish Someone Had Told Me...” is both a pep talk and a toolkit. It’s not just about climbing the ladder, but about building a life you actually want. Perino’s warmth and the eclectic mix of voices make this a genuinely enjoyable—and surprisingly moving—read.
A great read about how to build a life and a to be successful at work from a panel of contributors. It has easy to rely advice on healthy eatting, exercise, finances and building up savings now for the retirement years.
best tidbit of advice: head down, mouth shut, eyes (and ears) open. ---Paul Mauro
2.5 ⭐️ I enjoyed the concept of this book more than the book itself. The “advice” was nothing groundbreaking… Lots of typos throughout. I appreciated the last two chapters the most.
Dana Perino’s "I Wish Someone Had Told Me..." serves as a practical, encouraging guide for navigating career and life with a sense of purpose and resilience. Aimed at people who feel overwhelmed by the unwritten rules of adulthood, it captures the wisdom successful individuals wish they had been told earlier. From first jobs to big promotions, many find themselves expected to handle challenges — workplace politics, high-pressure decisions, maintaining work-life balance — without a roadmap. Perino reassures readers that most of us are improvising as we go, and that even those who seem confident have stumbled and doubted themselves. Her book compiles relatable advice shared in an honest, conversational style, with the goal of helping readers show up, adapt, and steadily grow rather than chase instant perfection.
One of Perino’s central messages is about achieving balance, not through perfection, but through setting clear boundaries and consistent habits. She explains that everyone is juggling something — whether that’s a demanding career, parenting, or personal commitments — and the secret is to build small routines that minimize daily friction. Simple habits, like picking out clothes the night before or starting the day with a moment of stillness, help reduce decision fatigue and create calm. She emphasizes the power of saying 'no' without guilt, and respecting personal time by limiting evening obligations or using delayed-send features on emails to protect others’ rhythms. The 'rule of three' — asking whether an opportunity excites you, pays you, or supports a cause you value — can clarify whether to accept or decline requests. She also suggests prepaying for classes or memberships as a psychological commitment to your own well-being. Ultimately, balance is not fixed but shifts as life changes, and acting confidently even in chaos can restore momentum.
Another essential insight from the book is that success without significance feels hollow. Many pursue accolades, promotions, or wealth without pausing to ask what purpose those achievements serve. Perino suggests thinking of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in modern terms: covering survival, achieving stability, nurturing relationships, developing fulfilling work, and ultimately finding meaning. Purpose comes from small acts — checking on a friend, mentoring, volunteering, listening deeply — that create a sense of connection and impact. She reminds readers that expecting an employer to fully supply one’s sense of purpose may end in disappointment, since businesses primarily exist to provide products or services. Significance, she argues, is something you can build for yourself by excelling in your work, investing in relationships, and sharing wisdom generously. Meaning comes from intentional, heartfelt actions, rather than from chasing constant applause.
Throughout the book, Perino highlights that good advice is rarely complicated. Instead, the best guidance is simple, consistent, and personal. She shares lessons from various role models and mentors, such as musician Dierks Bentley’s advice to keep creating and moving forward without overthinking. Comedian Tom Shillue, for instance, found that daily journaling created an invaluable personal archive, preserving memories and encouraging self-reflection. News anchor Martha MacCallum’s mother modeled curiosity and lifelong learning, demonstrating the power of staying intellectually active and emotionally generous. When stress threatens to derail us, Perino suggests getting outside to walk and breathe, as movement and nature provide clarity that static worrying does not. All these practices are accessible, low-cost, and sustainable ways to build resilience over time.
Financial security is another pillar of a stable, meaningful life. Perino encourages readers to set clear financial goals by visualizing the lifestyle they want and working backward to identify what it takes to achieve it. Writing down these targets — from retirement dreams to desired travel plans — and placing them somewhere visible helps keep them top of mind. She warns against vague resolutions like 'save more,' instead urging specific, actionable steps such as automating transfers to savings accounts or cutting unnecessary subscriptions. Small amounts invested early can grow substantially thanks to compounding, and delaying even a year can cost a fortune. Tracking spending is crucial because frictionless payments make it easy to overspend. While automation helps for savings, Perino suggests paying bills manually to stay aware of where money goes. When raises arrive, she recommends increasing savings immediately before lifestyle inflation can swallow the extra cash. Tools like Roth IRAs and maximizing employer retirement matches should be used as soon as possible, and living on 90% of income can create disciplined habits that build freedom for decades to come.
Kindness, Perino emphasizes, is one of the simplest and most overlooked keys to a successful, meaningful career. Being respectful to everyone — not just those in power — builds a strong reputation and fosters trust. She recounts stories of people who were underestimated or unseen, only to later rise to prominent positions, proving that every interaction matters. A simple donut offered to an intern might seem trivial until you discover that intern’s father is a respected heart surgeon, or that a behind-the-scenes assistant would one day become a top executive. Perino stresses the importance of learning and using people’s names, acknowledging their humanity and creating a positive environment. Everyday interactions with drivers, cashiers, or studio staff offer opportunities to build goodwill. People may forget what you wore or your job title, but they will remember how you made them feel. Over time, kindness becomes a subtle form of influence, strengthening relationships and creating better opportunities for everyone involved.
At its core, "I Wish Someone Had Told Me..." delivers a powerful message: success and fulfillment are built through daily, intentional choices. Consistent habits and strong boundaries reduce stress and keep you moving forward. Significance gives achievements depth and makes the journey worthwhile. Financial literacy ensures freedom, while kindness cultivates connections that support you through life’s challenges. Perino shows that excellence comes not from dramatic transformations but from quiet, steady effort, done with integrity and generosity. The book encourages readers to show up, do the work, and stay curious — to live not for perfection, but for purpose. Ultimately, her advice is a call to live with heart, courage, and a readiness to help others do the same, building a life that is not only successful but also deeply meaningful.
The book is okay, but I didn't enjoy its format. I enjoyed the beginning of the chapters when she wove the stories into the piece instead of the question-and-answer format she used for most of the book.
A really great read as a young adult beginning a career. There’s some good advice and reminders about work life — how to succeed, thrive, and overcome disappointments.
Dana Perino’s I Wish Someone Had Told Me is a refreshingly candid and insightful collection of life and career lessons, drawn not only from her own experiences but also from the shared wisdom of numerous contributors. The book is positioned as a guide for young adults—particularly those just stepping into adulthood after high school—and it delivers precisely on that promise with sincerity, warmth, and pragmatism.
While I am not necessarily the book’s target demographic at nearly 32 years old, I still found a surprising amount of value within its pages. Perino’s accessible writing style, coupled with the variety of voices included, offers a sense of mentorship that transcends age. The advice may be tailored to the freshly minted high school graduate, but the core messages—about resilience, humility, ambition, and integrity—are timeless and broadly applicable. For anyone at a crossroads in life or work, this book serves as both a gentle nudge forward and a comforting reminder that even successful people have stumbled and learned along the way.
What makes I Wish Someone Had Told Me particularly compelling is its honesty. Dana Perino and her contributors don’t pretend to have all the answers. Instead, they offer the next best thing: reflections on missteps already made, lessons learned the hard way, and wisdom earned through trial and error. It’s this transparency that gives the book its real power. Rather than preach, Perino and her collaborators extend a hand to readers, helping them avoid some of the same avoidable mistakes.
For those who are 18 and standing at the threshold of adulthood, this book is an excellent starting point. It’s not a rigid rulebook, but rather a collection of conversations you might wish you had with a mentor, a parent, or a wise older sibling. And for those of us a little further down the path, it’s a meaningful opportunity to reflect, re-center, and maybe even recalibrate.
In short, I Wish Someone Had Told Me is a thoughtful, encouraging, and highly readable guide to growing up—whatever your age. Whether you’re launching your career, considering a pivot, or simply looking for grounded life advice, Dana Perino offers a toolkit of experience and empathy that’s well worth exploring.
I pre-ordered this book as soon as I heard about it, then when it was released and I had the audiobook in my library... I kept putting off starting it. I knew I would be sad when I was done. Perino has a knack for research and presenting an idea. Much of this book is advice and information from her friends, but the questions are carefully curated and of course, each person who contributed was expertly given the exact right question for their contribution. I have read all of Dana's books. I watch her daily on Fox News - and please, if you are not a Fox News fan, don't let that cause you to miss the opportunity to glean knowledge from this book. No matter your age, career or political leaning, there is much sage advice and inspiration for your benefit.
I originally got this for my daughter's graduation from college, but I found myself reading it instead. She'll probably receive it later this year for her birthday. Anyway, I found the format of the book great for sharing advice; short responses by a variety of the author's colleagues and personal friends. Not all of the advice was Fox-centric which could be a turn-off for some people. Instead, it was well-rounded and sound. I found myself putting sticky notes on several pages that I wanted to emphasize to my daughter when she reads it. Well done! I look forward to reading some of Ms. Perino's earlier books.
I adore Dana Perino and her insightful ways she looks at politics and life.She interviews many of her coworkers and friends and asks them for advice for building a career and life when you're young and starting out . The answers are fun and thoughtful. If you know Dana you'll recognize many of the contributors. Contributors Bill Hemmer, Charles Payne, Dierks Bentley, Gillian Turner, Harold Ford Jr, Jackie DeAngelis, Jared Cohen, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, Jimmy Failla, John Roberts, Lawrence Jones, Martha MacCallum, Salena Zito, Trey Gowdy, Bret Baier, Judge Jeanine Piro, Shannon Bream, Ainsley Earhardt, Benjamin Hall, Greg Gutfeld, and many more.
Well, I love Dana and enjoyer other book immensely. This one was good, but as one who is no longer in the workforce, most of it doesn’t pertain to me. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the ideas and suggestions made by her colleagues, I also used in my career. And successfully. I too, mentored many young that are successful today. While most of the book doesn’t impact my current life, portions do. Particularly the hobbies and exercise input. Totally agree. Good read and would be a great gift for a young person just starting out.
I actually really, really ended up loving this book. My mom bought it for me at Sam’s Club because she “felt God was telling her I needed to read it for my new job,” - does it get any sweeter than that? The beginning was hard to get through, but by the end, I was wishing I had more to read. Dana Perino had such beautiful insight on being a gracious, effective, and classy working woman. This book was great for the stage of life I’m in and I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who was trying to have a mature mindset shift when it comes to advancing their career.
I was impressed that Dana Perino was open and honest about her life/relationships/struggles/successes. I wish this book had been published when I was in my late teens or early twenties. I am now 73 and the advice in this book is still applicable to my life but I could have traveled a much better path early in my life if I could have read and applied Dana Perino's advice in my 20's. Hindsight is truly,"20-20" vision.
Great book for graduates and really anyone who wants to improve their professional performance. I found myself agreeing most with advice given by Charles Payne. No excuses! Notes about things to do and not to do include “uptalking,” when a person ends a statement and raises the voice as if asking a question. I find this particularly annoying and would immediately cancel any prospective employee.
Here's what I think happened: Dana invited colleagues and friends to contribute to the book she was assembling, and within its pages are the responses she received. There is not a whole lot of actual writing from Dana. While both Jessica Tarlov and Greg Gutfeld from The Five contributed, Judge Janine only provided mono-syllabic remarks and Jesse Watters had very little feedback. It's all in the editing I suppose. Overall it did not feel cohesive.
Excellent!!!! The advice and little nuggets are amazing. It resonated with me but I look at it more as a tool to teach my children these nuggets. I highly recommend this for everyone. If you’re in HS and just starting, graduating, or plowing through a life long career. There is something for everyone!!!! Loved it 100%
This book is being sent to my two grandsons who just graduated from college. I read it cover to cover and love all of the practical knowledge found in it. I think their parents, my children, will enjoy it as well!! Wonderful information from looking for a first job all the way through retirement. Thanks, Dana!!
A good idea that tried to do too much. I love Dana but to write a book that appeals to young folks new to the workforce, people looking to move up in their career, people nearing the acme of their professional life, and retired folks is asking too much. I suspect everyone will only really be interested in the phases that they're in or about to enter.
I enjoy Dana and the final two chapters of the book, where Dana does most of the advice giving, are the strongest. The rest of the book consists of platitudes, mostly from FOX NEWS folks, that we've all heard a zillion times. This book would be make a great holiday gift for young, conservatives getting started in their careers.
This book would be a great resource for recent college graduates. Even at my stage of life, I found it both interesting and helpful. My only regret is that I listened to the audiobook instead of reading it. It felt odd hearing the narrator speak for so many of the people she interviewed—voices I know and kept expecting to hear in their own words.
a lot of helpful info to pick and choose from. I wish I would have had this book in my younger life. But my advi d to some of these people working into their 70s ... quit! you've done your share. There is a lot of life to enjoy. Do it before it's too late.
Dana always has excellent advice for all stages of your career. It was really interesting to hear from people like Greg Gutfeld, Mike Rowe, Patti Callahan Henry and many others. All different careers but each successful.
Quick feel good read. I liked the other Brianna weist book I read better than this one. But still felt empowered. Plan on reading more of what she has to offer. She’s a great writer with beautiful insight.
Great advice book for career and for you life. Dana asks questions of her friends and coworkers getting an array of different ideas on how to build a successful career, and live a happy life. This makes for an easy to read book, with many thoughtful answers. I highly recommend!
Not bad in any way, I enjoyed the stories. I guess I didn't realize it was basically for younger people. I should have known that by the name, but thought it would be more relevant to me too. Recommend highly if you are 35 or younger.