What do you think?
Rate this book
Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career—A Step-by-Step Journey To Uncovering Your Unique Path to Achieving Success
An inspiring, wise and highly practical method for discovering your true self and identifying the fulfilling career just for you.
No matter where we are in our lives, be it atop the heights of achievement or just setting out on our journey, we’ve all had that moment where we’ve wondered, “What is my purpose? What was I born to do?” The answer can feel just within our grasp, or as far off as the horizon. How in the world do we get there?
Enter Becoming You, a joyful, deeply researched, and immediately applicable step-by-step guidebook to help you answer that very question. Based on the phenomenally popular NYU class by the same name, and used by thousands of people around the world, Becoming You is an empathic yet absolutely zero-BS method designed to help you understand where you want to go and what you want to do in today’s ever-changing world.
Professor Suzy Welch, a respected expert in careers, decision-making, and identity formation, is the Director of NYU Stern’s Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing. A graduate of Harvard and Harvard Business School, and a former columnist for The Oprah Magazine, she has consulted for some of America’s largest companies, is a frequent commentator for the Wall Street Journal, and a regular guest on the Today Show and CNBC. Her previous three books have been New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, and her fast-growing, authentic, and often hilarious "Becoming You" podcast has fans worldwide.
But more than anything, Professor Welch is a teacher and agent of transformation. After a life filled with wide and varied experiences, from crime reporter to tech entrepreneur, her own purpose is helping others find theirs. She created Becoming You out of fifteen years of researching and testing with the heartfelt goal of helping people discover a way forward in a complex world. To that end, Becoming You guides readers through the process of excavating their truest values, identifying their outstanding aptitudes, and finally, pinpointing their economically viable interests, that is, the kind of work that calls them emotionally and intellectually, and also makes sense financially. Ultimately, Becoming You, at turns warm, witty, pragmatic, and filled with tough-love, is your guide to discovering the life you were meant to live.
No matter where we are in our lives, be it atop the heights of achievement or just setting out on our journey, we’ve all had that moment where we’ve wondered, “What is my purpose? What was I born to do?” The answer can feel just within our grasp, or as far off as the horizon. How in the world do we get there?
Enter Becoming You, a joyful, deeply researched, and immediately applicable step-by-step guidebook to help you answer that very question. Based on the phenomenally popular NYU class by the same name, and used by thousands of people around the world, Becoming You is an empathic yet absolutely zero-BS method designed to help you understand where you want to go and what you want to do in today’s ever-changing world.
Professor Suzy Welch, a respected expert in careers, decision-making, and identity formation, is the Director of NYU Stern’s Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing. A graduate of Harvard and Harvard Business School, and a former columnist for The Oprah Magazine, she has consulted for some of America’s largest companies, is a frequent commentator for the Wall Street Journal, and a regular guest on the Today Show and CNBC. Her previous three books have been New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, and her fast-growing, authentic, and often hilarious "Becoming You" podcast has fans worldwide.
But more than anything, Professor Welch is a teacher and agent of transformation. After a life filled with wide and varied experiences, from crime reporter to tech entrepreneur, her own purpose is helping others find theirs. She created Becoming You out of fifteen years of researching and testing with the heartfelt goal of helping people discover a way forward in a complex world. To that end, Becoming You guides readers through the process of excavating their truest values, identifying their outstanding aptitudes, and finally, pinpointing their economically viable interests, that is, the kind of work that calls them emotionally and intellectually, and also makes sense financially. Ultimately, Becoming You, at turns warm, witty, pragmatic, and filled with tough-love, is your guide to discovering the life you were meant to live.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2025
455 people are currently reading
4024 people want to read
About the author
Suzy Welch
19 books52 followersSuzy Welch is an American author, television commentator, business advisor, and public speaker. She is also the co-author (with her late husband Jack Welch) of the business books Winning, published in 2005, and The Real Life MBA, published in 2015.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 4, 2025
I read this book right after quitting my job. I'd seen her posts on socials and seredipitiously, a neighbor said "I have just the right book for you" and proceeding to bring out her very own copy. She said I needed it more than she did in this season of my life.
I devoured this book. The activities were interesting -- as she calls it, her work forces us to cultivate self-awareness so that we can more accurately find a career that fits who we are and what we want.
My problem here is that this book is a summation of her class. The final assignment she gives her student is to present their findings to their classmates. And this is where I think something was lost in translation. We reach the end, and the last section isn't fully developed. We don't know how to identify what is lucrative within the qualities we possess or how to translate our learnings into next steps.
Additionally, Suzy is a Capitalist Queen (no, really - please research her husband). For one or two of the six activities listed in the book, she highly recommends you do it via her website instead of by hand because it's basically two different experiences, and she explains that it's just SO much better. You can easily find this on her site and take the quiz. But then, the results are paywalled, so you can't even see them. And since they collected my email for that quiz, they've been trying to sell me more of her coursework, etc. Essentially, after purchasing her book, the actual results of the activities are paywalled, and if you want to Become You, you'll have to pay the paywall again.
So 3.5/5 stars, because she's a very captivating writer and I was a captivated audience throughout, but without giving her more money, I was left desiring a little bit more from this book.
I devoured this book. The activities were interesting -- as she calls it, her work forces us to cultivate self-awareness so that we can more accurately find a career that fits who we are and what we want.
My problem here is that this book is a summation of her class. The final assignment she gives her student is to present their findings to their classmates. And this is where I think something was lost in translation. We reach the end, and the last section isn't fully developed. We don't know how to identify what is lucrative within the qualities we possess or how to translate our learnings into next steps.
Additionally, Suzy is a Capitalist Queen (no, really - please research her husband). For one or two of the six activities listed in the book, she highly recommends you do it via her website instead of by hand because it's basically two different experiences, and she explains that it's just SO much better. You can easily find this on her site and take the quiz. But then, the results are paywalled, so you can't even see them. And since they collected my email for that quiz, they've been trying to sell me more of her coursework, etc. Essentially, after purchasing her book, the actual results of the activities are paywalled, and if you want to Become You, you'll have to pay the paywall again.
So 3.5/5 stars, because she's a very captivating writer and I was a captivated audience throughout, but without giving her more money, I was left desiring a little bit more from this book.
Read
May 17, 2025Completely closed-minded about anything this person could possibly produce. I judge people by what they do, not by what they say, and even less by what they preach. See the American disaster of Welchism, in which she wallowed and from which she continues to profit. See, e.g., "The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America—and How to Undo His Legacy".
Go fish.
Go fish.
July 2, 2025
If you ever felt a bit lost in life, this along with Designing Your Life are a great combination to figure out next steps
June 18, 2025
I heard the author on the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast and was fascinated by her explanation of her “values bridge” framework and the course that she teaches at NYU.
Her online values assessment was incredibly insightful, so I got the book to expand my knowledge of her theories on living within your personal values, aptitudes, and personality.
I found all of this very enlightening, engaging, and accurate. While I wish there had been more of a deep dive into the values, I think this covers finding your direction in life—at whatever stage in life you’re in—thoroughly and holistically. And the values information available on her website goes deeper, if that’s what you’re interested in most like me (though I do wish you got a code to get beyond the paywall with the purchase of the book!).
I highly recommend this book for anyone who feels dissatisfied or lost or at a crossroads, or even for those who just want reinforcement that they’re on the right path. Living a meaningful life is an ongoing project, after all, for as long as we are living.
“It is a lifelong challenge to know who we really are. But if we don’t, we will never change. Which means we will never find our purpose in life, or get the chance to live it to the hilt.”
Her online values assessment was incredibly insightful, so I got the book to expand my knowledge of her theories on living within your personal values, aptitudes, and personality.
I found all of this very enlightening, engaging, and accurate. While I wish there had been more of a deep dive into the values, I think this covers finding your direction in life—at whatever stage in life you’re in—thoroughly and holistically. And the values information available on her website goes deeper, if that’s what you’re interested in most like me (though I do wish you got a code to get beyond the paywall with the purchase of the book!).
I highly recommend this book for anyone who feels dissatisfied or lost or at a crossroads, or even for those who just want reinforcement that they’re on the right path. Living a meaningful life is an ongoing project, after all, for as long as we are living.
“It is a lifelong challenge to know who we really are. But if we don’t, we will never change. Which means we will never find our purpose in life, or get the chance to live it to the hilt.”
November 21, 2025
In my line of work, I’m always eager to consume anything related to young adult development, flourishing, career readiness, and the like. When I saw this book, written by the Director of the NYU Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing, I figured it was worth the read!
Here are things I liked:
1. You don’t have to be “one big thing” — you can be a series of commas.
2. Love her take on networking— I hate how it feels performative and advantageous. It's way more important to make REAL friendships with people without seeking something in return; they will help you more than anyone you meet briefly at a conference.
This didn't contain any monumental breakthroughs, but it was still relatively enjoyable.
Here are things I liked:
1. You don’t have to be “one big thing” — you can be a series of commas.
2. Love her take on networking— I hate how it feels performative and advantageous. It's way more important to make REAL friendships with people without seeking something in return; they will help you more than anyone you meet briefly at a conference.
This didn't contain any monumental breakthroughs, but it was still relatively enjoyable.
August 14, 2025
The values section of this book I do find to be a great framework for identifying your purpose. Easy and compelling ready that gives you really accessible language for identifying what you want.
July 11, 2025
I did the audiobook version, highly recommend. It’s like listening to her podcast!
This is kind of another personality assessment book, but it’s still really helpful and valuable. I most appreciate her storytelling and use of examples of other people’s lives! Enjoyed this read a lot
This is kind of another personality assessment book, but it’s still really helpful and valuable. I most appreciate her storytelling and use of examples of other people’s lives! Enjoyed this read a lot
December 7, 2025
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Authenticity is admitting who you are to yourself.
2. Shitty compromise for money makes sense, until it doesn’t anymore.
3. Whose Life:
- What would you want from this person’s life?
- What would you NOT want?
- Patterns that reveal values.
4. Expediency: Live by values or live by the glide path of least resistance.
RESOURCE:
Quiz - https://www.suzywelch.com/products/
1. Authenticity is admitting who you are to yourself.
2. Shitty compromise for money makes sense, until it doesn’t anymore.
3. Whose Life:
- What would you want from this person’s life?
- What would you NOT want?
- Patterns that reveal values.
4. Expediency: Live by values or live by the glide path of least resistance.
RESOURCE:
Quiz - https://www.suzywelch.com/products/
June 7, 2025
I didn’t know who the author was before reading this book. Perhaps for many once they realized she is the widow of Jack Welch opinions were already solidified for good or bad. I absolutely loved this book, have already been recommending it to others, and found Susy’s writing and narrating of the audiobook to be both interesting and entertaining. Highly, highly recommended.
December 26, 2025
I think that Dr. Welch's work --particularly the values bridge test -- is incredibly cool and worth learning about. I actually encouraged multiple friends to take the test because I think it leads to fascinating conversations. But I had three major issues with this book:
1. This book was written too early in the midst of still-developing research. In the time between when the book was written and when I took the VBT, another value was added. I'd argue even more need to be added because many feel like compounds of different topics. For instance, as an aro-ace person, I find friendship to be a highly important value that I center my life around, but I scored moderately in Belonging because it also digs at your feelings about community, including "community" within powerful institutions. More perspectives need to be gathered and more work needs to be done to sift through this -- surely this topic could be broken into two or more values.
2. The book tried to do way too much. I understand she wanted to go through her whole course, but I didn't feel the VBT descriptions were fully explored, and the parts that followed also felt rushed. I feel this would have better translated as a multi-part workbook rather than trying to stuff a semester's worth of information into a relatively short book.
3. This woman is obsessed with capitalism and, despite claiming to understand the perspective of younger people and to not judge people for their values, doesn't seem to have actually made a good-faith effort to understand why many young people score low in Workcentrism. Workcentrism, as she describes it, is about centering your life around your primary career, not about having a work ethic at all. Despite that disclaimer, my jaw dropped at the way she spoke about work-life balance. Her perspective feels like it was plucked out of a previous century, and she demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of what it was like to come into the workplace at a time when we should be able to dial back and rely on technology more to build a richer life outside of a career (to pursue things which yes, also can require a work ethic), yet we were expected to produce increasingly more. This problem is only going to get worse with AI, and people who are at the forefront of how we are thinking about the future of work need to do a better job of listening when it comes to this topic.
So TL;DR: I would give the concept of the VBT itself a 4 star, but I wouldn't recommend the book as a whole.
1. This book was written too early in the midst of still-developing research. In the time between when the book was written and when I took the VBT, another value was added. I'd argue even more need to be added because many feel like compounds of different topics. For instance, as an aro-ace person, I find friendship to be a highly important value that I center my life around, but I scored moderately in Belonging because it also digs at your feelings about community, including "community" within powerful institutions. More perspectives need to be gathered and more work needs to be done to sift through this -- surely this topic could be broken into two or more values.
2. The book tried to do way too much. I understand she wanted to go through her whole course, but I didn't feel the VBT descriptions were fully explored, and the parts that followed also felt rushed. I feel this would have better translated as a multi-part workbook rather than trying to stuff a semester's worth of information into a relatively short book.
3. This woman is obsessed with capitalism and, despite claiming to understand the perspective of younger people and to not judge people for their values, doesn't seem to have actually made a good-faith effort to understand why many young people score low in Workcentrism. Workcentrism, as she describes it, is about centering your life around your primary career, not about having a work ethic at all. Despite that disclaimer, my jaw dropped at the way she spoke about work-life balance. Her perspective feels like it was plucked out of a previous century, and she demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of what it was like to come into the workplace at a time when we should be able to dial back and rely on technology more to build a richer life outside of a career (to pursue things which yes, also can require a work ethic), yet we were expected to produce increasingly more. This problem is only going to get worse with AI, and people who are at the forefront of how we are thinking about the future of work need to do a better job of listening when it comes to this topic.
So TL;DR: I would give the concept of the VBT itself a 4 star, but I wouldn't recommend the book as a whole.
October 17, 2025
As with all self-help books, the podcast contains everything you need to know. Heard Suzy Welch interviewed on 10% Happier and actually bought the book as I'm in one of those times of life. She's a professor of MBA students so it's quite professionally focused and gives a lot of Ivy League examples of success. What made me interested from the interview is that she's a widow and this is nothing about widowhood.
August 9, 2025
holy middle age white lady book. the intro speaks on how video games impact children’s development ✅ obvious proverbs ✅ says “bye Felicia” ✅ i wont go on. thanks for the book rec mom.blocked.. i actually appreciated some of her personal anecdotes and the part where she said shes not a control freak except for her sons wedding and everyone loved it thank you very much HAHAHAH. shes always sliding how successful she is like we get it you have it all figured out damn. regarding values she said that people come to them honestly, through life experiences (real) so i wont judge mfs now.
August 10, 2025
The part I found most useful was the section about identifying your values and the gap between your stated values and how you're making decisions/living life. I find myself returning to that as I hit a milestone birthday this year that has me taking stock of life. The rest of the book feels like it would be much more useful taken as a class or course (which, of course, for a lot more money is available!).
September 4, 2025
This book being overdue at the library before I even started it really helped me. Found Suzy on Gretchen Rubin’s podcast and loved her! Now I listen to her podcast, finally got her book and will make Dave take the values bridge test with me. We all know I love a personality test and self-help books so this is totally my new thing lol
December 1, 2025
I will recommend this book over and over again if you are interested in understanding what drives your decision making and what you’re good at read this book. A lot of introspection in this book which I loved — would recommend getting the activity book with it if you want to follow along.
August 29, 2025
iykyk - Suzy to the rescue!
September 30, 2025
Rounding up from 3.5/5 might need to revisit this rating once I’ve gone through the exercises
November 14, 2025
I love this book and this whole process, I learned a lot about myself by going through it.
January 16, 2026
Audiobooked. Basically an MBA class about finding yourself and I ate it right up. Did all the tests and unironically learned a lot about myself and everyone else I forced the tests on. Loved!
July 16, 2025
Okay every kid going off to college and anyone who isn’t sure their career path needs to read and complete the exercises. We have kids do the You science excercises she mentions in the book but so many amazing resources I want to share with anyone trying to figure out what they want to do in life!
July 11, 2025
I think this book has a great analysis of how what we value affects the way we live our lives, and to get there, it shares a more practical definition of what values are. It's a helpful methodology to understand ourselves better and it offers a way to put that information to use if you are willing to do the work.
May 11, 2025
Brilliant, flawless, and timely. A must-read.
May 15, 2025
If you are a gigantic personality test nerd like me this book will make your week! Loved it. Great read and gave me a lot to think about. Also confirmed I’m in the right job!
December 16, 2025
This book didn't try to impress me. It located me.
Suzan Welch’s main idea is straightforward: a fulfilling life happens where your values, your skills, and your interests meet. If you miss one, you might still succeed, but you’ll feel off, restless, misaligned, and tired in a way that sleep can’t fix.
This was the most practical book I’ve read. She wasn’t trying to sell hustle culture or romantic ideas about passion. She wants clarity, brutal, honest clarity. The kind that makes you admit when you’re good at something you don’t enjoy, or when you love something you’re not really meant to do well.
Reading this book during my own season of life felt almost too accurate. I’ve been building, working, creating, and showing up, but I still wonder if effort alone means I’m on the right path. Welch would say no. Effort can hide a bad fit for years, especially for high performers.
One of the most grounding parts of the book is how it treats work not as your identity, but as a way to express yourself. Work isn’t who you are; it’s how you bring who you are into the world. That difference meant a lot to me.
I also liked how realistic the book is about timing. Becoming yourself doesn’t happen in a flash. It’s a process. It takes feedback, reflection, adjustment, and sometimes letting go of paths that used to make sense. That approach feels mature. There’s no pressure to change overnight—just a responsibility to notice what’s happening.
This book didn’t give me all the answers. It’s also one of the few books where I actually finished the workbook sections.
Some books motivate you. Some entertain you. This one quietly changes how you see yourself, then leaves you to do the real work on your own.
And maybe that’s the point.
Suzan Welch’s main idea is straightforward: a fulfilling life happens where your values, your skills, and your interests meet. If you miss one, you might still succeed, but you’ll feel off, restless, misaligned, and tired in a way that sleep can’t fix.
This was the most practical book I’ve read. She wasn’t trying to sell hustle culture or romantic ideas about passion. She wants clarity, brutal, honest clarity. The kind that makes you admit when you’re good at something you don’t enjoy, or when you love something you’re not really meant to do well.
Reading this book during my own season of life felt almost too accurate. I’ve been building, working, creating, and showing up, but I still wonder if effort alone means I’m on the right path. Welch would say no. Effort can hide a bad fit for years, especially for high performers.
One of the most grounding parts of the book is how it treats work not as your identity, but as a way to express yourself. Work isn’t who you are; it’s how you bring who you are into the world. That difference meant a lot to me.
I also liked how realistic the book is about timing. Becoming yourself doesn’t happen in a flash. It’s a process. It takes feedback, reflection, adjustment, and sometimes letting go of paths that used to make sense. That approach feels mature. There’s no pressure to change overnight—just a responsibility to notice what’s happening.
This book didn’t give me all the answers. It’s also one of the few books where I actually finished the workbook sections.
Some books motivate you. Some entertain you. This one quietly changes how you see yourself, then leaves you to do the real work on your own.
And maybe that’s the point.
June 23, 2025
In this book, the author presents a data-driven approach to discovering your authentic self and achieving a fulfilling career. Based on her popular NYU class, this method helps readers answer the question, "What should I do with my life?" by using scientific assessment tools. Welch guides readers in uncovering their deepest values, identifying their unique aptitudes, and pinpointing economically viable interests. The intersection of these three elements leads to a pursuit that is as unique as the individual. The book then offers a practical framework for building a meaningful life, rather than simply chasing an undefined dream.
This book transformed my perspective on career planning and self-discovery. The most impactful aspect was Welch's rejection of the typical "follow your passion" advice, favoring instead a focus on real data about who you are. Her argument that happiness is not a goal to chase, but rather an outcome of deep inner work, resonated deeply with me. I appreciated her honesty throughout the book, as she shared experiences ranging from career setbacks to profound grief and unexpected life changes. The Values Bridge assessment was incredibly insightful and made me realize how little most of us know about our core values. What sets this book apart from typical self-help literature is its scientific foundation; these are not just feel-good platitudes, but research-backed tools.
To listen to my interview with the author, visit my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
This book transformed my perspective on career planning and self-discovery. The most impactful aspect was Welch's rejection of the typical "follow your passion" advice, favoring instead a focus on real data about who you are. Her argument that happiness is not a goal to chase, but rather an outcome of deep inner work, resonated deeply with me. I appreciated her honesty throughout the book, as she shared experiences ranging from career setbacks to profound grief and unexpected life changes. The Values Bridge assessment was incredibly insightful and made me realize how little most of us know about our core values. What sets this book apart from typical self-help literature is its scientific foundation; these are not just feel-good platitudes, but research-backed tools.
To listen to my interview with the author, visit my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
November 10, 2025
The common sense about yourself becomes clearer and even a bit enlightening! It's things you already know (usually) about who you are and what you prefer but highlights them in such a way that the curation of your life makes so much more sense after you've nailed down your Values, Aptitudes, and Economically Viable Interests (to find your Area of Transcendence).
I truly enjoyed the sections on Values and Aptitudes but found myself drifting in the EVI portion. I believe that part might have made more of an impact had I taken the actual course "Becoming You" at NYU, (which I would love to one day!). IMO, not all values are listed in the book and perhaps there are other assessments that can help nail those down, but in general the overview of which personality types and skill sets belong with which career and life paths is a fascinating topic to me.
I didn't like that many of the tests inherent to the Becomjng You process are paid processes on the author's website. More of these types of resources should be made available at a more inclusive price point and/or free. But she is a business woman at her core so her Area of Transcendence includes getting paid to dispense this wisdom and who am I to judge that?? Still fully enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to others.
I truly enjoyed the sections on Values and Aptitudes but found myself drifting in the EVI portion. I believe that part might have made more of an impact had I taken the actual course "Becoming You" at NYU, (which I would love to one day!). IMO, not all values are listed in the book and perhaps there are other assessments that can help nail those down, but in general the overview of which personality types and skill sets belong with which career and life paths is a fascinating topic to me.
I didn't like that many of the tests inherent to the Becomjng You process are paid processes on the author's website. More of these types of resources should be made available at a more inclusive price point and/or free. But she is a business woman at her core so her Area of Transcendence includes getting paid to dispense this wisdom and who am I to judge that?? Still fully enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to others.
December 30, 2025
This book was good for what I needed, which was having some sort of shared language around values. I think that’s that where the book is strongest.
The other 2 sections that follow are about figuring out what you’re good at (aptitude) and what job/career aligns with your values and aptitudes (what she calls economically viable interests). The aptitude section is okay but I take issues with some of the “dimensions of aptitude” that she puts forth. Like the opposite of spatial visualization is abstract conceptual thinking?? Or her definition for “sequential reasoning?’ I genuinely couldn’t wrap my head around these two dimensions. She also introduced this idea of a personality compass and has you take a (free) online quiz which was helpful because it allowed me to figure out what things I needed to work on. I also couldn’t help but notice how much my job has influenced me. For example there was a question that said, “it’s ok to miss a deadline now and again when life gets in the way, people will understand.” My first reaction was “huh??” I have maybe only encountered two situations where an extension was allowed.
The economically viable interests section is a couple of pithy anecdotes but nothing super concrete. Kinda a let down tbh. But anyways I read this book for free so.
The other 2 sections that follow are about figuring out what you’re good at (aptitude) and what job/career aligns with your values and aptitudes (what she calls economically viable interests). The aptitude section is okay but I take issues with some of the “dimensions of aptitude” that she puts forth. Like the opposite of spatial visualization is abstract conceptual thinking?? Or her definition for “sequential reasoning?’ I genuinely couldn’t wrap my head around these two dimensions. She also introduced this idea of a personality compass and has you take a (free) online quiz which was helpful because it allowed me to figure out what things I needed to work on. I also couldn’t help but notice how much my job has influenced me. For example there was a question that said, “it’s ok to miss a deadline now and again when life gets in the way, people will understand.” My first reaction was “huh??” I have maybe only encountered two situations where an extension was allowed.
The economically viable interests section is a couple of pithy anecdotes but nothing super concrete. Kinda a let down tbh. But anyways I read this book for free so.
August 25, 2025
Listened to this book and it took me a bit to get through, less because of Welch's writing and more by my own personal focuses.
I think this book was valuable. However, I couldn't get it out of my mind that the Becoming You method is basically a Westernized version of ikigai—leaving a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. The most valuable part for me, even in comparison to ikigai, was the values discussion and discovery. Being able to really sit with and reflect on what I value in my day to day and not necessarily looking for the "why" of it all was refreshing, especially because it makes you realize you know yourself better than you sometimes think. It also helped me reflect on where my values differ from others in my life and how that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I would recommend people to read this if they're feeling stuck when thinking about next steps or longer-term goals. I probably would say to get a physical copy so you can utilize the book's resources, which was a downside of listening for me. Lot's to think about, I'll probably have more thoughts after digesting this one.
I think this book was valuable. However, I couldn't get it out of my mind that the Becoming You method is basically a Westernized version of ikigai—leaving a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. The most valuable part for me, even in comparison to ikigai, was the values discussion and discovery. Being able to really sit with and reflect on what I value in my day to day and not necessarily looking for the "why" of it all was refreshing, especially because it makes you realize you know yourself better than you sometimes think. It also helped me reflect on where my values differ from others in my life and how that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I would recommend people to read this if they're feeling stuck when thinking about next steps or longer-term goals. I probably would say to get a physical copy so you can utilize the book's resources, which was a downside of listening for me. Lot's to think about, I'll probably have more thoughts after digesting this one.
August 14, 2025
Disclaimer: I tend to dislike almost all self help books but I found this insufferable
Almost dnf’ed but it was over 20€ to buy so I decided to suffer until the end
The author does seem to have had an impressive career and overcome difficult moments in her life, and she does apply her methodology in real life with students BUT:
- the book is filled with way to many anecdotes about people (including herself) to personify what she is saying - but please have some respect for your readers, not every single concept needs to be illustrated by 3 different people
- she uses complex words for no other reason than to make her concepts smarter I guess - e.g. the values chapter is filled with her refusing to use existing words (instead of “fame” she uses “luminance”, instead of “wealth” she uses “affluence”)
- the entire aptitudes chapter is basically a list of aptitudes from another website
- ending note: she does share some tools on her website but - you guessed it - you need to pay to access the full version, so this book is basically a promotion tool for that
Almost dnf’ed but it was over 20€ to buy so I decided to suffer until the end
The author does seem to have had an impressive career and overcome difficult moments in her life, and she does apply her methodology in real life with students BUT:
- the book is filled with way to many anecdotes about people (including herself) to personify what she is saying - but please have some respect for your readers, not every single concept needs to be illustrated by 3 different people
- she uses complex words for no other reason than to make her concepts smarter I guess - e.g. the values chapter is filled with her refusing to use existing words (instead of “fame” she uses “luminance”, instead of “wealth” she uses “affluence”)
- the entire aptitudes chapter is basically a list of aptitudes from another website
- ending note: she does share some tools on her website but - you guessed it - you need to pay to access the full version, so this book is basically a promotion tool for that
December 31, 2025
I saw someone mention this book on LinkedIn as having helped them a lot with a job search. And being in an endless job search at the time, I sought it out.
Suzy’s writing makes this book just zip along. My favorite bit was the values assessment. I used the book and also the test on her website. (You can get by with the free version if you have the book, and figure out all your values pretty easily.) Doing a deep dive into my values was helpful - not necessarily in finding a job - but in helping me see with a lot of clarity why certain jobs in the past weren’t a good fit. If they don’t fit your values, you’re not going to thrive. And truth is, it may not be easy to find a job (that is currently hiring) that perfectly fits your values. Sometimes you have to take what you can get. But knowing yourself better and what’s important to you can never hurt, and can only help, as you find your path forward - whatever that may be.
tl;dr it’s great for anyone trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives, or just needing to do some soul searching!
Suzy’s writing makes this book just zip along. My favorite bit was the values assessment. I used the book and also the test on her website. (You can get by with the free version if you have the book, and figure out all your values pretty easily.) Doing a deep dive into my values was helpful - not necessarily in finding a job - but in helping me see with a lot of clarity why certain jobs in the past weren’t a good fit. If they don’t fit your values, you’re not going to thrive. And truth is, it may not be easy to find a job (that is currently hiring) that perfectly fits your values. Sometimes you have to take what you can get. But knowing yourself better and what’s important to you can never hurt, and can only help, as you find your path forward - whatever that may be.
tl;dr it’s great for anyone trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives, or just needing to do some soul searching!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews