How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work

by Jodi Kantor

Jodi Kantor’s groundbreaking reporting has toppled media magnates and sparked justice in the workplace worldwide. But before all of this, Kantor was kicked off her college newspaper. Society expects perfection, but Kantor knows those first professional steps are often rocky. She also knows that today’s graduates are facing a new and frightening playing field.   In a post-pandemic world rife with political upheaval, the unknowns of AI, and the general uncertainty of coming-of-age, Kantor casts aside platitudes and false hope to offer something tangible. There is a difference between realism and cynicism, she says. Work is how we spend much of our time. It’s our engine of how vaccines are made, political campaigns won, television crafted for our pleasure. Instead of letting cynicism win, Kantor rolls up her sleeves and identifies three principles to help young people discover their life’s craft, need, and money. Powerful and provocative, How to Start is a statement of faith for young people to keep in their back pocket as they make their way through uncertain times. To face the challenges ahead, Kantor offers inspired wisdom, strategy, and a set of aspirations to launch their careers and last their whole lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

112 pages, Hardcover

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

Jodi Kantor has covered the world of Barack and Michelle Obama since the beginning of 2007, also writing about Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Richard Holbrooke, Eric Holder and many others along the way.

Ms. Kantor graduated from Columbia and attended Harvard Law School. But soon after she arrived, she caught the journalism bug, took time off to work at Slate.com, and never looked back. She joined The New York Times in 2003 as Arts & Leisure editor, revamping the section and helping lead a makeover of the culture report.

The recipient of a Columbia Young Alumni Achievement Award, Ms. Kantor has also been named by Crain's New York Business magazine as one of "40 Under 40." She appears regularly on television, including The Today Show and Charlie Rose.

Though she is a Washington correspondent, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work," accomplished journalist Jodi Kantor offers advice to new college graduates. Kantor endeavors to be simultaneously hopeful and realistic, and she mostly pulls it off. I work in public higher education and I'm a parent of two college students. This crop of graduates is facing a number of big challenges all at once, and I think Kantor delivers a few worthwhile messages, especially about focusing on your craft and thinking about what brings you satisfaction, not just where you can earn the biggest paycheck. This is a slim book that's easy to read, and I think it will hold up for the next year or two as a nice college graduation gift.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book incredibly relevant. The reasons she discusses why people are discouraged by their career prospects are the VERY same and SPECIFIC things that I have seen recently in the workplace. Despite the sense of hopelessness about career prospects she does bring in the light. She does this by telling her and a few other peoples career stories that are not straight lines to success. I really enjoyed the way she wrote these, it wasn’t throw away examples, it was peoples stories that I really connected with. She then outlines how you should approach discovering your craft and what need it can solve.

It is marketed to new graduates but I would argue it’s for anyone who is job searching, thinking about switching a career, or a stay at home mom who will be re-entering the workforce. I appreciated that it is shorter. What she does write packs a punch and is not drawn out. I highlighted so many quotes to go back to.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company for the ARC.

[Tab · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am the exact target audience for this book (about to graduate, struggling to find my purpose, and generally feeling hopeless at the state of the world and the job market) and unfortunately I found it to be pretty unhelpful

I really respect Jodi and the journalistic work she’s done but I kept looking for specificity or tangible advice in this book and didn’t get much

The book has this central idea of following craft and need but does little in the way of guiding people who don’t know their ‘higher purpose’

I know there’s no magic answer to the huge problems in the job market but I wish there was something a little less nebulous to learn

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an accomplished investigative journalist, the author brings a strong voice and perspective to her work. However, the career guidance here feels less grounded in a broad range of lived experiences and more aspirational than practical for many readers.
The core advice—“find your craft,” specialize early, and build around it—sounds compelling, but it feels more aspirational than grounded in the reality of how many careers actually unfold.
What if there isn’t one perfect plan? What if the real goal is simply finding something sustainable?
Many careers nowadays are shaped by industry shifts, layoffs, and evolving roles, not a clean, linear path toward specialization. The framework doesn’t offer much practical guidance. It seems largely based on a narrow set of trajectories rather than a broad, representative range of outcomes.

[Jules · Rating 1 out of 5]

A longer version of the commencement speech she gave at a university, the book leans into platitudes around 'if you turn every experience into a learning opportunity, everything will come together and things will work out. So don't worry if it's bleak right now.'

[Sasha Hurowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jodi Kantor really is that girl

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is super random but it did bring tears to my eyes

[Lucy Marques · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the writing and it was inspirational but not in a practical way at all

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who couldn’t use a good pep talk and some practical ideas for finding your path in the world? A quick, engaging and thought-provoking read.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

capitalist slop imo

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wise, practical, and honest, How to Start paints a compelling picture of the many challenges college graduates face right now (e.g., job interviews with AI bots, perceived tradeoffs between meaning and economic security).

Kantor offers an optimistic yet realistic path forward, framed around two concepts - craft (a specific skillset) and need (what benefits society). In doing so she encourages college graduates to invest in a slow, step-by-step approach to cultivating a satisfying career while achieving economic stability and building a meaningful life.

Well worth the brief read or the audiobook listen, it makes a great gift for new college graduates.

[Daryl Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard the NPR interview and thought it might be a good gift for my graduating nieces and nephew, but I wanted to read it first to see how useful it was.

Meh. There are lots of anecdotes that I suspect suffer from survivorship bias, and the useful tips and information are pretty sparse. I think it would make a fine gift for a grad who just needs a little dose of inspiration but I don’t think it clears the high bar of giving great guidance to those entering the workforce at such a fraught time.

[Agnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hovered somewhere between three and four stars, but I decided to round up to give the author credit for being willing to even tackle career prospects for current graduates in any kind of positive or encouraging way. The advice to look for the intersection of your unique skills and the world’s needs is nothing new, but there are some good anecdotes and solid, more specific advice, including some interesting suggestions for introspection, in the last section that make the book a worthwhile college graduation gift (although I’d argue it would be helpful for high school graduates as well).

[Thea Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this is like breathing a little easier. The hour and some it took me to read this was like and hour and some with Kantor holding my hand, not in a patronizing way but in a providing gentle-guidance type of way. She doesn't deny things are hard, but refuses to let that be the defining message. The way she infuses optimism without sugar-coating is grounding, and to read something hopeful in this day and age is a breath of fresh air. I've seen her speak live, too, she's great.

[Debs · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a passage near the end about finding “a room of yours” that actually stopped me, Kantor at her best. But some of the advice felt a lil too idealistic- “for your first job take whatever lets you be most curious” isn’t always an option when real life is happening. I think this lands hardest if you’re still in high school or undergrad & for me it felt like I’d already wrestled with a lot of these questions. Worth reading, just maybe temper your expectations going in

[Forest Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick read with a lot of value to offer, I believe we are in a very interesting landscape with the economy and job market.. however it’s the perspective of the market itself that is truly the enemy here, and almost a scapegoat for our generation. If you truly find where your individual craft and societies needs align, and put in the actionable work to pursue what you love, I believe the time we live in will bless you with endless opportunities. Def recommend

[Lucy Bichakhchyan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enormous respect for all of the authors journalistic work!

This is a cute little Airport book I read in one sitting. It claims to be for college graduates, but it’s more for high school kids because there’s no tangible advice.

Basic concepts that should have hopefully been covered in one course or another at Columbia University. Very warm and cute, but could have been a blog post.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not the target for this book, but I’m thinking a lot about my daughter and her generation. Jodi Kantor gave a talk about this book at my (and her) synagogue to a packed crowd and I was really moved. The stories in this short book are inspiring (as is her career). This gift would make a great graduation present.

[Jake Dann]

I've been feeling anxious about my career, on some level, since 2024. I think this little book helped me feel like that's ok - it's important to do what you think is important, or at least try. I still feel very lost sometimes, and I don't think any number of books like this will solve that, but I liked how sympathetic this one was, and its ideas for finding one's own way.

[Sav · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was among the most uplifting books I’ve read in years. Though I don’t normally dip my toe into this genre, the author offered sound wisdom without long, convoluted explanations and was encouraging without fault. Reading this book felt like having a conversation with a mentor.

[Barbara Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is today's reality?

I have been retired for 12 years. The world is different but I have grandkids I want to support and help. When I was in college, one teacher said we needed to learn how to learn and keep growing. That is what this book tries to do.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short book by an excellent writer based off a commencement speech given at Columbia's graduation. It is a must read for all-great advice for students, parents, employers and just humans. Highly recommend

[Jeff Berman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the antidote to the breakneck/burnout pace of this era isn’t just slowing down, but actually committing to the slow, steady process of honing a craft. There is a quiet, radical resilience in doing the work well, with care, focus, and commitment.

[Adrian Lyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very aspirational and less practical- Which isn't entirely a negative! I appreciate a good success story. Kantor is a fantastic writer with a strong voice, I enjoyed reading this book. However, I do feel like I went in wanting more solid how-to type conversations.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeffrey Selingo recommended, definitely worth the read, particularly as I launch my oldest to graduate school. Insightful but swerving slightly lefty, hard to give it a 5.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific. Would make a great college graduation gift.

[Anna Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick & refreshing read!

[Nikki G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book serves its purpose in such a simple way. Kantor gives examples and highlights the main keys of patience and passion.

[Amy Colbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 (audio)

[Shivani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick inspirational self help book, good reminder that everyone is struggling in this new AI era