How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work

by Jodi Kantor

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER

With warmth, honesty, and inspired wisdom, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jodi Kantor expands on her triumphant Columbia University commencement address, tackling the question, "How, in this environment, is anyone supposed to find and start their life's work?”

Jodi Kantor’s groundbreaking reporting has toppled media magnates, sparked reform worldwide, and foretold many of the unsettling changes we see in the workplace today. 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 young people are facing new and frightening terrain, with political upheaval, skyrocketing costs of living, and the unknowns of AI.
 
Kantor casts aside platitudes and false hope to offer tangible help. Work is how we spend much of our time. It’s our engine of how cancer therapies are invented, political campaigns won, thrilling art created and matched with an audience. Instead of letting cynicism take over, Kantor identifies two principles to help young people discover their life’s  craft and need. By pairing the two, they can navigate tough, sensitive how to think about money. How much risk to take on. When to buck what others are saying.
 
Powerful and provocative, How to Start is a statement of faith for young people as they make their way through uncertain times, offering wisdom, strategy, and a set of aspirations to launch their careers and last their whole lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

112 pages, Kindle Edition

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

[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

[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.

[Jamie Gabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My aunt got this for me and I made it my rainy day activity. Not so much tangible career advice. I guess I should find a needed career😄I guess I should choose a career not for the money😄

[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.

[Sasha Hurowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jodi Kantor really is that girl

[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.'

[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.

[Liv Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

More philosophical than practical, this book contains stories of how Jodi’s friends found their purpose, work wise, but gives only a few points of advice for readers. Interesting nonetheless.

[Julia Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet and reassuring. Not full of steps, which I honestly appreciated, but ideas and belief in this generation. And empathy. Thanks Jodi!

[Cameron Lipp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Word for word what your friend’s mom who went to Yale says to you after one glass of wine at dinner

[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

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this book up as a gift for some young folks in my life at the beginning of their working lives and after hearing a spirited interview of Kantor about the book by Tim Miller on The Bulwark podcast. The book reads like a bit of a reboot for our times of classics like What Color Is Your Parachute? and Do What You Love (the Money will Follow), with less of the specific workbook tasks of the former. Even if you haven't read those books, the message is pretty clear from the titles: don't settle for pre-defined career paths; find what will be the most fulfilling thing to do with your life; take a proactive role in creating the ideal job you want, not just the openings that are advertised; be open to the often frustrating and terrifying messiness of life, since the answer often lies down a road you only stumbled upon by accident. Kantor echoes all of this timely, perennial advice with slight updates for our digital, post-pandemic, AI-dawning, Trump impoverished world. The one thing this book cannot be accused of is being is cynical--but if I were a more cynical reader, I would say this slim, quick, aphoristic volume was timed perfectly for graduation gift season. But Kantor, after all, who is one of the Pulitzer Prize winning journalists who blew the whistle on Harvey Weinstein and basically lit the MeToo rocket, is probably not in the business of gaming the publishing system. I guess what I'm saying is that this a fine quick read for a graduating college student (who might even actually read it), but for hardcore practical advice about charting your own course, I think the What Color book probably still stands up pretty well.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodi Kantor, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist best known for her investigative work, turns her attention in this slim volume to one of life's most daunting transitions: stepping out of school and into the working world. The result is a warm, practical, and quietly reassuring guide for young people who feel overwhelmed by the prospect.

What distinguishes this book from the typical career manual is Kantor's genuine empathy. She does not lecture or condescend. She acknowledges plainly that finding a foothold in today's economy is harder than it once was, and that much of the cultural noise surrounding young people right now skews toward fear and cynicism. But she pushes back against that mood with conviction, arguing that rewarding work is still abundant to those willing to look carefully.

She encourages graduates to observe their own friend groups, noticing which roles they naturally fall into, since those patterns often reveal genuine strengths. She asks readers to pay attention to what they are already known for, what tasks they find themselves enjoying on an ordinary day, and what gaps or unmet needs they notice in their communities. These are not abstract exercises but entry points into discovering where one's values and capabilities can meet real demand.

Kantor frames work not as a grind to be endured but as a privilege. She describes it as one of the foundational legs of a good life, society's "engine of progress," something each new generation has the opportunity to help drive forward. Her advice is to master a craft, build genuine connections, prioritize personal values over prestige, and learn from early failures without being crushed by them.

How to Start will not solve every anxiety a new graduate carries, but it will almost certainly quiet a few of them. Kantor writes with the care of someone who takes young people seriously, and that alone makes the book worth their time.

[Megan Wojciechowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Gen-Z member 4 years into their engineering career, this book hit HARD. I read the whole thing in about an hour and a half while tanning under the sun. It is extremely hard to find mentors in the professional world due to the levels of stress and the lack of awareness of the future. My generation is floundering to find a job, afford to live, pay off student loans, and expand our resume, all while being ripped apart on the internet by older individuals who simply claim we don't want to work. How can you work without being given the chance to learn? How can you learn when no one wants to teach you? How can you learn on your own when you don't have the funds to purchase extra courses? Hearing from a woman who sees us and hears us is refreshing. This isn't a book that commiserates, but one that broadens the perspective of people of all ages to be more optimistic about young professionals. I even added my new favorite quote to the back of my giant CAD laptop at work so everyone in meetings with me can read, "As you're starting out, the point is not to already possess a craft; it's to find a road to mastering one." Nothing rings more true than that.

[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.

[John Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I read the NYT article she wrote before dad got this for me so I feel like I had some of the book spoiled. I didn’t trust that this shorter book would go more in depth than that article, but I enjoyed it and think there is some extra advice and personality that wasn’t included in the NYT piece (particularly in the latter half of the book). Good advice about careers, need, and craft; but maybe my biggest takeaway was about love and a few words on page 90: “Love is a lottery. Finding it depends on standing in the right bar on the right night and talking with the right stranger. […] As he said, finding the right partner is often the hardest thing.”

[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).

[MsDelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I wanted to give it to my nephew as a graduation gift. I think it’s short enough, easy enough and has some nice/good messages or ideas for college graduates. Also, I am currently looking for new work at the age the age of 55 and have found that I’m totally depressed by the current process of applying for jobs and it made feel a little better, lol. It’s not really like a how to, it’s more of a reassuring pep talk about beginnings, pivots, and the messy reality of figuring out what comes next. I think it makes a nice little graduation gift.

[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

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you think of this book as a pep talk, and not as a How-to, you will enjoy it more.
Given this gloomy job market, a pep talk is certainly not a bad thing.

I'm giving the book to my younger child who will graduate from college tomorrow -- not because most of the advice here is tactical (it isn't), but because the central message may provide a bit of emotional encouragement at a time when they (and so many of their classmates) seem to need that.

[Mirandah Davis-Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodi’s sweet for cheering us on and I agree with a lot of her sentiments. Craft, especially, is so important. I think what books like these miss, or what this one missed at least, is the explanation for WHY you cannot find a job if you’re supposedly qualified. If you’ve applied to more than 100 jobs but only get 3 interviews, there’s only so much fault you can place on the system for being difficult. Idk.

[Lily Shevchenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good, it gave me hope for the future as a recent college graduate entering a dreadful job market. It reminds me that there are people who understand my situation despite the fact that they might not be experiencing it the way I am. I am not generally attracted to advice/self-help books like this one because I feel as though it is just one perspective on one or multiple complex issues. That being said, I liked this and would recommend to recent grads.

[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.