Thrive: The Highly Sensitive Person and Career

by Tracy Cooper

Are you a highly sensitive person who has always felt frustrated in finding a career that works for you? In this groundbreaking book researcher and fellow HSP, Dr. Tracy Cooper, presents important new research findings that can empower you to better understand how HSPs experience the modern workplace, discover emerging new opportunities, and connect with powerful narratives from HSPs representing a wide variety of real-world viewpoints.
This book is for the highly sensitive person who wishes to move beyond survival to thriving! Based on and extending the research of Dr. Elaine Aron this is a must read for all HSPs!

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2015

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read the author’s other book (Empowering the Sensitive Male Soul), this book follows the same vein, with an emphasis around how the HSP trait may suit itself to particular work environments (as expressed within a western cultural context, as that seems to be the author’s frame of reference). If you’ve read other material on this topic, some of the content may seem repetitive, but if not, it does give a very good background for those who are just discovering it (either for themselves, or someone they know).

I found Chapter 7 (The Sociological Context) interesting, as it did confirm what I already suspected, however it didn’t lend anything new, aside from the fact that HSP’s are different, are in the minority, and must adjust to suit the world. As the author says in that chapter: “It’s clear to me, and I hope the reader, that if there is one area of HSP research that needs much more work, it is in reconciling male HSPs in a way that is healing and empowering.” Similar to another reviewer who was looking for a more practical guide, I was hoping for the same.

Chapter 8 does provide a breakdown of those career categories of the HSPs involved with the author’s surveys, however it does not identify a comparison to the overall population, in order to understand where the emphasis may be for HSPs. Further, there doesn’t seem to be an assessment of the happiness / contentment of individuals within and amongst those categories – meaning, just because there’s relatively more in any particular category, does it mean that their sense of fulfillment and happiness is greater? It also would have been nice to see if and how the HSPs in the survey showed up on Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator testing, or something similar, that’s more well known within the broader population. Nonetheless, it is an interesting summary, in that it sheds some light on the relationship between the HSP traits and chosen career paths.

I think the book is best suited for those individuals who are already on their way toward or are in a ‘good place’ in their lives, in terms of having attained a level of healthy self-acceptance (and the personal support and validation one needs to be healthy and resilient – but this is not easy in a world that simply isn’t ‘you’). As the author mentions (and more so in his other book), if you are one of those ‘damaged’ HSPs, you’ll need to get help first, and then (in my interpretation) move one with the insights contained herein in order to live better. However, there’s really no sense of what that ‘help’ should look like (I would assume it would comprise of help from professionals familiar with & trained in dealing with HSPs). In other words - a fantastic book ….. if you are NOT a damaged HSP (although there is certainly recognition of difficulties that HSP's have in finding suitable careers, including explanations).

Notwithstanding the above, the author is to be commended for even writing such a book – as far as I know, there’s no other one out there like it, and having it available is a great thing. I’m keeping mine, if for no other reason than to refer back to once in awhile, and hopefully pass it on to others who may find a benefit.

[Elizabeth Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it had a lot of good information. I would definitely recommend it for HSPs. My only issue was with the editing of the book. There were so many run on sentences, which would make reading it a bit difficult at times. The personal stories seemed even less edited than the rest of the book. Even with these issues, it was still a worthwhile read.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're an HSP like me, you'll read this book and think 'This is me! This is totally me!' You also realize there are other people out there like you and that they also struggle to find just the right fit in the workplace. I'm not sure this book really helps 'decide' on a career, although the author does seem to veer towards working at home and self-employment. This book should not only be read by people that identify as HSPs, but also by managers, leaders and HR employees who would benefit from better understanding the strengths HSPs can offer and the challenges they can face in the workplace.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and Validating

The first 2/3 of the book was interesting, and it has provided me with a framework in understanding some of my experiences, especially where my career is concerned. I felt the last 1/3 of the book was filled with generalizations and not much in the way of practical advice. Overall I would recommend Thrive for anyone who wants a better understanding of HSPs.

[Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope every highly sensitive person gets to read this. So far the most updated work on this topic.