Descoperă-ți elementul. Cum să-ți afli talentele și pasiunile și cum să-ți transformi viața

by Ken Robinson

Sir Ken Robinson: ”Descoperă-ți Elementul” este o expediție personală. O expediție este o căutare. În Europa Medievală, cavalerii plecau în căutare de aventuri ca să atingă un țel de preț pentru ei. Expedițiile presupun călătorii, aventuri și riscuri și, prin natura lor, rezultatele unei expediții sunt incerte. Așa vor fi, cu siguranță, și pentru tine. Expediția în căutarea Elementului tău este realmente o călătorie pe două căi. Este o călătorie interioară, menită să exploreze ce se află în tine; este o călătorie în afară, menită să exploreze oportunitățile din lumea ce te înconjoară. Scopul acestei cărți este să te ajute să-ți găsești calea. Dacă îți vei duce la împlinire expediția depinde de devotamentul tău și de tăria ta, precum și de cât de mult pui preț pe posibila răsplată. Dacă ești gata să faci cele necesare, am încredere că vei găsi aici o mulțime de lucruri care să te ajute și să te inspire.

Ca toate câte se află în natură, talentele și pasiunile omenești sunt extraordinar de diverse și iau multiple forme. Ca indivizi, cu toții suntem motivați de diferite vise și vom înflori – sau ne vom ofili – în împrejurări foarte diferite. Recunoașterea viselor tale și a condițiilor necesare ca să le vezi împlinite este esențială pentru ca tu să devii cel care poți să fii. Lectura acestei cărți nu-ți va garanta că-ți vei petrece restul vieții într-o continuă, neîntreruptă stare de plăcere și încântare. Totuși, îți va dărui o înțelegere mai adâncă a celui care ești cu adevărat și a vieții pe care ai putea și poate că ar trebui să o trăiești.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Personal Development, Education, Business, Personal Growth

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Sir Ken Robinson is an internationally recognized leader in the development of innovation and human resources. He has worked with national governments in Europe and Asia, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, national and state education systems, non-profit corporations and some of the world’s leading cultural organizations. They include the Royal Shakespeare Company, Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, the Royal Ballet, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the European Commission, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the J Paul Getty Trust and the Education Commission of the States. From 1989 - 2001, he was Professor of Arts Education at the University of Warwick.

Reviews

[Joel Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't a groundbreaking or beautifully-written book. Most of its information was fairly familiar, and it depended heavily on inspiring quotations and anecdotes from people who have changed their careers. That said, sometimes you just need the right book at the right time. If you need a good kick in the ass, it doesn't really matter how well-crafted the shoe is. For me, this was great. Since I listened to the audiobook, I soaked up the inspirational and motivational bits but didn't really have a chance to do the exercises yet. So I'm going back through the print version (thank FSM for libraries!) and digging in. Though the book feels like a lot of books that have come before it, Robinson's style is friendly and engaging and has a feeling of sincerity to it. I'm going to give the exercises a good try, hoping that I can figure some things out about myself. The exercises aren't especially sophisticated, but are open-ended enough that they should be good jumping-off points.

Robinson reminded me of the importance of finding out how I might best use the time I have left. There's only one of me, and (as far as I know) I only get one shot, and now is a great time to move in the direction of my dreams.

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4 stars
Did you attend a traditional school ? Was your creativity doused by math, english and following the program ? Do you even know what your passion is, or where your talents lie ? I really didn't have any idea when I picked this book up. I can do a little of everything and don't really know where my true talents really are. Jack of all trades master at none, that is what I was taught a little of everything. Was it the public school systems fault that I lack focus ? Who knows, but he gives a very interesting argument.
In this book he helps you focus on "the element' where the things you are good and what you love to do come into clear view. There are some steps to follow to help you form your talents into focus. I wish there had been more of these. He gets you started in the direction you need to go it's up to you to keep the momentum.

Most of the book deals with the educational system. The standardized test systems, the lack of arts programs, and one size fits all thinking of education. I would love to see every teacher, parent any one in education read this and expand their views. I learned that my talents, my element is one of the areas I put off the most. I'll be working on that in the future.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

While doing a bit of shelf organization I decided that I not only wanted to read this again (after three years), but that it merited an upgrade to five stars.

I really enjoyed listening to this book, so much so, that I’m now on a second run through and I’ve borrowed a hard copy in order to concentrate on the exercises. I can easily say that I am besotted with Sir Ken Robinson. Yes, I have a predilection for an English accent, but I think it’s his humor that captivated. This could easily have been another self-help tome—a bit preachy, occasionally pretentiously evolved, sometimes smug—but instead it’s just a bloke telling you what he believes after years of study and experience. A really smart one with some of the most viewed (and successful) TED talks on the web, but an affable chap all the same. I’d like to buy this man a pint.

This book is part inspiration, part guided introspection, a celebration of our abilities and creativity and builds upon his earlier work. I didn’t read its predecessor as I tend toward a more hands-on approach and this fit the bill. Delivered in a conversational tone and often self-deprecating, it is a practical guide to finding your element: where your passions and aptitudes intersect. This isn’t a prescribed-step program, but a highly personal process based on three principles: your life is unique, you create your own life and it is organic. Nothing new, I know, but he couches it in reality, not psycho-babble.

Referencing Jungian precepts to Meyers-Briggs and quoting Joseph Campbell to Oscar Wilde, Robinson knows his material and delivers it amiably. Finding Your Element probes your attitudes, your biology, your background and how they may define your starting point, but not your destination. Robinson reminds us that living a life of passion and purpose is attainable with a little work and some risk, but it enables us to honor our dreams and value our life and those whom we love. In the end, that’s all that remains.

[د.أمجد الجنباز · Rating 5 out of 5]

من الكتب الجميلة التي تعطيك خطوات للبحث عن ذاتك ومعرفة شغفك في الحياة والمكان الذي تتميز فيه

الكتاب يتبع سلسلة من الاسئلة والتمارين التي تساعدك في استكشاف نفسك اكثر واكثر، واعطاء امثلة عن اناس اكشتفو مكان تميزهم بطرق مشابهة

يبدأ الكتاب بالتوضيح ان البحث عن الذات من الأمور الصعبة، وبأن الكتاب سيساعدك، لكنه لن يضمن لك الوصول لذاتك

مؤلف الكتاب حاصل على الدكتوراه في التعليم ويحب نشر الإبداع، وحاصل أيضا على لقب
Sir
من ملكة بريطانيا

[Raheleh Abbasinejad · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Two young fish are swimming down a river and an older fish swims past them in the opposite direction. He says, “Good morning, boys. How’s the water?” They smile at him and swim on. Further up the river, one of the young fish turns to the other and says, “What’s water?” He takes his natural element so much for granted that he doesn’t even know he’s in it. Being in your own Element is like that. It’s about doing something that feels so completely natural to you, that resonates so strongly with you, that you feel that this is who you really are.”
These words in the first paragraph of the book were tempting enough to keep me at the edge of my seat all through to end. Though the lived experiences and short stories of people finding their elements were really inspiring and mind provoking, I have not had time to do all the assigned exercises yet (looking forward to doing them) to see if they really help to find my own element or not. But I defiantly recommend it, especially if you know something is wrong with your life, you are not happy or enthusiastic about your profession, and etc. You have to pick this book as a starting point and initiate seeking your element.

[Audrey's Book Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It works wonderfully as what it's aimed for : finding your Element. It contains about 20 exercises, plus the questions at the end of the chapters. I would recommend to write the answers instead of just thinking it in your mind. It did wonders for me and helped me have more confidence in life!

[Gary Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled on to the books of Ken Robinson in the way that thousands of others probably have: through his wildly popular TED Talks. His easy-going speaking style and gentle sense of humor serve the topic of self-discovery particularly well. In Finding Your Element, you’ll find a writing style that closely matches what you may have seen while watching those videos. Robinson has a genuine interest in sharing the wisdom of self-knowledge that shines through.

Happily, this is not some airy-fairy self-help book that promises you that anything can be yours through the power of positive thinking or “communicating with the spirit of the universe” or similar new age fluff. Rather, this is a book about stimulating you to think about some very serious questions. What are you doing with your life? How do you feel about it? Would you rather be doing something else? What would that something else be? And, importantly, if you did do that thing, what would the consequences be?

Most people believe that everyone has something that they’re good at and many people dream of pursuing that thing as a way of making a living (or just living, period). Robinson provides a combined survey of world wisdom on this topic along with a series of helpful exercises that serve as mental “looseners” to get you in touch with what your personal thing is. Even if you already think you know what that thing is, these exercises are worth at least considering even if you decide not to follow them to the letter.

So, if you’re thinking hard about choices that you’ve made and regrets you might have about them, don’t worry. You’re in good company. There are lots of folks out there who are in the same boat with you. Ken Robinson’s out to convince you that it’s never too late. There’s always time to make a big course correction...if you’re willing to accept the consequences. Even if you’re thinking about a small adjustment in your life that gets you closer to your passions in life, give this book a try. Think of it as an investment in your own well being.

[Frank Calberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takeaways from reading the book:

What is a story of a person, who found his element?
Page 72: Hans Zimmer, who composed music for over 150 films including The Lion King, was a problem pupil of every school he attended. He went to 5 schools and was, as he put it himself, "thrown out" of all of them. He was generally restless, bored and disruptive in class. He was inattentive and miserable with the whole education process. The turning point in Hans Zimmer's life came, when someone asked for his help with using a Moog sound synthesizer. Hans found he had an intuitive feel for this new way of generating sounds. He became fascinated by its potential. Hans went on to become one of the world's leading composers of music for film. He found inspiration from great architects.

What questions can you ask yourself to find your element?
Page 121: One of the most important things you can do as you try to find your element is to pay careful attention to your emotional states. What consistently elevates your spirits? When do you experience stretches of real joy? In this regard, the author mentions five types of well-being:
1. Career well-being. Being in your element in career well-being has strong relevance for your overall well-being.
2. Social well-being.
3. Financial well-being.
4. Physical well-being.
5. Community well-being.

What questions can you ask yourself to find your tribe?
Pages 191 and 212: Six questions you can ask yourself to find your tribe:
1. What events are you interested in attending?
2. What words would you use to search for your tribe on the Internet?
3. What do people, who feel part of a tribe you also feel part of, do?
4. What personalities do people, who feel part of a tribe you also feel part of, have?
5. Why do people, who feel part of a tribe you also feel part of, interest you?
6. What really matters for you in a tribe, you feel part of?

[Zezee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give up. Robinson makes great points and gives some good advice but I found the book to be repetitive sometimes and boring. I first read Robinson's "The Element," which was a good read and was suffused with personal stories that drew me in and sparked my interest in the book. I expected the same in "Finding the Element," however, it doesn't contain as many personal stories. "Finding the Element" is more of a guide and contains more facts and advice. My interest was not deterred simply because of this. It's possible that I found it a bore because I'm just not ready to read it (not in the frame of mind to be patient with it). I was interested in the topic and willing to read and apply the advice given but I was still bored. It just didn't work for me.

However, if you want to find your Element or are simply interested in the topic, then I recommend that you pick up this book. Robinson does give some good advice and provides other sources that may help in finding your Element. It's possible that you might even like the book. But I can't bother to continue pushing on so I give up. I'm moving on to something else.

[Victoria Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've found my element (passion and purpose) after reading the book (in 1 day). The book has a very easy flowing style and a smart structure, plus without difficult therms which we all hate. The only minus is - we all already know our so called 'Element'. Otherwise would it be so easy for me to find it, in 1 day? The book suggest you to draw different circles, use colourful pens, answer thousands of questions, plus go online and try hundreds of tests...if you have time for that, or desperately-depressive melancholic with a heavy amnesia -> Go ahead. Do it. Because as Ken R. is telling us in his book: "Some people do NEED the special SUPPORT to find their Element."
But if you'll spend only 5-10 minutes with yourself - you'll find it without "exercises", "questionnaire" and "circles". It is inside of you and always been. From the time you was born. Simply ask yourself the question: what you liked the most when you was a child? To play doctor and run after cats to kinda 'heal' them? Ouch, then, deep in your heart, you are 99% a cat-healer and 1% of what you are now. 'Time to become fully happy and change your life path,' says Ken. Let's start from finding a cat...

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although a light read, this book was basically boring. There were far too many anecdotal stories of individuals finding their element (a.k.a passion) which soon made the book repetitive and tiresome. I am not a fan of self-help books at the best of time and this one certainly didn't endear me to the genre. In fact, the exercises suggested throughout Finding Your Element terrified me! Mind maps, vision boards, etc. . . . Argh!!!!

[Ancuta Dospinescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an exercise book that helps you know yourself better, identify what you love doing, clarify what you are currently doing with your time and how that makes you feel. It is a good starting point to do more of what you want and less of what you don't.
Also it has many stories in each chapter that proves the point, there is no rule regarding what you should do with your life, start doing what you love and see how that works for you, where it takes you and what you learn on the way.

[Claudia B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sir Ken Robinson ne vorbește în această carte, despre pasiuni, talente, despre o viață trăită cu sens și despre o meserie în acord cu abilitățile, personalitatea și aptitudinile noastre.
Am observat trei principii esențiale, de care putem țin cont în planificarea drumului înspre Elementul fiecăruia:
1. Viața ta e unică. Poți să înveți din experiențele altora, dar nu are sens să le reproduci.
2. Tu îți creezi și recreezi propria viață. Folosește-te de creativitate și inventivitate pentru asta.
3. Viața este organică și nu liniară, traseul vieții nu poate fi planificat. Singurii care pot fi planificați sunt următorii pași.
Mi-a plăcut discursul lui Sir Ken Robinson, convingător, autentic, amuzant și presărat cu multe exemple ale unor oameni de succes care au povestit cum și-au găsit ei Elementul.
A fost o lectură plăcută și am observat cum, fără să vreau, de-a lungul vieții, am ales să simt înspre ce mă îndrept și asta m-a adus foarte aproape de propriul meu Element. Aș mai adăuga un principiu celor trei enumerate de autor: să fim extrem de atenți la situațiile pe care viața ni le ”aruncă” înainte. De cele mai multe ori nu sunt întâmplătoare. :)

[Ugnė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vadovėlis pašaukimui rasti. Tvarkingas vadovėline prasme - tekstas, pavyzdžiai, užduotys, ką turi pasidaryti, kad tą pašaukimą rastum. Ir visgi - per daug cukruotas ir stokojantis konkretumo. Nėra paprastai nei bandyti tai, ko norėjai, ir kas iš pirmo, penkto ir dvidešimt septinto karto nepavyksta. Nėra paprasta ir susirasti tuos, kurie dega ta pačia aistra ir dar ir patinka šiaip kaip žmonės. Ir ne visi pokyčiai būna džiugūs, neskausmingi ir verti savo kainos. Žodžiu, aš pasigedau istorijų, kaip kažkam rasti savo pašaukimo nepavyko nors bandė bandė bandė. Nes realybės šiam gyvenimui irgi reikia.

[Koilee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a school bookclub, and I think I would've gotten more from it if the club had gone into it more deeply. I rate books typically based off of not what they are but how much I enjoyed them, and I would give this 2 stars but I don't wanna bring down the rating just because I didn't put much effort into trying to understand the authors point. I think this book could be very helpful for some people, but most of what it told me I felt like I already knew.

[Mohammad]

کتابی در مورد خودشناسی و یافتن کاری که مورد علاقه مان است
کتابی در مورد لذت بردن از حرفه مان
با مثالهایی واقعی

[Huda Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

أولاً، لماذا من المهم أن نكتشف مواطن قوتنا؟ لأسباب من جوانب عدة:
شخصي: كي ندرك من نحن، وما بمقدورنا أن نفعل، وأن ندرك ما يسعدنا في هذة الحياة.
اجتماعي: كي لا تتزايد نسبة العاطلون عن العمل لأنهم لم يوفقوا في اختيار ما يناسبهم من مهن، ولا تتزايد نسبة استهلاكنا لمضادات الاكتئاب والمسكنات جراء شقاءنا في أدوار لا تمثلنا ولا تناسبنا.
اقتصادي: كي ندرك الامكانيات المتنوعة التي فد نغفلها ولكن أن رعيناها بالأهتمام ستدر علينا الدخل المادي الجيد.
أن نقاط قوتنا تدلنا على الوجهة المناسبة لنا، حتى نصل لأفضل مكان يتوافق مع امكانياتنا ويحقق لنا الرضا عن ذواتنا. وحتى نكتشف نقاط قوتنا علينا أن ندرك ثلاثة مبادىء أساسية:
حياة كل واحد منا هي تجربة فريدة لم ولن تتكرر، كلاً لديه خلفية، ظروف، بيئة، أحداث، تشكله وتجعله فريد عن غيره.
حياتنا هي مسئوليتنا، ونحن من نختار بأي طريقة نستجيب للظروف الخارجية، نحن لسنا رهينة للظروف وقد لا نغير الماضي ولكن حتماً يمكننا صنع المستقبل.
حياتنا ديناميكية ولا تسير في خط مستقيم بل هي في حركة دائمة، تظهر لنا فيها الفرص بقدر ما لدينا من طاقة ايجابية نبثها من حولنا.
نحن نبرع في مجالات بعينها إما لقدراتنا الفطرية، أو المكتسبة. القدرات الفطرية هي تلك المواهب الرباينة التي ولدنا بها ونقوم بها بشكل أبرع وأسهل مقارنةً بالأخرين. أما القدرات المكتسبة فهي التي نحصلها بالمؤهلات من دراسة وتدريب وخلافه.
حتى نكتشف مواطن قوتنا بالأمكان تمثيلها برسم:
دائرة في المنتصف يكتب فيها (الأسم)، مثل كل نشاط تمارسه في الحياة بشكل دائرة موصولة بالمنتصف. بعد الأنتهاء من كتابة كل الأنشطة، تأمل كل واحد فيها على حده وتساءل أيها تجيده بالفطرة وأيها مهارة مكتسبة، وما هو مستواك في هذا النشاط: عالي، متوسط، مقبول، ضعيف وإلى أي درجة هذا النشاط يعبر عنك. بعد تطبيق ذلك ستنهي بقائمة مفلترة بأهم مواطن القوة لديك، والتي عليك أن توليها مزيد من الأهتمام والرعابة حتى تتقدم فيها إلى مستويات مرتفعة.
هل يمكن أن نحصر جميع نقاط قوتنا؟ لا، نقاط قوتنا تكشفها التجارب فقط، لا يمكن أن نحكم على أننا بارعون في مهارة معينة قبل أن نجربها. وهذا ما يسمى بالأعماق الخفية وهي المواهب الخاملة لأشياء لم نجربها بعد. من المحتمل أننا نجيد أشياء مختلفة، ولكن لم نتوسع في التجريب حتى نستكشف امكانيتنا. والمؤسف هو أننا نحد من امكاميتنا بتبني معتقدات مقيدة لما هو ممكن لنا وغير ممكن.
عندما نجد مواطن قوتنا سنعيش سعادة الشغف، وهو الشعور بالأنجاز والمتعة والأنغماس في نشاط نحبه. اوما يساعدنا على تنمية شغفنا هو لاإنضمام لأناس يشاركونا فيه، فيوفرون لنا الدعم والإلهام. قبيلتنا التي ننتمي إليها قد نجدها كثيراً على الأنترنت، ويفضل أن ننلتقي ببعض من أفرادها في الواقع وذلك بالمشاركة في الأنشطة الشغوفين بها. الأنضمام للدورات يساعدنا على تطوير مهارتنا، ويسمح لنا بالالتقاء بأخرين يشاركونا الأهتمام نفسه. وأخيراً، علينا أن نوجد لنا معلمنا الذي نستفيد منه ونستنير بأفكاره.
أفكارنا عن أنفسنا هي من تضع سقف لما هو ممكن وغير ممكن وليس ظروفنا. حتى المخاطر والعقبات التي تواجهنا هي فرص للتعلم في حد ذاتها. لنبدأ بأولى الخطوات ولنحتفل بانجازاتنا الصغيرة ونستفيد من فرص الفشل وحتماً سنصل في النهاية. هكذا هي الأعمال الأبداعية، دائمة الحركة فيها نجاحات واخفاقات لكنها تستمر رغم ذلك، وكم يقال الأبداع يولد من رحم المعاناة!!

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book says exactly what I thought I would find in it after years of reading the genre. This is not a problem, I was expecting that, but it certainly is not particularly innovative. I also have not read the author's previous book on the subject, but I feel safe in telling you that it is not necessary to understand and use this one.

Su questo libro c'é scritto esattamente quello che pensavo di trovarci dopo anni di letture del genere. Non é un problema per caritá, me lo aspettavo, ma certamente non é particolarmente innovativo. Inoltre non ho letto il libro precedente dell'autore sull'argomento, ma mi sento sicura nel dirvi che non é necessario per capire ed usare questo.

[sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right, so this didn’t suck? It’s not like it’s changed my life or anything, and I definitely skipped entire sections when my eyes got bored, but it’s given me a nice little boost of motivation to just keep going (nothing too intense) and stay happy.

[Shiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
When people realize that their life is almost over and look back on it, they also realize that their dreams are unfulfilled. Isn’t this the ultimate fear?

The book is not a promise but a path to finding what comes naturally for one. There’s no reinventing the wheel here but looking closer within.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Living like you’re meant to live.**

Are you living the life you should be living?

Based on the three elemental principles of (1) Your life is unique; (2) You create your own life; and (3) Life is organic, _Finding Your Element_ presents a great guide for creating a personally meaningful life. Whether you’re stuck where you’re at—or have a sense that you deserve a richer life—this book offers insight and inspiration:
“Finding your Element is a personal quest...The quest for your Element is really a two-way journey. It is an inward journey to explore what lies within you; it is an outward journey to explore opportunities in the world around you. The aim of the book is to help you find your way. Whether you fulfill your potential depends on your commitment and fortitude and on how highly you value the possible prize. If you are prepared to do what it takes, I trust you’ll find a lot here to help and inspire you.” (pp. xxii-xxiii)

The book is full of thought-provoking information, suggestions, and case histories, but what might be most valuable are the self-exploration questions the author proposes at the end of each chapter. Here’s a sampling:

*What are you good at?
--What sorts of activities come especially easily to you?
--What do you feel your natural talents are?
--How did you first become aware of them? (pp. 54-55)

*How do you know?
--Has anyone ever suggested that you might be good at something that you hadn’t considered?
--Have you ever avoided doing something because you thought you wouldn’t be good at it?
--Is there anything you feel you might be good at if you had the chance to work at it properly? (p. 77)

*What do you love?
--What sorts of activities lift your spirits and feed your energy?
--What activities make time disappear for you?
--When do you feel that you are being most true to your own spirit? (pp. 109-110)

*What makes you happy?
--When do you feel at your happiest?
--Do you feel that what you spend most of your time doing has a real purpose, for you or for others?
--What would you think of as success in your life? (p. 139)

*What’s your attitude?
--What can you do to raise your belief in yourself?
--How is your temperament affecting your pursuits?
--What can you do to change the attitudes of those around you? (pp. 166)

*Where are you now?
--How easily can you take a risk?
--What are the biggest hurdles?
--What would it take to get over them? (p. 186)

*Where’s your tribe?
--What sorts of people do you associate with your Element?
--Do they interest and attract you or not? Do you know why?
--If you do, what do you feel about the professional culture that goes with it? (p. 212)

*What’s next?
--What experiences would you like to have that you haven’t had yet?
--If you couldn’t fail, what would you most like to achieve?
--What’s stopping you? (p. 236)

After providing a road map to finding your Element, the author concludes with:
“Like the rest of nature, human talents and passions are tremendously diverse and they take many forms. As individuals, we’re all motivated by different dreams and we thrive—and we wilt too—in very different circumstances. Recognizing your own dreams and the conditions you need to fulfill them are essential to becoming who you can be. Finding your own Element won’t guarantee that you’ll spend the rest of your life in a constant unbroken state of pleasure and delight. It will give you a deeper sense of who you really are and of the life you could and maybe should live.” (pp. 242-243)

Here’s to living like you’re meant to be living.

[Abner Rosenweig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an excerpt or an interview about Finding Your Element somewhere and somehow I got hooked into the idea that this book contained some revolutionary wisdom on discovering your true calling in life. For me, this wasn't the case. The book is stuffed with a great many tired platitudes, and its "revolutionary insight" basically boils down to the obvious idea of "do what you love."

I'm not saying this is bad advice, or that the commonsense wisdom, spoken through the silver-tongued mouth of Sir Ken Robinson, won't inspire some to get off their butts and take action. But the majority of the book contains disappointingly obvious cliches backed up by real-life accounts of people who have followed this obvious advice, and, unsurprisingly, had positive results. *It worked for Sally-Jo... It can work for you, too!*

For me, the book never digs deep enough into the gritty, challenging areas of helping people transition to a meaningful career. Rarely if ever, for example, does the text address the fact that we live in a techno-industrial civilization that is specifically designed to prevent most people from fulfilling their individual creative potential, and to enslave us in a monolithic, hierarchical corporate economy. "You always have choices," Sir Ken boasts confidently. Well, in today's world of neoliberal domination, choices are becoming narrower and narrower for the vast majority of the population.

The book feels somewhat out of touch with the struggles of everyday people. It's very genial throughout, and the tone is avuncular, as if a rich old uncle is talking to his young rich nephew about whether or not he should be a horse jockey or continue in the family silver business. It's not easy to find my element when I can barely stay afloat in the economy, and it's a tragedy that Finding Your Element is such a luxury in contemporary society, where there's more than enough wealth for everyone to share, were it more equally distributed.

I'm fighting desperately to find my element, but sometimes I feel it's a losing battle because of the intense pressure the system puts on my back to conform and become a wage slave so I can survive.

Criticisms aside, if you're looking for a basic book to give you a few ideas about how to expand your world, you could do worse. Some bits of wisdom that genuinely resonated:
• Finding your element is about discovering what lies within you and, in doing so, transforming what lies before you.
• Being in your element gives you energy. Not being in it takes it from you.
• Many of the opportunities you have in your life are generated by the energy you create around you.
• The search for your element is a two-way journey: an inward journey to explore what lies within you and an outward journey to explore opportunities in the world around you.
• Do all you can to explore new avenues of possibilities in yourself and in the world around you.
• You may be better than you think at what you love. You may underestimate your talent because you set unreasonably high standards for yourself. Having high standards is good, provided you're not immobilized by self-criticism.
• Connecting with people who share your Element can have tremendous benefits for you and them.
• The most common regret: Not having the courage to live a life true to yourself.

[Gloria Denoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you care about how you are gifted and how to utilize those gifts to reach your full potential so as to make meaningful contribution to the society, then, this book is for you.

It is full of practical exercises and tips in finding what you are – and not - good at, what you love –and don’t like- to do, and discovering new opportunities to hone your talents and create your unique career paths in response to the needs of the environments.

The assumption is: when the talent and passion overlap, then you are likely to have a successful, happy life with a sense of completeness.

I agree with Robinson that passion is more important than talents because passion in many cases serves as intrinsic motivation in our pursuit - gives us a sense of purpose. We will gain sustained kinds of happiness, feeling spiritually complete, when we are doing things we feel passionately about. This is also due to the meanings that we create along the experiential process.

I also appreciate the discussion on the courage to explore new things and the effort to practice. Along the way, to deal with the uncertainty, you need to have what Carol Wreck called “growth mindset.”

As the book quoted from Mark Twain, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

To add more emphasis on agency, I would just add to E.D.D. "Create."

[Alimanzoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Ken Robinson still influences many through his writings. This self-development book shows how to find and appreciate your uniqueness – finding your element for inner happiness and satisfaction in life. That means, you need to find your passion. Passion is often confused with profession and hobbies. Passion is something you love with an overwhelming feeling of devotion and obsession. Passion is something that you love doing and help you enjoy your life. For some people, passion and profession could be the same. Finding your passion is all about finding your element.

The author confirms that you have already got your element, but you have to find it. Some key recommendations to find your element;
1. Forget long term plans and accept the unpredictability – you will find new opportunities to achieve your goals.
2. You have skills or inborn abilities you may not know – so give yourself chances to discover.
3. Don’t assume you are bad due to institutional education – your school grades don’t matter.
4. Do not let your attitudes prevent you from reaching your full potential.
5. You need to find your passion: they are the key to your physical and mental well-being.
6. Forget the established preconceptions about happiness and find out what it means to you.
7. Find the people who share your passions, it will help to realize your goals.

The key message is we need to allow ourselves sufficiently to find our natural talents, passions and creativity in order to achieve inner happiness and satisfaction in life. It’s certainly a good read for anyone.

[Socrate · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Scopul acestei cărți este acela de-a te ajuta să-ți găsești Elementul. Acum câțiva ani eram în Oklahoma și am auzit o veche poveste. Doi pești tineri înoată în josul unui râu, iar un pește mai bătrân înoată pe lângă ei în sensul opus. Spune el: „Bună dimineața, băieți. Cum e apa?“ Tinerii zâmbesc spre el și înoată mai departe. Mai la vale, unul dintre peștii cei tineri se întoarce către celălalt și spune: „Ce este apa?“ Elementul său natural i se pare în așa măsură de la sine înțeles, încât nici măcar nu știe că se află în el. A fi în Elementul tău e cam același lucru. E vorba de a face ceva care ți se pare atât de total firesc, ceva care intră atât de puternic în rezonanță cu tine, încât ai senzația că tu ești într-adevăr acel lucru. Tu cum stai? ”

[Shashidhara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book out of curiosity and love for Sir Ken Robinson's concepts. I felt at 58 years age I had nothing much to learn about finding my passions. I was proven totally wrong. His reference to Bronnie Ware's experience with terminally ill patients under palliative care were revealing. The Five truths she has presented and the lessons from them were enlightening. I wish I has read it much younger age. I do not claim I have found my Element but at least I have started my second journey in trying to discover following his methods. I hope to find that some day.
I recommend to all young guys especially those who are about begin their careers.

[Sean Goh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personality comprises temperament, disposition and character.
Several sub-divisions: Sensitivity (Minimum threshold of stimulus for response), Intensity (of said response), activity, adaptability, approach/withdraw (typical response to stimulus), persistence, regularity, distractibility, mood.

Education breaks appear to be good. (i.e. don't rush it)
Tribes - find them at festivals.

If your spirit is constantly heavy, you are out of your element.

Assess your well-being regularly. Career, social, physical, financial, community. (Spiritual?)

[Hiba is Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read.

I'm on a mission of self improvement I found this book very helpful and useful to understand and discover who you are.

[Mohamed Sharara · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should read this book
You will go deep inside and you will find yourself

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually try to steer away from self-help books; for some reason, I tend to get irritated with them. But I have to admit that I was intrigued by the title, especially since I feel that my own passions lie far away from my current career field. And when I learned that the author was a popular speaker on the TED series, I was intrigued.

On the whole, I felt like this book was more of a pep-talk and a guide to help discover where our passions and aptitudes lie. It was a fairly quick read, and although I didn't do many of the exercises in the book, I can see how they might help a person wicker down their likes, talents, and desires to find the Element that really inspires them. I liked taking the online questionnaire that helps determine a person's learning style and preference. You can take it on the Vark website here. I was pretty sure that I knew my own learning style, but it was a good confirmation.

In my own personal circumstance, I know what I am passionate about and I have a plan to pursue it, but I still have a couple of years until I expect to make the transition. I liked the anecdotes and the reflections of others as they pursued their own Element, but I was a bit surprised that many of the quotes that I copied down to include in my review were from others.

While I'm not sure if I actually learned anything by reading this book, I certainly got some insights into the importance of pursuing our dreams. And if nothing else, it reaffirmed my desire to pursue becoming an elementary school librarian and to start takng the steps I need to in order to get there. My only real complaint is that he mentions in the introduction that this book is useful for helping our children find their Element, too, and while I can see that they could do the exercises, I don't see any real way to connect this book to children - young adults about to go off to college perhaps, but not children.

I did not read The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, which appears to be his seminal book on this concept. It also seems to be chock-full of personal anecdotes from other people, so I'm not sure how different the two books are. In reading reviews of that book, I see that I might get more advice on how to help my children if I read that one, too. In any case, I will have to go watch his TED videos now...

interesting quotes:

"The Element is where natural aptitude meets personal passion." (p. xi)

"In 2010, Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, estimated that every two days we now create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilization up until 2003." (p. 7)

The most common challenge in meditation is to stop thinking, which turns out to be one of the reasons for doing it. Meditation is not thinking. In some ways, it is the opposite. In the West we tend to equate intelligence with having organized thoughts. Thinking has some obvious benefits and in general I am all for it. In fact, when you are not meditating, I strongly encourage you to do it. I wish some people would think more. But thinking is not the same as consciousness." (p. 8)

"The poet Anaïs Nin once said, 'I don't see the world as it is: I see it as I am.'" (p. 10)

"I think it was Phyllis Diller who said that we spend the first three years of a child's life teaching them to walk and to speak and the next twelve years at school telling them to sit down and shut up. We shouldn't be surprised if many of them find it difficult. Young children have great physical energy and a deep curiosity for the world around them." (p. 73)

"The English word 'passion' has an interesting history. It comes from the Ancient Greek word paskho, and its original meanings include 'to suffer' or 'to endure.' It's in this sense that Christians refer to the Passion of Christ. Over time, it has come to have almost the opposite meaning. Passion now means a deep personal attraction to something - a strong affinity or enthusiasm that can lead to profound enjoyment and fulfillment. Passion is a form of love, which is why people who are in the Element will often say that they love what they do." (pp. 82-83)

"The moment I cross the threshold of a clothes shop, I begin to lose the will to live. My shoulders fall, my eyes dull, and I have to sit down to support the heavy weight of my heart. While my soul is quietly gasping for air in most retail outlets, I see other people sucking in the same atmosphere with looks of exhilarated enchantment." (p. 85)

"In Fully Present: The Science, Art, and Practice of Mindfulness, Susan L. Smalley and Diana Winston argue that, 'Learning to live mindfully does not mean living in a perfect world, but rather living a full and contented life in a world in a world which both joys and challenges are givens. Although mindfulness does not remove the ups and downs of life, it changes how experiences like losing a job, getting a divorce, struggling at home or at school, births, marriages, illnesses, death and dying influence you and how you influence the experience...In other words, mindfulness changes your relationship to life.'" (p. 99)

"While not everyone can become financially rich through their Element, everyone is entitled to be enriched by it." (p. 103)

"Over time she began to dream of becoming a school librarian. Now she is, and she loves every day of her work. Her real job she says is not organizing the books but connecting children to the books she thinks they'll love. She can't believe how lucky she is to be doing what she calls the best job in the world. Every day she gets to be among books and to inspire children to read and love them, too. She's delighted with herself and her life." (p. 105)

"...often our images of what will make us happy are illusions, not visions." (p. 115)

"The ideal amount of money that most people want is more than they have now. Like the end of the rainbow, the optimum income seems to be just ahead of where we actually are." (p. 116)

[Dan Baker]: "'The myth that money brings you happiness is one of the happiness traps,' he says. In a study of 792 well-off adults, 'more than half reported that wealth didn't bring them more happiness and half of those with assets greater than $10 million said that money brought more problems than it solved.'" (p. 116)

[Craig Kielburger]: "...I met with drug dealers who have greater faith in children to run drugs than I see people in the United States and Canada put in their own kids." (pp. 137-138)

[compared to the fixed mindset]: "The growth mindset is wholly different. It is based on the belief that you can develop your aptitudes and possibilities through your own efforts. Although people differ in their biological inheritance, those with the growth mindset believe that 'everyone can change and grow through application and experience.'" (p. 152)

"Being in your Element is not only about what you do for a living. Some people can't make a living from what they love to do and some don't want to. Like many of those involved in the maker movement, they prefer to pursue their Element as a purely recreational process. If you are considering earning your living from your Element, it's important to bear in mind that you not only have to love what you do; you should also enjoy the culture and the tribes that go with it." (p. 191)

"But in the final reckoning, it's not money or status that really matters. In the final weeks, it all comes down to love and relationships. That's all that remains in the end." (p. 241)

"Recognizing your own dreams and the conditions you need to fulfill them are essential to becoming who you can be. Finding your own Element won't guarantee that you'll spend the rest of your life in a constant, unbroken state of pleasure and delight. It will give you a deeper sense of who you really are and of the life you could and maybe should live." (p. 243)