Start Now: Because That Meaningful Job Is Out There, Just Waiting for You

by Reynold Levy

Newcomers to the workplace. The recently fired. Those desiring to advance with their current employer. Those eager to move on. Many have found what they do for a living deadening, disappointing, and tedious. For these reasons and others, one in five Americans change jobs every year. Drawing on his extensive career in the nonprofit, commercial, and public-service realms, Richard Levy helps listeners think about the future creatively and prepare for it resourcefully. He offers recipes for moving up in an appealing organization or moving out gracefully to a better position elsewhere. Start Now offers concrete, actionable, practical • Take full advantage of school, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. • Learn how to succeed at work without being imprisoned there. • Ask others for help compellingly. In all of these ways and more, Reynold shares his extensive experience as a professor, a trustee, a consultant, a public speaker, an author, and a chief executive officer at the 92nd Street Y, the AT&T Foundation, the International Rescue Committee, and Lincoln Center.

Genres: Nonfiction, Personal Development, Self Help, Business

Audio CD

First published January 28, 2020

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF about halfway through this audiobook. None of this book really spoke specifically about finding a meaningful job, or why you should "start now." Levy is really convinced that everyone should work in the non-profit sector, and spends an asinine amount of time trying to prove to you why non-profits are the best and why he's so so so so soooooo accomplished. It's one thing if he wants to tell us about his life experience, but it's all just humble brags. It's also odd that the majority of this book is clearly aimed at individuals in their late career looking for meaning, but he spends such a long time explaining things you already know, like how to write a resume. If you want a book composed entirely of boring lists, this is the one for you!

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways.

Some of the advice in this book is fine and some is a little bit too focused on high level positions or end of career planning. Worth taking out of the library as you’re thinking about a career change, but that’s probably all I’d recommend.

[Kaytlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I found it to have useful advice for the novice job searcher.

[Ro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written, general advice without substance.

[Kaiju Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

I DNF at 76 pages, so take what you will from what I'm about to say...

Start Now has some decent morsels of insight in it. Levy knows his business. These are two undeniable statements.

But... you have to skim through pages and pages of straight unbroken text to get there, all of which consist mostly of repetition, self-promotion, lists of stuff you already know, and weird asides that don't have anything to do with anything. (For example, there's a paragraph on bad search firms not getting their comeuppance that seemed kinda personal...).

But let's be honest, most of these job search books are pretty much the same. They're all elaborate checklists with self-improvement exercises and activities to get young people on the right path. Well this one isn't like that, and it probably should be. As it is, it's a boring slog.

For someone wanting something different, give it a go, it IS different, and like I said: Levy knows his business and there are some things in here worth thinking about.

Thanks Goodreads giveaways and the publisher for a free advanced copy.

[Leo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not meant to help show you what type of job is best suited for you. Rather, it is an overall guide of how to best navigate the job search and job-changing journey. And as such, it offers quality general advise useful for anyone in any job setting.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!