NEXT!

Changing one’s life is never easy, but this book provides a map to help chart the course.

Lipman was the editor in chief of USA Today, the deputy managing editor at the Wall Street Journal, and founding editor-in-chief of Condé Nast Portfolio, so she is well situated to offer career advice. The book comprises a wealth of stories about people who have made successful, and often radical, transformations in their professional lives. Many Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs, earning a steady income but feeling as if they should be doing something else. The author breaks her process into the steps of searching for alternatives, struggling with the possibility of leaping into the unknown, stopping for a period of consideration, and finally grasping the solution. In some cases, it can mean turning a hobby into a full-time career. Lipman presents the example of bestselling novelist James Patterson, who tinkered with writing for years while working in an advertising agency (his books have sold more than 400 million copies). Then there is the remarkable case of Alan Greenspan, who became a respected economist and head of the Federal Reserve after deciding that an early career as a jazz musician was not satisfying. Other people do not really know what they want to do, and Lipman suggests using an “expert companion” as a sounding board for ideas and not being afraid to pause during the process. “Taking a break—whether when you choose to stop or a break is forced on you—allows ideas to coalesce,” writes the author. “Only then do you come out the other side with the solution, completing the transition.” None of this is simple, but Lipman’s advice is practical and approachable, and the cases she cites are instructive. It adds up to a useful package for anyone thinking about the next step in their life.

Solid insights laid out in a clearheaded way.