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Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive
Discover your unique imprint for work that makes you come alive, fills you with meaning, joy, purpose, and possibility, then spend the rest of your life doing it. We’re all born with a certain “imprint” for work that makes us come alive. This is your "Sparketype®," your DNA-level driver of work that lets you know, deep down, you’re doing what you’re here to do. Work that motivates you, fills you with purpose and, fully-expressed in a healthy way, becomes a main-line to meaning, flow, performance, and joy. Put another way, work that “sparks” you. Sparked draws upon years of research, experimentation, more than 25-million data-points generated by over half-a-million people, and hundreds of deep-dive conversations with luminaries from science to art to industry and wellbeing. Award-winning author, serial wellness-industry founder, and host of the top-ranked Good Life Project®, Jonathan Fields, and his team at Spark Endeavors, developed the Sparketype imprints and methodology that is the basis of this book. In this book, Fields and his team will help Sparked takes you deep into the world of the Sparketypes, revealing an entirely new depth of insights about what makes you come alive in work life, along with what empties you out and trips you up, so you can avoid those life-drains. You’ll discover tons of case studies, stories, and real-world applications, creating a comprehensive guide to help you discover what you are meant to do and how to get started.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published September 21, 2021
About the author
Jonathan Fields
21 books186 followersJonathan Fields is a dad, husband, award-winning author, executive producer, and host of one of the top-ranked podcasts in the world, Good Life Project®. He's also the Founder of Spark Endeavors and creator of the Sparketypes®, a set of imprints and tools tapped by over 500,000 people to discover the work that makes them come alive.
Jonathan has written a number of books on human potential and speaks globally to groups and organizations. His work has been featured widely in the media, including The New York Times, FastCompany, Oprah Magazine, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Inc., Elle, Allure, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and more.
Jonathan has written a number of books on human potential and speaks globally to groups and organizations. His work has been featured widely in the media, including The New York Times, FastCompany, Oprah Magazine, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Inc., Elle, Allure, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 3, 2021
It's another personality test with a different flavor.
Mildly useful, what I really want someone to do is come up with a test that then matches you, percentage wise, against a comprehensive list of jobs that includes details such as education requirements and job earnings, as well as current availability in [insert region of country here].
Mildly useful, what I really want someone to do is come up with a test that then matches you, percentage wise, against a comprehensive list of jobs that includes details such as education requirements and job earnings, as well as current availability in [insert region of country here].
September 19, 2021
Your richest worklife begins with YOU.
I developed psychological tests for many years, and I thought I’d seen it all when it comes to work-related self-report assessments. But the Sparketypes framework created by Jonathan Fields has influenced--in ways no other tool or other resource has--how I think about spending my time.
His approach feels fresh because Fields keeps our individuality and humanness at the center of the conversation. Some of us expect work satisfaction to come from service to an industry, or the intersection of skills and interests. I think this is rarely true. What happens when we acknowledge that the rewards of doing our true work, in the broadest sense, are deeply personal? Those results are more often a feeling than an outcome. And while it’s true that we need to pay the bills, at the end of the day, life feels satisfying when we’re honest about the activities that generate a spark of aliveness in us and act on them as regularly and as often as possible.
This book will help you identify your true sources of personal energy, understand them, and give you the language to explain your motivation to the people you engage with--in any kind of pursuit (e.g., family, career, leisure, school). It’s a perfect balance of “heartfelt” and “pragmatic.”
And you couldn’t be in kinder or more generous hands. Fields’ intimate voice assures you on every page that this is about YOU. YOUR life. You trust him as he nudges you to take advantage of this remarkable point in history to rethink work and what you want for yourself. Fields is the guide who’ll lead you down a better path: discovering, or reconnecting with, an alive-feeling part of yourself that may have been dormant for too long. It’s time.
I developed psychological tests for many years, and I thought I’d seen it all when it comes to work-related self-report assessments. But the Sparketypes framework created by Jonathan Fields has influenced--in ways no other tool or other resource has--how I think about spending my time.
His approach feels fresh because Fields keeps our individuality and humanness at the center of the conversation. Some of us expect work satisfaction to come from service to an industry, or the intersection of skills and interests. I think this is rarely true. What happens when we acknowledge that the rewards of doing our true work, in the broadest sense, are deeply personal? Those results are more often a feeling than an outcome. And while it’s true that we need to pay the bills, at the end of the day, life feels satisfying when we’re honest about the activities that generate a spark of aliveness in us and act on them as regularly and as often as possible.
This book will help you identify your true sources of personal energy, understand them, and give you the language to explain your motivation to the people you engage with--in any kind of pursuit (e.g., family, career, leisure, school). It’s a perfect balance of “heartfelt” and “pragmatic.”
And you couldn’t be in kinder or more generous hands. Fields’ intimate voice assures you on every page that this is about YOU. YOUR life. You trust him as he nudges you to take advantage of this remarkable point in history to rethink work and what you want for yourself. Fields is the guide who’ll lead you down a better path: discovering, or reconnecting with, an alive-feeling part of yourself that may have been dormant for too long. It’s time.
September 21, 2021
Okay so of course you want to take Jonathan Fields' Sparketype assessment (sparketype.com) and then of COURSE you want to buy this book to know what to you with this new self-knowledge. Maybe I could have known I'd be Scientist and Sage since I'm a behavioral science professor and I love my job :-) But Jonathan Fields gets you at a deep level. It wouldn't be obvious to most people, for example, that being a Scientist or Sage at heart means you must have control over your work and if people try to boss you around in your work, you go crazy. Believe me, I know!
With each archetype, Fields goes deep--like "alchemy of fear" deep, and also practical--"show me the money."
As a Scientist :-) I'm curious to know more about the methodology--but the book just launched today and I guess the website update will be coming soon.
With each archetype, Fields goes deep--like "alchemy of fear" deep, and also practical--"show me the money."
As a Scientist :-) I'm curious to know more about the methodology--but the book just launched today and I guess the website update will be coming soon.
September 11, 2021
I found the test (which is online and free) to be reflective of my personal values, so nothing new was really revealed except for affirmation. The chapter about my primary sparketype was helpful into gaining more insight. However, there wasn't much to guide you about your shadow sparketype and a measly paragraph about the specific anti-sparketypes. I wish there had been some guidance in terms of careers based on each sparketype, but I think it's up to you to see if you current path fits.
April 26, 2022
Just another "unlock your true potential" book with a whole lot of new trademarked buzz words (Sparktype™: Primary-™, Shadow-™, Anti-™; Activation keys™; Sparked-work DNA™; Sparktype Expression Inventory ™...)
February 2, 2024
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. ESSENTIALIST:
- create order from chaos
- evolves the process
- indispensable to organizations
2. ADVISOR:
- I guide to grow.
- Relationship to help others. Not responsible for results.
3. NURTURER:
- Seek to ease in a hands-on way.
- Deeply empathic.
- Can give so much they have nothing left for themselves.
4. MAVEN:
- I live to learn
- Learning that borders on obsession.
- Relentless curiousity.
5. MAKER:
- compelled to create.
- reveals itself early and often.
- bored with stability and maintenance.
6. SCIENTIST:
- I figure things out.
- Burning questions, puzzles and riddles.
- the process of discovery.
7. PERFORMER:
- I turn moments into magic
8. SAGE:
- Schools value sages the most but not financial compensation.
- Share wisdom publicly.
9. WARRIOR:
- I gather and lead people.
- Harness responsibilities
- Find new quest.
- Impulse and adventure.
10. ADVOCATE:
- I'm your champion
- give voice to the voiceless
- amplify a cause
- stands up against bully or injustice.
1. ESSENTIALIST:
- create order from chaos
- evolves the process
- indispensable to organizations
2. ADVISOR:
- I guide to grow.
- Relationship to help others. Not responsible for results.
3. NURTURER:
- Seek to ease in a hands-on way.
- Deeply empathic.
- Can give so much they have nothing left for themselves.
4. MAVEN:
- I live to learn
- Learning that borders on obsession.
- Relentless curiousity.
5. MAKER:
- compelled to create.
- reveals itself early and often.
- bored with stability and maintenance.
6. SCIENTIST:
- I figure things out.
- Burning questions, puzzles and riddles.
- the process of discovery.
7. PERFORMER:
- I turn moments into magic
8. SAGE:
- Schools value sages the most but not financial compensation.
- Share wisdom publicly.
9. WARRIOR:
- I gather and lead people.
- Harness responsibilities
- Find new quest.
- Impulse and adventure.
10. ADVOCATE:
- I'm your champion
- give voice to the voiceless
- amplify a cause
- stands up against bully or injustice.
November 4, 2021
The author has come up with a "personality framework" for work personalities. I'm not convinced his test pegged me 100% accurately (I think my "sidekick" personality is actually my dominant one). But I still learned some good ideas for how to optimize what works for my personality
October 17, 2021
Don't get me wrong, i LOVE the concept of sparktypes and I think that it's gonna benefit me a lot in the future. However, my critique here is about the book alone.
I was let down by a few things here and there, mainly that there are a lot of sub-titles, and chapters within chapters, each with only two or three paragraphs which isn't satisfactory. The author doesn't really expand on each point mentioned, each type isn't dug into deep enough which gives off the idea that the author isn't well informed with all the types enough (I know this is not the case) but the editing of the book makes it seem that way. It reminds me of how back in college we would quickly mention a few points while writing an essay without stopping and taking our time with each idea, which ends up in getting lower grades.
Anyways, I think that the concept is great, the execution of the book is very mediocre at best. and I do truly believe that it can (and will probably) be improved a lot in the future with different books coming! All the best
I was let down by a few things here and there, mainly that there are a lot of sub-titles, and chapters within chapters, each with only two or three paragraphs which isn't satisfactory. The author doesn't really expand on each point mentioned, each type isn't dug into deep enough which gives off the idea that the author isn't well informed with all the types enough (I know this is not the case) but the editing of the book makes it seem that way. It reminds me of how back in college we would quickly mention a few points while writing an essay without stopping and taking our time with each idea, which ends up in getting lower grades.
Anyways, I think that the concept is great, the execution of the book is very mediocre at best. and I do truly believe that it can (and will probably) be improved a lot in the future with different books coming! All the best
September 5, 2021
At the beginning, there was a bit too much talking about how great the method was and how much people who used it really loved it but, once the author finally got going, I really enjoyed this book. I loved reading about my own spark type and about others, and it was fun to try and connect my friends and family to their own. The actual advice part didn’t feel all that useful, maybe because it’s less specific? Or maybe I’ve just read too many self help books at this point.
I received an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2022
Common sense advice and appalling writing (btw Mr Fields, "you could care less" doesn't mean what you think).
December 18, 2022
While there are many different personality type discovery books, this one translates how to use your personality type to enjoy your work, whatever your job may be. An interesting read!
January 15, 2022
A good opportunity to critically think about what type of work "makes you come alive," but a bit low on the actionable steps to take from there. I appreciated the anecdotes throughout, but a majority of the book is irrelevant to an individual reader based upon their assessment results. For me: Primary = Sage; Shadow = Advisor; Anti = Maker.
September 24, 2022
If you've spent any time in the Myers-Briggs zone, this book is similar in trying to pin down your "Sparktype" or, as the author puts it, what makes you come alive in work and life. The quiz was awkward and I don't think it got my secondary or anti-type correct, but there is some great insight into what makes people flourish and what might be draining.
Where this book falls short is in helping people with a shift in what to do next. There is some advice to not "burn down the house" of your life just bc you discover that things aren't working, but the focus here is more on identifying and naming those aspects of each person that brings them that spark of living. Helpful. But you'll need more if wanting to make changes.
Where this book falls short is in helping people with a shift in what to do next. There is some advice to not "burn down the house" of your life just bc you discover that things aren't working, but the focus here is more on identifying and naming those aspects of each person that brings them that spark of living. Helpful. But you'll need more if wanting to make changes.
January 15, 2022
Best book on understanding yourself and finding that element in life that makes you feel alive. It's not about a particular job, or career path, or even industry. It's about an activity that is most yours and is the most fulfilling to you. It can be in any profession or at least in quite many of them. But the second you find it - "your work" - you start seeing it everywhere! Not only in your professional life but also in your everyday activities. You become happier just knowing what type of work makes you feel alive. The book and the test weren't groundbreaking for me, but they helped me finalize my guesses about myself and it helped me feel more free, because now I know what sparkes me in life. Btw, I'm Essentialist/Sage with an anti-sparketype Performer.
November 10, 2021
I thought I was going to hate this. It's cheesy. Finding your "sparketype" (like archetype) feels a lot like the enneagram or other pop psychology self help personality tests. And it really is exactly that. These are useful in the way horoscopes are useful - as tools to think with, but not take too seriously.
But what this book does well is in part 8 "Spark Your Work" where the author leads readers through a "Sparketype Expression Inventory". You list 3 paid jobs, leisure activities, roles, and classes where you felt most yourself. Then you list the tasks, tools, processes, projects, and topics involved in those jobs that made you feel most alive.
This list is incredibly insightful. I'm grateful to the author for creating that order and walking me through it.
The author also included some queer positive content, and acknowledged systemic and class barriers to this kind of work. He offered alternatives to apply this thinking to a current job without risking unemployment.
What I feel is missing are more examples of the kinds of work and jobs that people in different categories enjoy. There are some examples, but I need things to be spelled out for me in more detail. I feel like I know the things I enjoy, and the things that drain me. But I'm not clear on how to find a job with those qualities. Are there key words in the job descriptions? Idk. Lol
But what this book does well is in part 8 "Spark Your Work" where the author leads readers through a "Sparketype Expression Inventory". You list 3 paid jobs, leisure activities, roles, and classes where you felt most yourself. Then you list the tasks, tools, processes, projects, and topics involved in those jobs that made you feel most alive.
This list is incredibly insightful. I'm grateful to the author for creating that order and walking me through it.
The author also included some queer positive content, and acknowledged systemic and class barriers to this kind of work. He offered alternatives to apply this thinking to a current job without risking unemployment.
What I feel is missing are more examples of the kinds of work and jobs that people in different categories enjoy. There are some examples, but I need things to be spelled out for me in more detail. I feel like I know the things I enjoy, and the things that drain me. But I'm not clear on how to find a job with those qualities. Are there key words in the job descriptions? Idk. Lol
November 6, 2021
3.5 stars. I found this a helpful metric. I think the idea of a sparketype is interesting, but it doesn’t show how to grow. It seems like the idea is to develop a way to keep within your top two sparketypes more deeply. I wonder how healthy that is. It seems like you would be developing more narrowly, rather than more broadly; keeping your focus ever more tight. I’m not sure that helps one become a better person. I need to do more thinking about this whole concept.
What I found most fascinating was to learn what others around me find exciting, and how differently we see and experience life. Overall, it’s fun and enlightening. I think talking about this in late high school would be really helpful for a student.
As for the book, specifically, it is nice to have all the information in one place, but I could have used more depth. Of course, that’s a Maven speaking, so maybe I just like more to learn in general. One surprising thing is to find that over 50% of those who have taken the assessment had Maven as one of their top two Sparketypes. That seems extremely high to me. Could it be those are the people who are drawn to learn about such a thing and take the assessment? Or was it a misprint? Or maybe I live in my own world so much that I haven’t seen my fellow Mavens around.
What I found most fascinating was to learn what others around me find exciting, and how differently we see and experience life. Overall, it’s fun and enlightening. I think talking about this in late high school would be really helpful for a student.
As for the book, specifically, it is nice to have all the information in one place, but I could have used more depth. Of course, that’s a Maven speaking, so maybe I just like more to learn in general. One surprising thing is to find that over 50% of those who have taken the assessment had Maven as one of their top two Sparketypes. That seems extremely high to me. Could it be those are the people who are drawn to learn about such a thing and take the assessment? Or was it a misprint? Or maybe I live in my own world so much that I haven’t seen my fellow Mavens around.
August 29, 2021
Exploring your Sparketype gives a whole new outlook on why and how you thrive when doing certain activities. The related test helps you to pinpoint your 2 most prevalent types, and also the one that drains you most. An eye-opener, especially when done with a partner or friends.
I found the book a very useful tool, especially when it comes to the warning zones for each type. Up to now, most of these of realizations came only via hard personal experience, and subsequent reflection. Now I have a better understanding of why I am likely to fall into these traps, and work at balancing the good and bad of each of my Sparketypes to lead a more fulfilling life.
I found the book a very useful tool, especially when it comes to the warning zones for each type. Up to now, most of these of realizations came only via hard personal experience, and subsequent reflection. Now I have a better understanding of why I am likely to fall into these traps, and work at balancing the good and bad of each of my Sparketypes to lead a more fulfilling life.
September 30, 2021
Reading Sparked and learning more about the Sparketypes, was a very emotional experience. I was not expecting to be so moved, after all, I had already taken the Sparketype assessment and knew a little bit about the types.
We often hear quotes such as, "everyone' is different," and "just be yourself." Knowing these truths and living them, fully expressed, are two very different things. This book may just bring us closer to aligning our outward expressions of self with the amazing person who exists within.
Reviewed by a Maven/Performer.
We often hear quotes such as, "everyone' is different," and "just be yourself." Knowing these truths and living them, fully expressed, are two very different things. This book may just bring us closer to aligning our outward expressions of self with the amazing person who exists within.
Reviewed by a Maven/Performer.
January 19, 2022
I seem to have stumbled upon an online personality test scam in book form. Those that go to the obligatory website will find themselves bombarded with sales pitches for several tertiary Sparktype services and products.
The book itself is a non-essential component to another self-discovery fad. Essentially the same as Myers–Briggs Type Indicator. Similar to horoscopes. Some people have fun with such personality tests, and there's nothing wrong with fun.
To me, the Sparktype test is not fun. It's as hollow as the "business" that it promotes.
May 13, 2023
This book is AMAZING. The quiz is free (sparketype.com), but the book really explains each outcome so well. Like, life changing. I'm almost speechless. I'm telling everyone I know to take the quiz, and get the book too.
December 26, 2021
Think business-Tarot Card deck . . .
August 29, 2022
SCORE
3.5 out of 5
PROS
I really liked how the author explained the characteristics of each one of the types. It was quite easy for me to understand the differences.
I think the quiz kinda got me right, and when reading my sparketypes I could see myself in many aspects. I read all of them to make sure it was not a horoscope-type quiz, and I could not identify myself with almost any other sparketype than the ones the quiz told me (I could with one or two others though). Reading the descriptions also gave some validation that liking what you like is more common than it seems, and it's totally fine (in my case just learning for the sake of it).
The whole exercise was worth it, specially the exercise at the end of the book where you have to find out and describe the experiences that have made you live at your fullest.
CONS
Other parts of of the experience with Sparked were not so bright. For starters, the test seemed a bit simplistic (with the questions). It was not very clear what the anti-sparketype was and how to work with it.
I read the translated version of this book in Spanish, and both the translation of the book and the translation of the website were pretty basic. I've read other translated non-fiction and have found the translation to be very accurate (it sounds native), whereas it was not the case with this book. It seemed it was just a direct translation of the English expressions, sometimes making it hard to understand.
CONCLUSION
All in all, the experience was very positive, and have recommended it to friends and family. It's a pity the translation was not better. And maybe the test could go a bit deeper, but well the results were quite accurate anyway.
3.5 out of 5
PROS
I really liked how the author explained the characteristics of each one of the types. It was quite easy for me to understand the differences.
I think the quiz kinda got me right, and when reading my sparketypes I could see myself in many aspects. I read all of them to make sure it was not a horoscope-type quiz, and I could not identify myself with almost any other sparketype than the ones the quiz told me (I could with one or two others though). Reading the descriptions also gave some validation that liking what you like is more common than it seems, and it's totally fine (in my case just learning for the sake of it).
The whole exercise was worth it, specially the exercise at the end of the book where you have to find out and describe the experiences that have made you live at your fullest.
CONS
Other parts of of the experience with Sparked were not so bright. For starters, the test seemed a bit simplistic (with the questions). It was not very clear what the anti-sparketype was and how to work with it.
I read the translated version of this book in Spanish, and both the translation of the book and the translation of the website were pretty basic. I've read other translated non-fiction and have found the translation to be very accurate (it sounds native), whereas it was not the case with this book. It seemed it was just a direct translation of the English expressions, sometimes making it hard to understand.
CONCLUSION
All in all, the experience was very positive, and have recommended it to friends and family. It's a pity the translation was not better. And maybe the test could go a bit deeper, but well the results were quite accurate anyway.
February 11, 2024
I think the concept is initially interesting and my results make sense (I'm a Maven/Performer and Essentialist is my anti-Spark), however, I have a huge problem with this book. Not only is this book poorly written with long run-on sentences, it comes across as a front for leftist radical political activism. Practically every example of the best work for a certain Sparketype is some type of leftist radical political activism. Each Sparketype has a section with a real life example of work that a person with the Sparketype is doing and practically every person has a similar story of leaving a conventional job to become a leftist radical political activist.
I have not researched this company, however, it would not surprise me if this is a cult funnel and monetary front for activism. I mean, it reads like a cult recruitment pamphlet: come join this cult and your life will be better, oh, and you must give us lots of money in the process. It uses language like "spark" or "light up" which evokes a Gnostified inner rhetoric meant to entice someone into learning hidden knowledge.
As soon as I took the free test online and they had my e-mail address, I was getting numerous promotional e-mails from them trying to get me to buy access to coaching, etc, whatever other brainwashing attempts they have to offer. I really do think this is a marketing ploy and potentially (on the more sinister side) an attempt to recruit cult members.
So, in summary, the book promotes radical political activism as a way to love the work you do and be truly passionate and happy in your job. Bottom line, I'm skeptical of that. I ain't buyin' what they're sellin.' Reader beware and this ain't Goosebumps.
I have not researched this company, however, it would not surprise me if this is a cult funnel and monetary front for activism. I mean, it reads like a cult recruitment pamphlet: come join this cult and your life will be better, oh, and you must give us lots of money in the process. It uses language like "spark" or "light up" which evokes a Gnostified inner rhetoric meant to entice someone into learning hidden knowledge.
As soon as I took the free test online and they had my e-mail address, I was getting numerous promotional e-mails from them trying to get me to buy access to coaching, etc, whatever other brainwashing attempts they have to offer. I really do think this is a marketing ploy and potentially (on the more sinister side) an attempt to recruit cult members.
So, in summary, the book promotes radical political activism as a way to love the work you do and be truly passionate and happy in your job. Bottom line, I'm skeptical of that. I ain't buyin' what they're sellin.' Reader beware and this ain't Goosebumps.
December 31, 2022
I generally like the Sparktype concept and quiz. I find that it is pretty accurate and aligns well or complements other personality test results I’ve gotten - MBTI, Strengths, 4 Tendencies, etc. I am a Scientist / Maven and I have been able to draw some interesting insights by applying this framework to my past (e.g., what I’ve liked / what I’ve been good at and why), and also how to think about my future work and life choices.
This book gets only 3 stars for a few reasons. One - a majority of the content is not relevant to any one person. Each sparktype has a chapter dedicated to it, and the sparktypes that do not apply as primary/shadow/anti are just not interesting or relevant enough to read through. Second, most of the first chapter is like an extended advertisement to buy the book, which is one thing I absolutely DESPISE in personal development books. I already bought the book!! And, I’ll either find it useful or not, once I read it - I don’t need to be convinced why it’s so great or have 5 pages of testimonials. It won’t change my opinion, it just wastes my time. And third - ultimately, I found that I got little value out of the book that I didn’t already get out of the website.
This book gets only 3 stars for a few reasons. One - a majority of the content is not relevant to any one person. Each sparktype has a chapter dedicated to it, and the sparktypes that do not apply as primary/shadow/anti are just not interesting or relevant enough to read through. Second, most of the first chapter is like an extended advertisement to buy the book, which is one thing I absolutely DESPISE in personal development books. I already bought the book!! And, I’ll either find it useful or not, once I read it - I don’t need to be convinced why it’s so great or have 5 pages of testimonials. It won’t change my opinion, it just wastes my time. And third - ultimately, I found that I got little value out of the book that I didn’t already get out of the website.
January 19, 2023
I really liked this book, the free test, and how detailed the book goes. I could have used this many years ago to figure out my life, so hopefully it can help others in their work fulfillments.
I do wish there was more info about types of work for each archetype (how can anyone make money as a maven LOL. If I could get paid to learn something I actually enjoyed, that would be great!). But it does a great job of having you dig deep by asking questions and ideas. And because I'm a maven, this learning is right up my alley.
The book also gives stories of others with examples of their sparketype and discoveries. It discusses the "shadow" which is somewhat of a compliment to your spark, and the "anti" which drains you. I would have liked more detail on the anti-type, but it does give a description of that and, as the book says read the spark side and that's pretty much what would drain you.
I also liked how the book showed prevalence percentages on where your sparketype and pairings rank. I enjoyed the book, and even reading about sparketypes that weren't my own, and definitely recommend.
I do wish there was more info about types of work for each archetype (how can anyone make money as a maven LOL. If I could get paid to learn something I actually enjoyed, that would be great!). But it does a great job of having you dig deep by asking questions and ideas. And because I'm a maven, this learning is right up my alley.
The book also gives stories of others with examples of their sparketype and discoveries. It discusses the "shadow" which is somewhat of a compliment to your spark, and the "anti" which drains you. I would have liked more detail on the anti-type, but it does give a description of that and, as the book says read the spark side and that's pretty much what would drain you.
I also liked how the book showed prevalence percentages on where your sparketype and pairings rank. I enjoyed the book, and even reading about sparketypes that weren't my own, and definitely recommend.
February 12, 2022
Jonathan Fields is the creator and host of the amazing podcast The Good Life Project where he explores life's biggest questions. He has a wonderful big-hearted community and, perhaps because of the wisdom he exudes, the question he's been asked by them, more than any other, is 'What should I do with my life?' Well, he’s spent years thinking about it and put together a new assessment tool called Sparketypes which is designed to help people ‘find the work that comes alive.’ The book is a really beautiful aid for people looking to find their best self at work. It's got the 'key takeaways!' part of a traditional business assessment tool (like MBTI or StrengthsFinder) but there's a lot of heart and soul in it embracing the grey. Highly recommended.
March 13, 2022
I didn't feel like there was anything earth shatteringly revelatory in this book, but sometimes the best books are those that articulate something simple that you haven't really considered before. After taking the test and getting a result that made sense to me (a Performer with a Maker secondary), I think I understand why certain jobs have felt so like me while others really made me wilt. It also explains why the pandemic era has been difficult for me - I keep trying to do things as a Maker without enough opportunities to make the Performer in me come alive. I appreciate how the book encourages you to find creative ways to bring your sparketype to the forefront. As someone who is very obsessed with what it means to live well, I found this book helpful and enlightening.
April 17, 2022
A book that describes a bit of a personality test and describes what those results mean in terms of “what makes you come alive”.
The author describes the history behind the test, his research, how the test has helped others, what each spark type means and how your types make you come alive, while your anti-spark will deplete your energy.
It was ok, it didn’t grip me nor did I feel encouraged to learn more about my type (probably why it took me so long to read an easy-to-read book). Maybe I’m the wrong audience as I’ve never felt any of these type of tests necessarily add much for me, though one key takeaway for me from this book is the reminder of the mental benefits of doing work (either as your job, or outside of work as a hobby) that makes you come alive.
The author describes the history behind the test, his research, how the test has helped others, what each spark type means and how your types make you come alive, while your anti-spark will deplete your energy.
It was ok, it didn’t grip me nor did I feel encouraged to learn more about my type (probably why it took me so long to read an easy-to-read book). Maybe I’m the wrong audience as I’ve never felt any of these type of tests necessarily add much for me, though one key takeaway for me from this book is the reminder of the mental benefits of doing work (either as your job, or outside of work as a hobby) that makes you come alive.
October 19, 2022
I absolutely love personality revealers. The four tendencies, myers/briggs, enneagram, you name it. This is supposed to reveal what type of activity/work makes you come alive or “spark” you. The chapter about the maker resonated with me 100%. However, The lense is more through a corporate male perspective. I would have loved more of a real-life discussion about the day-to-day family or “real-life” situations that include motherhood, other caregiving responsibilities, physical and mental health. It felt like his advice was too vague to be really meaningful and useful to me. Could have used more storytelling and real-life case scenarios oto hit home how people can and are using this information to better their life.
January 6, 2022
I’m a Maven, my shadow type is Warrior, and my anti-Sparketype is Performer.
I was a fan of Jonathan Fields’ earlier work with The Good Life project and one of the beta group for the original Sparketype assessment. I’m always interested in personality inventories and this one is the best I’ve found for use with my teams. (I also really value the Clifton Strength Finder and think these two together can improve the way any team collaborates.) I received an early copy of this book and participated in the international conference Jonathan hosted as part of the book launch. Big fan of how this instrument has been used to help people have more fulfilling work lives.
I was a fan of Jonathan Fields’ earlier work with The Good Life project and one of the beta group for the original Sparketype assessment. I’m always interested in personality inventories and this one is the best I’ve found for use with my teams. (I also really value the Clifton Strength Finder and think these two together can improve the way any team collaborates.) I received an early copy of this book and participated in the international conference Jonathan hosted as part of the book launch. Big fan of how this instrument has been used to help people have more fulfilling work lives.
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