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Designing Your Life: Build a Life that Works for You
*** The #1 New York Times Bestseller ***
Whether we’re 20, 40, 60 or older, many of us are still looking for an answer to that perennial question, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ In Designing Your Life, Silicon Valley design innovators Bill Burnett and Dave Evans use their expertise to help you work out what you want – and how to get it.
Their phenomenally successful Life Design course has been tried and tested by thousands of people, from students to mid-career professionals to retirees contemplating a whole new future. Now in book form for the first time, their simple method will teach you how to use basic design tools to create a life that will work for you.
Using real-life stories and proven techniques like reframing, prototyping and mind-mapping, you will learn how to build your way forwards, step-by-positive-step, to a life that’s better by a design of your own making.
Because a well-designed life means a life well-lived.
Whether we’re 20, 40, 60 or older, many of us are still looking for an answer to that perennial question, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ In Designing Your Life, Silicon Valley design innovators Bill Burnett and Dave Evans use their expertise to help you work out what you want – and how to get it.
Their phenomenally successful Life Design course has been tried and tested by thousands of people, from students to mid-career professionals to retirees contemplating a whole new future. Now in book form for the first time, their simple method will teach you how to use basic design tools to create a life that will work for you.
Using real-life stories and proven techniques like reframing, prototyping and mind-mapping, you will learn how to build your way forwards, step-by-positive-step, to a life that’s better by a design of your own making.
Because a well-designed life means a life well-lived.
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2016
About the author
Bill Burnett
19 books199 followersBill Burnett is an award-winning Silicon Valley designer and the Executive Director of the renowned Design Program at Stanford University.
Bill Burnett is the Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford. He directs the undergraduate and graduate program in design at Stanford, both interdepartmental programs between the Mechanical Engineering department and the Art department. He got his BS and MS in Product Design at Stanford and has worked professionally on a wide variety of projects ranging from award-winning Apple PowerBooks to the original Hasbro Star Wars action figures. He holds a number of mechanical and design patents, and design awards for a variety of products including the first “slate” computer. In addition to his duties at Stanford, he is a on the Board of VOZ (pronounced “VAWS – it means voice in Spanish) a social responsible high fashion startup and advises several Internet start-up companies.
Bill Burnett is the Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford. He directs the undergraduate and graduate program in design at Stanford, both interdepartmental programs between the Mechanical Engineering department and the Art department. He got his BS and MS in Product Design at Stanford and has worked professionally on a wide variety of projects ranging from award-winning Apple PowerBooks to the original Hasbro Star Wars action figures. He holds a number of mechanical and design patents, and design awards for a variety of products including the first “slate” computer. In addition to his duties at Stanford, he is a on the Board of VOZ (pronounced “VAWS – it means voice in Spanish) a social responsible high fashion startup and advises several Internet start-up companies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,791 reviews
September 30, 2019
Try Stuff
Health/Work/Play/Love dashboard
1. Write a few sentences about how it's going in each of the 4 areas
2. Mark where you are (0 to Full)
3. Ask yourself if there's a design problem you'd like to tackle
4. Now ask yourself if it's a problem of 'gravity' (not one that's gonna change).
Counsel vs Advice
Someone helps you figure out what you think vs telling you what to do
Integrity -
Coherence among
- Who you are
- What you believe
- What you are doing.
Good Time Journal
1. Complete a log of daily activities. Note when you are energized and/or engaged.
2. Continue for 3 weeks
3. Jot down your reflections at the end of each week
4. Are there any surprises in your reflections?
5. Zoom in and get more specific about what does/not energize or engage you
6. AEIOU method (Activities, Environments, Interactions, Objects, Users).
Life 1 - The Thing You Do
Life 2 - The Thing You'd Do If Thing 1 Were Suddenly Gone
Life 3 - The Thing You'd Do If Money or Image Were No Object
Dysfunctional: You focus on your need to find a job
Reframe: Focus on the hiring manager's need to find the right person.
Actively seek and co-create your dream job.
- Start the call with news and agenda. Check in with people.
Health/Work/Play/Love dashboard
1. Write a few sentences about how it's going in each of the 4 areas
2. Mark where you are (0 to Full)
3. Ask yourself if there's a design problem you'd like to tackle
4. Now ask yourself if it's a problem of 'gravity' (not one that's gonna change).
Counsel vs Advice
Someone helps you figure out what you think vs telling you what to do
Integrity -
Coherence among
- Who you are
- What you believe
- What you are doing.
Good Time Journal
1. Complete a log of daily activities. Note when you are energized and/or engaged.
2. Continue for 3 weeks
3. Jot down your reflections at the end of each week
4. Are there any surprises in your reflections?
5. Zoom in and get more specific about what does/not energize or engage you
6. AEIOU method (Activities, Environments, Interactions, Objects, Users).
Life 1 - The Thing You Do
Life 2 - The Thing You'd Do If Thing 1 Were Suddenly Gone
Life 3 - The Thing You'd Do If Money or Image Were No Object
Dysfunctional: You focus on your need to find a job
Reframe: Focus on the hiring manager's need to find the right person.
Actively seek and co-create your dream job.
- Start the call with news and agenda. Check in with people.
October 24, 2016
I actually thought this was going to be more about life rather than focusing on just work. Dschool and DT apologists will insist that this stuff can be applied to life too, but that's a farking load of steaming hot BS. It's about work. Full stop.
And, sure, okay, the method in the book probably works for that...or at least a fairly narrow sub-set of highly skilled and highly valued workers in large urban areas. People who are basically on track for a good career no matter what. For people who a) may not be the top in their class, b) may be pursuing careers outside tech and big business, or c) may find themselves in a smaller city or rural situation are NOT going to profit from this, except to realize what choices they don't have and what lives they'll NEVER lead.
Kinda depressing.
For the rest of us, it's kind of...meh.
However, it did take me back to my three-option five year plan from grad school which started with the quote: "Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living."
So I don't disagree with them 100% - I just don't see very much of real value here for people who aren't over-anxious, confused, or indecisive one-percenters.
Overall, over-hyped business book. Blah.
And, sure, okay, the method in the book probably works for that...or at least a fairly narrow sub-set of highly skilled and highly valued workers in large urban areas. People who are basically on track for a good career no matter what. For people who a) may not be the top in their class, b) may be pursuing careers outside tech and big business, or c) may find themselves in a smaller city or rural situation are NOT going to profit from this, except to realize what choices they don't have and what lives they'll NEVER lead.
Kinda depressing.
For the rest of us, it's kind of...meh.
However, it did take me back to my three-option five year plan from grad school which started with the quote: "Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living."
So I don't disagree with them 100% - I just don't see very much of real value here for people who aren't over-anxious, confused, or indecisive one-percenters.
Overall, over-hyped business book. Blah.
January 3, 2017
The concept behind this book was great - applying Design Thinking to designing your own life. But The actual content was fairly light, fairly uninstructive, and, to be frank, quite unaware of its own privilege. To apply the concepts in this book, you have to have the financial and personal capacity to put the ideas into action. The issue that the book displays no awareness of this fact.
September 24, 2016
What an excellent read! This is going to be my "Christmas of 2016" gift for friends and family. There's the reframe of a dysfunctional belief or Life Design tip for everyone inside. It's especially timely for the recent grad, the restless mid-career professional, or the encore passion seeker ready for a change.
Admittedly, I've been a Design Thinker for awhile, so the concepts here were not too foreign to me, but the application of them for my personal life very much was. Curiosity and prototyping are a crucial part of discovering what makes you happy in life, and DYL reminded me of that.
Designing Your Life is not a manual, it's an actual toolkit with worksheets and activities for you to do on your Life Design Journey. I have already read it a few times, and know I'll be coming back for years to come.
Admittedly, I've been a Design Thinker for awhile, so the concepts here were not too foreign to me, but the application of them for my personal life very much was. Curiosity and prototyping are a crucial part of discovering what makes you happy in life, and DYL reminded me of that.
Designing Your Life is not a manual, it's an actual toolkit with worksheets and activities for you to do on your Life Design Journey. I have already read it a few times, and know I'll be coming back for years to come.
March 8, 2017
This book is excellent at *what it does*, which is providing a framework for thinking and working through major career changes. Even though I'm not looking for a new job, I found plenty of useful exercises to sink my teeth into, allowing me to imagine my way forward into new approaches within the job I do have.
So why only three stars? Poor expectation management: It's not entirely clear from the title or the blurb that this book is exclusively about designing your career, and when I started reading this I was expecting something much more holistic. If you're not looking to make changes in your career, then this book doesn't really have anything to offer you, even if you *do* want to actively design other parts of your life. I'm sure that some of the concepts are applicable to other areas of life, but learning how to apply them to different areas would require a whole 'nother book. (Or, you know, already being intimately familiar with design thinking.)
It's also worth keeping in mind that as with *all* self-help books, having the headspace, time, and resources to implement these life-improving principles is a matter of privilege.
So why only three stars? Poor expectation management: It's not entirely clear from the title or the blurb that this book is exclusively about designing your career, and when I started reading this I was expecting something much more holistic. If you're not looking to make changes in your career, then this book doesn't really have anything to offer you, even if you *do* want to actively design other parts of your life. I'm sure that some of the concepts are applicable to other areas of life, but learning how to apply them to different areas would require a whole 'nother book. (Or, you know, already being intimately familiar with design thinking.)
It's also worth keeping in mind that as with *all* self-help books, having the headspace, time, and resources to implement these life-improving principles is a matter of privilege.
February 15, 2017
While this book offered helpful advice, I found by the end that it was difficult to read and complete the activities. As someone who works with designers (and lives with one), I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief and accept the idealized vision of designers and design thinking in this book. I don't know any designers who are as put together as this book makes it sound like they are, nor do I know any designers who actively use all the steps of "design thinking". I also found the business language (i.e. "radical collaboration", "co-creation", "reframing failure") excruciating to read, thought that many of the case study examples were idealized, and couldn't stand the constant happy references to Stanford, as though all Stanford students and academics have the answers to life. While it was informative to read about half of the tips in this book, and filled with advice I've also heard from recruiters, it was a slog to finish and I ended up taking almost a six month break before I could work my way through the last half. However, it's one of the least annoying examples of job hunt literature I've read (which is saying a lot about the genre), so I do recommend it for that reason.
January 4, 2017
Only two Stanford academics could sell the
idea that one designs a life the way one designs
a car. Life surprises, daunts, accepts gratefully
and surrenders grudgingly--mostly those things
that people strive toward. Sometimes there are
surprises, by-ways, tunnels and dead-ends we
deal with on a case-by-case basis. Mostly, our
character is fate, as Nietzsche said. I guess it was
the fate of Stanford to hire life designers and to
let their classes become popular. The rest of us
just have to muddle through somehow.
idea that one designs a life the way one designs
a car. Life surprises, daunts, accepts gratefully
and surrenders grudgingly--mostly those things
that people strive toward. Sometimes there are
surprises, by-ways, tunnels and dead-ends we
deal with on a case-by-case basis. Mostly, our
character is fate, as Nietzsche said. I guess it was
the fate of Stanford to hire life designers and to
let their classes become popular. The rest of us
just have to muddle through somehow.
May 3, 2019
รู้สึกเฉยๆ กับเนื้อหาในส่วนที่เป็น Practical แต่ชอบไอเดียหลักในเรื่องการวางแผนชีวิต และคิดว่าผู้เขียนเปรียบเทียบการวางแผนชีวิตกับการออกแบบได้เห็นภาพดี
ผู้เขียนมองว่าการวางแผนชีวิตก็คล้ายกับกระบวนการออกแบบผลิตภัณฑ์เปลี่ยนโลกทั้งหลาย ที่ในตอนต้นนั้น ผู้ออกแบบก็ไม่ได้มีภาพของ final product อยู่ในหัวหรอก แต่มันจะเป็นลักษณะของการจินตนาการ, ทดลองสร้างตัวตนแบบ, เปิดรับฟีดแบ๊ค จากนั้นจึงค่อยๆ ปรับปรุงแก้ไขไปเรื่อยๆ จนสุดท้ายมันกลายเป็นตัว final แบบที่เราเห็น ซึ่ง final product มันอาจต่างจากสิ่งที่เราจินตนาการตอนสร้าง prototype อันแรกมากเลยก็ได้ (หนังสือยกตัวอย่างเรื่องเมาส์ ที่ในตอนแรกผู้ออกแบบก็ไม่ได้คิดว่าจะต้องสร้างอุปกรณ์อันเท่ากระแบะมือและมีลูกกลิ้งข้างในเพื่อใช้ควบคุมเคอเซอร์บนหน้าจอ)
การวางแผนหรือการออกแบบชีวิตก็เช่นกัน ผู้เขียนมองว่าการวางแผนชีวิตที่ไม่ยืดหยุ่นหรือแข็งเกินไปนั้นไม่ใช่เรื่องดี
ในกระบวนการวางแผนชีวิต หลายคนมักจะตั้งคำถามประเภทว่า "ฉันจะทำอะไรหรือเป็นอะไรในอีกสิบปีข้างหน้า?"
แต่ผู้เขียนมองว่านี่อาจเป็นการตั้งคำถามที่ผิด เพราะหากตัวเราในอนาคตคือผลิตภัณฑ์ที่ตัวเราในตอนนี้ต้องเป็นคนออกแบบ การวาดภาพตัวเองในอนาคตไว้ตั้งแต่จุดสตาร์ท และ 'หลับหูหลับตา' พัฒนาตัวเองไปให้ถึงจุดนั้น มันก็ไม่ต่างอะไรกับนักออกแบบที่หมกมุ่นอยู่แต่กับสินค้าตัว prototype จนไม่สามารถมองเห็นความเป็นไปได้อื่นๆ ที่จะช่วยให้คิด product ที่สร้างสรรค์และดีกว่าได้
ตัวอย่างเช่น หากนักออกแบบเมาส์ยึดติดอยู่กับความคิดแรกสุด ทุกวันนี้เราก็คงได้อย่างอื่นที่ไม่ใช่เมาส์มาแทน ซึ่งเป็นไปได้มากว่าจะดีไม่เท่าเมาส์ เพราะความคิดเริ่มแรกนั้นมักจะไม่ใช่ความคิดที่ดีเท่าไหร่ เนื่องจากเราจินตนาการถึงมันตั้งแต่ตอนที่เรายังมีข้อมูลน้อยมากหรือไม่มีเลย
หลายคนติดกับดักของการวางแผนชีวิตแบบดั้งเดิม เช่น นักศึกษาคณะนิติศาสตร์สามารถเห็นภาพตัวเองเป็นทนายหรือผู้พิพากษาเท่านั้น, พนักงานบริษัทไม่อาจมองเห็นตัวเองในอีกสิบปีข้างหน้าในรูปแบบอื่นนอกจากการเป็นหัวหน้าแผนก ฯลฯ
การเป็นทนายหรือหัวหน้าแผนกมันอาจเป็นคำตอบที่เราคิดว่าถูกต้อง (และบางทีมันก็อาจจะถูกต้อง) เมื่อสิบปีที่แล้ว แต่โลกและตัวเราก็เปลี่ยนแปลงไปอยู่ตลอดเวลา สิ่งที่มันเคยใช่เมื่อในอดีต พอผ่านไปสิบปีมันอาจไม่ใช่อีกต่อไปแล้วก็ได้ ถ้าเรามัวแต่ยึดติดอยู่กับเป้าหมายของเมื่อสิบปีที่แล้วโดยไม่หมั่นเช็คความต้องการของตัวเองในปัจจุบันเลย แม้ว่าสุดท้ายเราจะพัฒนาตัวเองจนไปถึงจุดนั้นได้ แต่เร���ก็อาจจะไม่มีความสุขอยู่ดี เพราะเมื่อถึงตอนนั้นเราจะพบว่า เราสูญเสียพลังงานและเวลาไปสิบกว่าปี เพื่อไขว่คว้าในสิ��งที่เราไม่ได้ต้องการมันมาตั้งนานแล้ว
ผู้เขียนมองว่ามันอาจเป็นการดีกว่า หากเราจะแค่ออกแบบชีวิตไว้หลวมๆ เพื่อไม่ให้ตัวเองเดินออกนอกเส้นทาง แต่เราไม่จำเป็นต้อง 'เป๊ะ' หรือ 'ชัด' ว่าตัวเองจะเป็นอะไรในอนาคต
เช่น เราอาจจะตั้งเป้าหมายว่าในอนาคตเราอยากมีเงินใช้เยอะๆ และได้สร้างความยุติธรรมให้สังคม เราจึงเลือกเรียนคณะนิติศาสตร์ แต่แม้เราจะเสียเวลาเรียนนิติศาสตร์มา 4 ปีแล้ว เราก็ไม่จำเป็นต้องจำกัดชีวิตตัวเองให้ต้องเป็นทนายเท่านั้น เพราะมันยังมีอาชีพอื่นๆ อีกมากที่สามารถตอบโจทย์ชีวิตเรื่องความร่ำรวยและความยุติธรรมได้
เราแค่ต้องเข้าใจว่าการวาดภาพตัวเองเป็นทนายและเลือกเรียนคณะนิติศาสตร์นั้นเป็นแค่การสร้างตัว prototype เท่านั้น หากเราได้รับฟีดแบ๊คมากขึ้นในระหว่างทำและรู้สึกว่ามันไม่เวิร์ค การหันเหไปออกแบบชีวิตในรูปแบบที่อาจจะต่างจากตัว prototype อย่างมากก็ไม่ใช่เรื่องแย่อะไร ขอแค่มันยังอยู่ในเส้นทางที่เรากำกับไว้ในตอนแรก และตอบโจทย์ปรัชญาการใช้ชีวิตของเราได้ก็พอ (สร้างความร่ำรวยให้ตัวเองและได้เพิ่มความยุติธรรมให้สังคม)
ผู้เขียนมองว่าการวางแผนชีวิตก็คล้ายกับกระบวนการออกแบบผลิตภัณฑ์เปลี่ยนโลกทั้งหลาย ที่ในตอนต้นนั้น ผู้ออกแบบก็ไม่ได้มีภาพของ final product อยู่ในหัวหรอก แต่มันจะเป็นลักษณะของการจินตนาการ, ทดลองสร้างตัวตนแบบ, เปิดรับฟีดแบ๊ค จากนั้นจึงค่อยๆ ปรับปรุงแก้ไขไปเรื่อยๆ จนสุดท้ายมันกลายเป็นตัว final แบบที่เราเห็น ซึ่ง final product มันอาจต่างจากสิ่งที่เราจินตนาการตอนสร้าง prototype อันแรกมากเลยก็ได้ (หนังสือยกตัวอย่างเรื่องเมาส์ ที่ในตอนแรกผู้ออกแบบก็ไม่ได้คิดว่าจะต้องสร้างอุปกรณ์อันเท่ากระแบะมือและมีลูกกลิ้งข้างในเพื่อใช้ควบคุมเคอเซอร์บนหน้าจอ)
การวางแผนหรือการออกแบบชีวิตก็เช่นกัน ผู้เขียนมองว่าการวางแผนชีวิตที่ไม่ยืดหยุ่นหรือแข็งเกินไปนั้นไม่ใช่เรื่องดี
ในกระบวนการวางแผนชีวิต หลายคนมักจะตั้งคำถามประเภทว่า "ฉันจะทำอะไรหรือเป็นอะไรในอีกสิบปีข้างหน้า?"
แต่ผู้เขียนมองว่านี่อาจเป็นการตั้งคำถามที่ผิด เพราะหากตัวเราในอนาคตคือผลิตภัณฑ์ที่ตัวเราในตอนนี้ต้องเป็นคนออกแบบ การวาดภาพตัวเองในอนาคตไว้ตั้งแต่จุดสตาร์ท และ 'หลับหูหลับตา' พัฒนาตัวเองไปให้ถึงจุดนั้น มันก็ไม่ต่างอะไรกับนักออกแบบที่หมกมุ่นอยู่แต่กับสินค้าตัว prototype จนไม่สามารถมองเห็นความเป็นไปได้อื่นๆ ที่จะช่วยให้คิด product ที่สร้างสรรค์และดีกว่าได้
ตัวอย่างเช่น หากนักออกแบบเมาส์ยึดติดอยู่กับความคิดแรกสุด ทุกวันนี้เราก็คงได้อย่างอื่นที่ไม่ใช่เมาส์มาแทน ซึ่งเป็นไปได้มากว่าจะดีไม่เท่าเมาส์ เพราะความคิดเริ่มแรกนั้นมักจะไม่ใช่ความคิดที่ดีเท่าไหร่ เนื่องจากเราจินตนาการถึงมันตั้งแต่ตอนที่เรายังมีข้อมูลน้อยมากหรือไม่มีเลย
หลายคนติดกับดักของการวางแผนชีวิตแบบดั้งเดิม เช่น นักศึกษาคณะนิติศาสตร์สามารถเห็นภาพตัวเองเป็นทนายหรือผู้พิพากษาเท่านั้น, พนักงานบริษัทไม่อาจมองเห็นตัวเองในอีกสิบปีข้างหน้าในรูปแบบอื่นนอกจากการเป็นหัวหน้าแผนก ฯลฯ
การเป็นทนายหรือหัวหน้าแผนกมันอาจเป็นคำตอบที่เราคิดว่าถูกต้อง (และบางทีมันก็อาจจะถูกต้อง) เมื่อสิบปีที่แล้ว แต่โลกและตัวเราก็เปลี่ยนแปลงไปอยู่ตลอดเวลา สิ่งที่มันเคยใช่เมื่อในอดีต พอผ่านไปสิบปีมันอาจไม่ใช่อีกต่อไปแล้วก็ได้ ถ้าเรามัวแต่ยึดติดอยู่กับเป้าหมายของเมื่อสิบปีที่แล้วโดยไม่หมั่นเช็คความต้องการของตัวเองในปัจจุบันเลย แม้ว่าสุดท้ายเราจะพัฒนาตัวเองจนไปถึงจุดนั้นได้ แต่เร���ก็อาจจะไม่มีความสุขอยู่ดี เพราะเมื่อถึงตอนนั้นเราจะพบว่า เราสูญเสียพลังงานและเวลาไปสิบกว่าปี เพื่อไขว่คว้าในสิ��งที่เราไม่ได้ต้องการมันมาตั้งนานแล้ว
ผู้เขียนมองว่ามันอาจเป็นการดีกว่า หากเราจะแค่ออกแบบชีวิตไว้หลวมๆ เพื่อไม่ให้ตัวเองเดินออกนอกเส้นทาง แต่เราไม่จำเป็นต้อง 'เป๊ะ' หรือ 'ชัด' ว่าตัวเองจะเป็นอะไรในอนาคต
เช่น เราอาจจะตั้งเป้าหมายว่าในอนาคตเราอยากมีเงินใช้เยอะๆ และได้สร้างความยุติธรรมให้สังคม เราจึงเลือกเรียนคณะนิติศาสตร์ แต่แม้เราจะเสียเวลาเรียนนิติศาสตร์มา 4 ปีแล้ว เราก็ไม่จำเป็นต้องจำกัดชีวิตตัวเองให้ต้องเป็นทนายเท่านั้น เพราะมันยังมีอาชีพอื่นๆ อีกมากที่สามารถตอบโจทย์ชีวิตเรื่องความร่ำรวยและความยุติธรรมได้
เราแค่ต้องเข้าใจว่าการวาดภาพตัวเองเป็นทนายและเลือกเรียนคณะนิติศาสตร์นั้นเป็นแค่การสร้างตัว prototype เท่านั้น หากเราได้รับฟีดแบ๊คมากขึ้นในระหว่างทำและรู้สึกว่ามันไม่เวิร์ค การหันเหไปออกแบบชีวิตในรูปแบบที่อาจจะต่างจากตัว prototype อย่างมากก็ไม่ใช่เรื่องแย่อะไร ขอแค่มันยังอยู่ในเส้นทางที่เรากำกับไว้ในตอนแรก และตอบโจทย์ปรัชญาการใช้ชีวิตของเราได้ก็พอ (สร้างความร่ำรวยให้ตัวเองและได้เพิ่มความยุติธรรมให้สังคม)
November 16, 2016
I wish I had been diligent enough to write down my mental models of the world and publish them in book form. Luckily, in "Designing Your Life", Burnett and Evans have already done all the hard work for me! The nuggets-to-fluff ratio is pretty high and they hit most of the high points. This is required reading for all college students.
The key idea of the book is that you have lots of dysfunctional mental models that are holding you back. Here are the key takeaways:
* Forget your "passion". You have no idea what your passion is. Explore!
* There is no right choice - only good choosing. The worst choice is decision paralysis.
* Applying for jobs is ridiculous. Go meet people, be interested and interesting, and solve real problems.
* Know the game you're playing. Success disasters are real.
* Failure is just the raw material of success. You're not going to starve under a bridge. Be bold and get to work.
* Only worry about the things you can control.
* Happiness is letting go of what you don’t need.
Full review and highlights at http://books.max-nova.com/designing-your-life
The key idea of the book is that you have lots of dysfunctional mental models that are holding you back. Here are the key takeaways:
* Forget your "passion". You have no idea what your passion is. Explore!
* There is no right choice - only good choosing. The worst choice is decision paralysis.
* Applying for jobs is ridiculous. Go meet people, be interested and interesting, and solve real problems.
* Know the game you're playing. Success disasters are real.
* Failure is just the raw material of success. You're not going to starve under a bridge. Be bold and get to work.
* Only worry about the things you can control.
* Happiness is letting go of what you don’t need.
Full review and highlights at http://books.max-nova.com/designing-your-life
April 30, 2019
Provided good advice on how to design/build/frame your life.
Brings up potential set backs and what to do about them.
What you want to do, what you should do, what you've always wanted to do, what you've always wondered to do, which to choose?
This book helps focus in on what's most important to you and what will actually work.
I picked up this book and put it down so many times but I've finally finished it lol
Brings up potential set backs and what to do about them.
What you want to do, what you should do, what you've always wanted to do, what you've always wondered to do, which to choose?
This book helps focus in on what's most important to you and what will actually work.
I picked up this book and put it down so many times but I've finally finished it lol
December 9, 2016
Hearing a story about this book on NPR motivated me to purchase Designing Your Life: How to Think Like a Designer and Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life. In all, I am pleased to have purchased and read this book. First, it gave me a different lens by which to view my life. Second, it allowed me to look at my youngest child and see how she is a natural born designer, and increased my desire to nurture her approach to life. The book is to-the-point and easy to read, combing ideas with real life stories with exercises.
As I read this book I realized that my work-life situation is close to ideal. Yet the book seemed heavily weighted to analyzing and adjusting your work/career situation. Personally I could have used more assistance with enhancing the "play" portion of my life. I did make a mental note to refer to this book should I decided to have an encore career or change career directions later in life.
Overall the design approach to life's challenges offers a much needed element of positive empowerment in a challenging world.
As I read this book I realized that my work-life situation is close to ideal. Yet the book seemed heavily weighted to analyzing and adjusting your work/career situation. Personally I could have used more assistance with enhancing the "play" portion of my life. I did make a mental note to refer to this book should I decided to have an encore career or change career directions later in life.
Overall the design approach to life's challenges offers a much needed element of positive empowerment in a challenging world.
April 22, 2019
There is nothing new in terms of basic wisdom. Thus the plus value here could be that it is based on a college course, so maybe it's good for young people like Stanford students, except that I don't know that Jacques Cousteau, for example, is especially of the moment.
January 2, 2024
Not what I was hoping for. I wanted a generalised discussion on designing your life, but this book is focused on work. And, it doesn’t even apply to the many and varied jobs out there at all levels. This book is for high flying college graduates who are wondering if they majored in the wrong subject, or which internship should they take after being offered half a dozen great opportunities at top 100 companies. One successful business woman almost made the mistake of spending millions of dollars opening an institute for her old alma mater, before redesigning her plan and investing in a series of smaller schemes to support the students. Well, we’ve all nearly made that mistake!
This book really is for the well-heeled, well educated middle classes. But that said, I didn’t see it being very useful even for that. The advice was a vague bit of problem solving - come up with more than one idea, reframe the issues, and maybe get a team together to mentor and support your plan. Oh, and having money and privilege is a given throughout, otherwise none of what’s being workshopped is possible.
If you’re a normal person with a regular job, who just wants to buy an ordinary house, develop a hobby, and maybe go travelling at some point, this book is not aimed at you. This is for silicone valley, entrepreneurial type folks.
This book really is for the well-heeled, well educated middle classes. But that said, I didn’t see it being very useful even for that. The advice was a vague bit of problem solving - come up with more than one idea, reframe the issues, and maybe get a team together to mentor and support your plan. Oh, and having money and privilege is a given throughout, otherwise none of what’s being workshopped is possible.
If you’re a normal person with a regular job, who just wants to buy an ordinary house, develop a hobby, and maybe go travelling at some point, this book is not aimed at you. This is for silicone valley, entrepreneurial type folks.
June 29, 2017
Designing Your Life offers some useful tips in regard to making changes. While it can apply to other areas, the majority of the book focused on career applications which is practical, since the majority of us tend to spend most of our time at work. There was useful information throughout the book that I think can apply to most people seeking some type of change - small or drastic, but I personally didn't think the tips were groundbreaking or crazy game changers. Just ways to reframe some of the deep daunting questions of being an adult and trying to achieve a professionally fulfilling life.
I read about 1/3 of the book and then it sat idle for months. I just couldn't get back into it for awhile. My interest was waning. I decided to finally revisit it again last week though. I'm glad I read it, and think the information can be applied strategically, depending on what you hope to achieve from it, and, keeping in mind that the terms "fulfilling" and "well-designed" are subjective, as always.
I read about 1/3 of the book and then it sat idle for months. I just couldn't get back into it for awhile. My interest was waning. I decided to finally revisit it again last week though. I'm glad I read it, and think the information can be applied strategically, depending on what you hope to achieve from it, and, keeping in mind that the terms "fulfilling" and "well-designed" are subjective, as always.
May 12, 2017
While I can come up with a few groups who might not benefit from this book, I would think in general most would take away something to help them in their approach to life. The authors provide helpful anecdotes, exercises, and insight to guide the reader on the path of living intentionally.
As a Christian, I understandably found the lack of spirituality and reliance on self didn't fully align with my worldview. However, this book is a framework, and I think with thoughtfulness can be used by people with spiritual beliefs or persuasions and catered to include those frameworks.
Overall, a useful book to have on the self-help or career-planning shelf.
As a Christian, I understandably found the lack of spirituality and reliance on self didn't fully align with my worldview. However, this book is a framework, and I think with thoughtfulness can be used by people with spiritual beliefs or persuasions and catered to include those frameworks.
Overall, a useful book to have on the self-help or career-planning shelf.
June 1, 2019
เป็นหนังสือที่ practical มากๆ ชอบครึ่งแรกๆ ของหนังสือที่มีวิธีการแนบมาให้ด้วยว่าการออกแบบชีวิตที่ว่านี่หมายถึงอะไรและทำยังไง หัวใจสำคัญคือการกลับมาทบทวนความหมายของชีวิต ค่อยๆ พิจารณามันอย่างเป็นขั้นเป็นตอน และลุยไปข้างหน้า ซึ่งกระบวนการตรงนี้สำคัญเหมือนกันในโลกที่ทุกคนถูกสอนให้ปรับตัวให้เข้ากับแบบแผนชีวิตที่ถูกออกแบบไว้ได้โดย 'สังคม' อีกทีนึง อ่านต่อจาก 'มนุษย์ร้านสะดวกซื้อ' แล้วรู้สึกว่ามันช่างเป็นด้านกลับของกันและกันโดยบังเอิญดีจริงๆ
October 11, 2016
One of the most amazing books I have ever read
I give it 5 stars because the concepts and ideas in it are so powerful and positive. Majority of them aligned perfectly well with even my faith.
There are concepts and ideas that when you learn will make life interesting to you just by knowing that there are actually people who think a certain way or have a certain point of view on the same things that once seemed daunting for you which will make the same things exciting for you.
I was so excited and hooked throughout the entire book until the end I'm writing this review at 3.27 a.m.
What got me even more excited is that while reading the book I would get ideas to implement I would stop reading and go implement them right away only to discover that at the end of the chapter they are the very ame things the authos suggest to do.
I have already recommended this book to 6 of my friends. Created a what's up group for 4 of my friends and we will embark on it together.
Right now what is left for me is to get some prototypes ready for my parallel lives to experiment with and then delve into the most exciting one.
You guys have done a tremendous job.
Thanks.
I give it 5 stars because the concepts and ideas in it are so powerful and positive. Majority of them aligned perfectly well with even my faith.
There are concepts and ideas that when you learn will make life interesting to you just by knowing that there are actually people who think a certain way or have a certain point of view on the same things that once seemed daunting for you which will make the same things exciting for you.
I was so excited and hooked throughout the entire book until the end I'm writing this review at 3.27 a.m.
What got me even more excited is that while reading the book I would get ideas to implement I would stop reading and go implement them right away only to discover that at the end of the chapter they are the very ame things the authos suggest to do.
I have already recommended this book to 6 of my friends. Created a what's up group for 4 of my friends and we will embark on it together.
Right now what is left for me is to get some prototypes ready for my parallel lives to experiment with and then delve into the most exciting one.
You guys have done a tremendous job.
Thanks.
April 15, 2018
I was excited to read this book as I have hope that it will give me a step-by-step guidance on how to design the life I want.
Yes, it did give me that.
But I find that the explanation leans more towards mechanical process and how to, to an extent that it lacks the warmth of story-telling that I love. They do share examples of experiences and stories of other people related to the topic of discussion but for me, the stories didn't stick.
However, let me share a few interesting notes in the book that might interests you:
1. Be curious on something, try to do stuff, learn about it, take class, listen to podcasts, read books, see new people etc
2. Reframe your mind and how you look at things, see things in various angle and take different approaches. Ask a stranger or someone you're not close to for their opinion, once in a while to get fresh perspective.
3. Life is a process, a journey. Instant gratification will not lasts. Be patient. Things change, people change. Accept and adapt.
Yes, it did give me that.
But I find that the explanation leans more towards mechanical process and how to, to an extent that it lacks the warmth of story-telling that I love. They do share examples of experiences and stories of other people related to the topic of discussion but for me, the stories didn't stick.
However, let me share a few interesting notes in the book that might interests you:
1. Be curious on something, try to do stuff, learn about it, take class, listen to podcasts, read books, see new people etc
2. Reframe your mind and how you look at things, see things in various angle and take different approaches. Ask a stranger or someone you're not close to for their opinion, once in a while to get fresh perspective.
3. Life is a process, a journey. Instant gratification will not lasts. Be patient. Things change, people change. Accept and adapt.
January 31, 2019
This book is a bit like a mind map - there are tons of creative ideas, but it isn’t organized into a coherent whole. It’s helpful for brainstorming your “life design”, but it also feels like a jumble of random blog entries.
July 11, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. I would recommend this book to everyone, but especially those preparing to go through a life transition. If anyone is reading through this book and wants to talk through some of the exercises, please reach out :)
July 15, 2018
This book counts towards my literary genius JULY book challenge Read 6 non-fiction books this year. Book 1 of 6 (audible version)
I don’t know why authors choose to release audio versions of their books but fail to hire professional narrators. I’ve yet to listen to a book in which the author read his/her own work & I thought the performance couldn’t have been improved upon. This was an especially bad decision for this book. The authors are university professors & their performance (imo) felt like a lecture. Blah blah blah Stanford.... blah blah Stanford.
I found the material although common sense for some of us is not necessary easily applied for others. The authors seemed completely unaware of their societal privilege. If you can ignore the many Stanford references, the authors lack of awareness, & are a professional in a metropolitan area the material may be of help to you. If you’re interested in the material but aren’t sure you can easily dismiss what some reviewers have called bragging or snobbery but I think is just lack of societal awareness perhaps skip the audible version read the book or just use the corresponding workbook.
I’m not a fan of non-fiction so I’m unsure of the audible or the Material itself is to blame 😑 Whatever the reason, I found finishing this book a true challenge. One I failed miserably at I might add. That’s right DNF.
FYI this book’s focus is on career as such most of the examples are on professional choices but the concept is applicable to daily life as well.
I imagine the class would be beneficial & very popular but being I only listened to the audible & used the workbook I’m limited to rating those.
Audible version 1 Star (this version)
Workbook 4 stars
I don’t know why authors choose to release audio versions of their books but fail to hire professional narrators. I’ve yet to listen to a book in which the author read his/her own work & I thought the performance couldn’t have been improved upon. This was an especially bad decision for this book. The authors are university professors & their performance (imo) felt like a lecture. Blah blah blah Stanford.... blah blah Stanford.
I found the material although common sense for some of us is not necessary easily applied for others. The authors seemed completely unaware of their societal privilege. If you can ignore the many Stanford references, the authors lack of awareness, & are a professional in a metropolitan area the material may be of help to you. If you’re interested in the material but aren’t sure you can easily dismiss what some reviewers have called bragging or snobbery but I think is just lack of societal awareness perhaps skip the audible version read the book or just use the corresponding workbook.
I’m not a fan of non-fiction so I’m unsure of the audible or the Material itself is to blame 😑 Whatever the reason, I found finishing this book a true challenge. One I failed miserably at I might add. That’s right DNF.
FYI this book’s focus is on career as such most of the examples are on professional choices but the concept is applicable to daily life as well.
I imagine the class would be beneficial & very popular but being I only listened to the audible & used the workbook I’m limited to rating those.
Audible version 1 Star (this version)
Workbook 4 stars
June 16, 2021
"Dysfunctional Belief: Happiness is having it all. Reframe: Happiness is letting go of what you don’t need."
Everything is written in an closed system, containing author's belief that work for your life, winning over the popular beliefs we usually have that don't actually work. If you use every single practice and exercise given in the book together or separately, your life would become much more balanced. It would feel like you have to just snap your fingers and boom, you get your results. Okay maybe not entirely like that, but it's competent enough to be believable. Also, this book informs the readers beforehand, in case they begin to act upon it, which is something they highly recommend including myself (not a member in the development of book), that your dream life wouldn't become a reality. It's not the point and it certainly will never happen. If your expecting that then don't lumber yourself. You will just find more ease and satisfaction in work and personal life rather than pure fantasy.
By the way. I want to allude this as well, there is no guarantee for book to even work in the way author wants as I doubt myself it's possibility to fit in every scenario however, I can guarantee it to have at least a slight impact. So you should be able implement it over the surface of your life and produce a more happy person as a result, if not like joker who is always seems to be on the happy path. Also, I'm not like saying all of this because I have experienced these changes in my code, I'm saying because the strong reasons and evidences it provides. Simply, you should give this generous book a try and see yourself.
Overall, I think it as a packed guide on how to make good solutions.
Incredible, Bill Burnett! 😍💖
Everything is written in an closed system, containing author's belief that work for your life, winning over the popular beliefs we usually have that don't actually work. If you use every single practice and exercise given in the book together or separately, your life would become much more balanced. It would feel like you have to just snap your fingers and boom, you get your results. Okay maybe not entirely like that, but it's competent enough to be believable. Also, this book informs the readers beforehand, in case they begin to act upon it, which is something they highly recommend including myself (not a member in the development of book), that your dream life wouldn't become a reality. It's not the point and it certainly will never happen. If your expecting that then don't lumber yourself. You will just find more ease and satisfaction in work and personal life rather than pure fantasy.
By the way. I want to allude this as well, there is no guarantee for book to even work in the way author wants as I doubt myself it's possibility to fit in every scenario however, I can guarantee it to have at least a slight impact. So you should be able implement it over the surface of your life and produce a more happy person as a result, if not like joker who is always seems to be on the happy path. Also, I'm not like saying all of this because I have experienced these changes in my code, I'm saying because the strong reasons and evidences it provides. Simply, you should give this generous book a try and see yourself.
Overall, I think it as a packed guide on how to make good solutions.
Incredible, Bill Burnett! 😍💖
May 27, 2019
This book explores how mindsets and strategies used in design can be extended to life in general, and careers in particular. I found this book to be worth reading, at least for the concrete advice on how to evaluate different aspects of your life, and how to analyze your levels of engagement/energy (or lack thereof) in specific activities. This exercise can reveal patterns that are helpful to keep in mind as you consider the next steps in your career. It’s especially helpful if you’re the kind of person who tends to throw the baby out with the bathwater; even difficult, painful situation can yield insights that may prove handy in the future. I also appreciated the emphasis on developing passions, rather than attempting to "find" them. However, the book’s advice became a bit generic and repetitive as it went on, and the overly chipper tone and would-be inspirational lingo grated on me after a while.
October 23, 2016
I approached this book with a healthy dose of skepticism, reserved for all books in the 'self-help' genre. I was curious to give this book a try as it was based on a very popular Stanford course. True to its reviews, this is quite an exceptional book. Though, none of the ideas written here are particularly revolutionary, they are just written in such a approachable, easy, and convincing manner you can't help but be engaged. I already see myself thinking differently about my future and life choices.
Will surely be revisiting this book down the years every time I feel the need to design my life!!
Will surely be revisiting this book down the years every time I feel the need to design my life!!
January 23, 2021
Ignore the idiotic 'it is all about work not life', 'the writers should check their privilege' reviews. This book is a must read if you are in your 20s. Odyssey plans, which got me into this book, is something I will tell everyone to write. It will bring a lot of clarity in which life path to take.
August 17, 2018
هو ده الكتاب الي تقدر تقول عليه فعلا كتاب تنمية ذات .
April 12, 2020
Aslında 3.5 yıldız veriyorum.
Design Thinking konseptinin insanın kendi hayatına uyarlaması kitabın ana fikri. Çok güzel noktalara değiniyor ancak kitabın yazılış biçimi çok kötü. İngilizce öğreten ders kitapları gibi. Her bölümün sonlarında evde yapmanız gereken aktiviteler paylaşıyor. Baya pdf olarak indirip, yazıcıdan çıktı alıp doldurmanız gereken formlar var, ve bunların bazılarını bir alışkanlık haline getirmenizi, haftada/ayda/yılda bir yapmanızı istiyor.
Yeni bir alışkanlık kazanmanın ne kadar zor olduğunu biliyorum, üzerine okuduğum kitaplar da var. Bu kitabın akademisyenler tarafından yazıldığı çok belli. Hayat bu şekilde çalışmaz. Kendimize ödevler verip bunları müthiş bir disiplinle uygulayabiliyor olsaydık zaten bu kitabı okumazdık.
Hayatınızı planlamaya çalışırken uymanız gereken güzel konular var: Önce hangi noktada olduğunuzun tespiti, gitmek istediğiniz yönün belirlenmesi, arada tefekkür ile doğru istikamette gidip gitmediğinizi düşünme, iş bulma konusunda ya da hayalinizdeki işi yaratmak için tavsiyeler… hepsi kıymetli. Fakat pratikteki örnekler elişi çalışmasına indirgeniyor. Sanırım bir de egzersiz kitabı çıkmış bunun :)
Egzersiz tavsiyelerini çıkartınca da bir blog post içinde özetlenebilecek kadar içerik kalıyor geriye. Çok kıymetli olsalar da, kitabın müthiş bir kitap olmasının önüne geçmiş.
Design Thinking konseptinin insanın kendi hayatına uyarlaması kitabın ana fikri. Çok güzel noktalara değiniyor ancak kitabın yazılış biçimi çok kötü. İngilizce öğreten ders kitapları gibi. Her bölümün sonlarında evde yapmanız gereken aktiviteler paylaşıyor. Baya pdf olarak indirip, yazıcıdan çıktı alıp doldurmanız gereken formlar var, ve bunların bazılarını bir alışkanlık haline getirmenizi, haftada/ayda/yılda bir yapmanızı istiyor.
Yeni bir alışkanlık kazanmanın ne kadar zor olduğunu biliyorum, üzerine okuduğum kitaplar da var. Bu kitabın akademisyenler tarafından yazıldığı çok belli. Hayat bu şekilde çalışmaz. Kendimize ödevler verip bunları müthiş bir disiplinle uygulayabiliyor olsaydık zaten bu kitabı okumazdık.
Hayatınızı planlamaya çalışırken uymanız gereken güzel konular var: Önce hangi noktada olduğunuzun tespiti, gitmek istediğiniz yönün belirlenmesi, arada tefekkür ile doğru istikamette gidip gitmediğinizi düşünme, iş bulma konusunda ya da hayalinizdeki işi yaratmak için tavsiyeler… hepsi kıymetli. Fakat pratikteki örnekler elişi çalışmasına indirgeniyor. Sanırım bir de egzersiz kitabı çıkmış bunun :)
Egzersiz tavsiyelerini çıkartınca da bir blog post içinde özetlenebilecek kadar içerik kalıyor geriye. Çok kıymetli olsalar da, kitabın müthiş bir kitap olmasının önüne geçmiş.
June 28, 2019
I read this book alongside a Life Designing course which I attended out of interest. I liked the reframing of perspective to help you with situations in which you might feel stuck and have to creatively think of new solutions. However, there is a lot of unacknowledged privilege in this book. The starting point of almost every advice given here is that you're financially secure because the recommended steps involve unpaid efforts and quite a lot of time which is in most people's lives frankly unrealistic. The case examples were also written in a very dry and repetitive fashion. I understand that the authors are not writers per se but this could've been improved during the editing process.
January 2, 2021
Pretty helpful read in terms of reviewing some overarching concepts on life direction and providing actionable exercises. Coincidentally, the coach I am currently working with already has taken me through a few of the exercises, but I do see value in completing all of them and would encourage others to do so. Some of the big picture ideas are fairly obvious, but the book is useful in talking through the 'why' and providing reinforcement behind the reasoning.
September 26, 2020
Timely and helpful to me. Will revisit some of these exercises again!
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