Po Bronson's latest book, What Should I Do With My Life?, is reviewed in today's New York Times' Book Review. Needless to say, that's the question that's replaced "What's the meaning of life?" The review notes that his personality more or less dominates some of these interviews with people who have changed their careers and lives, with a lot of soul searching (or not enough). That got me thinking about my interaction with him - I decided to write Mr. Bronson for some advice, in 1997, during my senior year, right before I embarked on my career search. I had read two of his fiction books (one about investment banking, the other about entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley), and he himself had been a banker but later got his MFA in writing and is now a writer. What would I do - sell my soul to investment banking (or something equally emotionally vacant) or do something less lucrative but interesting?
Net net - good if vague aspirational advice, and as you can see, it hangs on my refrigerator so I see it all the time. It has all the elements of my New Year's resolution in it, as well.
