Boldly re-framing and curating ageless wisdom, Prepping for Success: 10 Keys for Making it in Life by Anmol Singh is a creative and concise guide for those seeking an ethical and innovative edge in professional development.
Though the idea of “making it in life” is broadly subjective, this straightforward and easy-to-follow collection of advice will objectively have a positive impact on one’s potential for success and happiness, given the breadth of insight collected here. From self-discipline and the pursuit of joy to honesty, noble values, and purposeful living, the author addresses nuanced and complex ideas with graceful simplicity.
Refreshingly, the author admits that he is not saying anything wholly original, but instead distilling an accumulation of wisdom from across the ages, reorganized and repackaged for modern readers. Driven by his own life experience, both positive and negative, this book is both specific to one person and applicable for everyone. Singh’s balance of those two spheres – macrocosm and microcosm – makes the book readable and credible; the author is able to maintain a conversational tone without compromising his authoritative role, remaining vulnerable and accessible, but also retaining respect.
The sections on meditation and internal self-improvement practices are areas that are not always found in other professional development books. Approaching these abstract subjects with the same straightforward tone and confidence as the rest of the book makes these ideas approachable and achievable, balancing the intimidating work of professional achievement with a more well-rounded approach to self-improvement. The ends of the chapters are a particularly strong element of the book, and perhaps one of this guide’s most unique aspects, helping to facilitate plans for the future based on that chapter’s focus, as well as offering a creative to-do list of activities for practice and self-examination.
The chapter on maintaining a positive attitude may be one of the best in the book, as this is one of the harder habits to break, which can spell doom for one’s self-esteem, goals, and motivation. Singh addresses the subject with honesty, conceding that staying positive in the face of chaos and struggle can feel impossible, but he also provides helpful tips to pull yourself back into positivity. While the subject is a familiar one, Singh convincingly lays out a potential path for readers through example and encouragement.
That said, a critical reader will note that even the quotes and anecdotal stories aren’t particularly innovative, with citations of Pablo Casals and Richard Branson to represent hard work, and J.K. Rowling’s rags-to-riches story as the epitome of perseverance in the face of impossible odds. In some ways, the book feels as though it could have been written a decade ago, or more, so an updated sweep for references, technologies, and cultural trends could help it resonate with new readers. The foundational ideas are timeless, but some of the references feel well-worn. There are also some grammatical errors and awkwardly worded sentences that a basic proofread could catch, along with instances of restating the same idea in different terms, essentially filling space without adding anything new to the material.
With a bit more polish, the key messages of this book would be delivered more effectively, but Singh has curated an undeniably clear and encouraging guide to personal success.
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