Book Review

Do What You Are : Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I originally purchased this in the 90's on the advice of a psychotherapist I was seeing. She highly recommended it. I had taken a test in the 11th grade, many, many moons ago, and a similar test in the 90's when I was in a program in my state called Vocational Rehab or VocRehab for short. The first thing VocRehab had me do was to go in every morning for a week and take a battery of tests, i.e. I.Q., interest tests, etc. At that age, my head swam.

On both tests, many years apart, I found out the same thing: I had the interest and aptitude to be a farmer, or a park ranger, or work in a greenhouse, or be a sewer plant worker, among other occupations. When I took the first test, I was 16 and on track to go to college and major in fashion and marketing. But I got a dose of that career my senior year in a Distributive Education program, and worked in the best department store at that time in my city (a state capitol). That experience soured me on that career. I got some college under my belt, but ultimately I became a stay-at-home mom. Which I did love.

And so years later, after the same kinds of tests I took in the 90's, I found out I had the same recommendations! I was surprised, but pleasantly. I've since learned I love all things rural, organic gardening/farming, things like permaculture, backyard poultry, the lost arts that our grandmothers knew, like fermentation, sourdough baking, etc. I love the wilderness, and the wide-open spaces. I love goats, cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs, all raised in appropriate ways.

So when I found this book, with the knowledge of personality type, and how to use it to figure out how my type would fit into a job, I found it very exciting. I still do. I feel, that, if followed it can save a lot of time and grief in one's life. It's a fascinating book!! And very helpful, also.



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