Finding Your Own North Star – My Thoughts

• Book – Finding Your Own North Star claiming the life you were meant to live
• Author – Martha Beck
• Three Rivers Press – 2001

This is the first book I’ve read from Martha Beck. I first heard of her on Oprah and the next day I went out and bought this book.

I really enjoyed the book. At first it was hard to get into due to the Authors use of $10.00 words (She’s highly educated and you’re really aware of it) and a few really long chapters. But once you get over that it’s a very enjoyable read. Your “North Star” isn’t going to leap off the last page (as I’d hope ) but you will recognize that at least you have a “North Star” and feel like you are more prepared to go after it.

Ms. Beck throws in a lot of little quips to keep the tone of the book light, but at times it seemed pointless.

Finding Your North Star contains a lot of information on the Human Psyche and you’ll probably find yourself saying “That’s why I did that” or you’ll be diagnosing all of your friends and family odd little quirks. The Author also includes a lot of little exercises to do through out the book. That was my favorite part and the most eye-opening. Most of it is just answering some really straight-forward simple questions, but for me the answers were very surprising and helped me realize I was not on the right path to my North Star (I’m not sure who’s North Star I was heading for, but it sure wasn’t mine). I’m now looking at switching career’s (not switching jobs but careers) and moving to another state, so this book was life changing for me to say the least.

I enjoyed North Star so much that as soon as I was done I ran out and got another one of Martha Beck’s books (The Joy Diet). I haven’t finished that book yet but so far it looks like another winner.

This book is perfect for the person who is unfulfilled in any aspect of their life. It won’t help define their purpose but it will give some of the tools needed to find out what that purpose is.