TOP DRAWER BOOK REVIEW
by
HL Carpenter

 

Minerva Rules Your Future
By Barrie Dolnick
230 pages; hardcover; $18.00
Harmony Books, New York, 2003

Do you believe in magic? Is your quest to find your perfect career faltering? If the answer to both questions is yes, perhaps you should consider invoking the aid of Minerva, goddess of handicrafts, the professions, the arts, and (fittingly) strategic warfare.

Author Barrie Dolnick is an author and consultant who uses unconventional methods to help her clients make career decisions. In Minerva Rules Your Future, she takes you through a process she calls career shapeshifting. Don’t worry, you’re not going to turn into Super JobHopper. Career shapeshifting consists of a series of exercises designed to expand your personal horizons and permit you to find the career that truly suits you.

What if lighting candles, learning your sun and moon signs and releasing past frustrations by scribbling on paper, however enjoyable, is not your style? Don’t despair. Minerva Rules Your Future also offers other, more practical drills, such as taking initiative in your job search, dealing with discouragement and helping others once you’ve succeeded. As with much of the book, the rituals are fun, even if you’ve been here before.

Admittedly, the magical aspect brings new charm to an ancient brew. But Minerva Rules Your Future is merely a lightweight rehash of learning about yourself and applying that knowledge to achieve your ambitions. You can accomplish both without believing in magic - or Minerva.

 

Review originally published September 2003.