books 2008: The Renaissance Soul, by Margaret Lobenstine

[supercheesegirl]

Full title: The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One. When I saw this book at the library, I had to snap it up right away. Lobenstine says that in essence, there are two kinds of people: Mozarts, who find one thing early on that they love and pursue for their whole lives, and Ben Franklins, who love and succeed at many different things in a wide variety of fields. Being a Franklin is no better or worse than being a Mozart, but it requires a different way of looking at how you spend your time and plan your life. Our society can be more supportive of Mozart-type personalities, expecting us to choose just one major, choose just one thing to do with our lives, and then to settle down in that field and climb the career ladder to success. This approach is bad for a Renaissance Soul--doing just one thing for our whole lives is not only boring for this sort of person, it also doesn't make the most of our potential.

The "Renaissance Soul" concept fits me perfectly. When I was a kid and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer involved some combination of rock star, scientist, archeologist, and magician. I never understood the kids who just wanted to be a doctor and then went on to... be a doctor. Not me at all. I have so many passions and interests and so many things I want to do with myself. This book gives me hope that yes, I can do all the things I want to do, if I think through what I want to do for right now and focus on those things. Lobenstine suggests that a Renaissance Soul choose four Focal Points to work on for right now--four things that you're passionate about doing. Then you make realistic plans for how much time you're going to devote to them and how you'll judge whether you've succeeded.

Lobenstine also gives--OMG!--concrete suggestions for how you can switch fields in your work life without starting over, and how to find not just a "day job" but an "umbrella" career that will let you explore your interests through your work. I think that's possibly the most valuable part of this book--the suggestions for follow-through and how to explore your Renaissance Soul and still, um, pay the bills. There's a practicality in this book that outweighs the inevitable foo-foo stuff. I now feel so much better about my writing teacher/yoga instructor/freelance editor future dreams. I can totally make that work, and I will be so happy.

I highly recommend this book to: Sara(h) the Laminator (although she may never read this post because she's in like Uzbekistan filming a documentary or something right now, she's such a Renaissance Soul I'm surprised this book didn't have her picture in it), Heather H, Dylan, Jorn, De, MrPet, Suzie, Heather N, Liz, and Joey. I think most of the folks on my F-list, and probably a good half of my friends, have some Renaissance Soul tendencies and would benefit from reading this book.

I think I want to buy a copy of this book and do the exercises in it every year or so. Because the things that are my Focal Points right now are not going to be the same a year from now, or two or three years from now. I fully intend to come back to this book again. It is a smart book.

Comments

[birdmaddgirl.livejournal.com]

i'm so glad you posted about this. i'm totally going to see if i can get my hands on it asap. i think it might be good for J too -- he's having such a hard time and a lot of it is because he can't pick one thing to do, but he feels the pressure to.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you should totally read it, and J too. There's really good stuff in here, especially if you actually sit down and do the exercises. I'm glad to help out!

[queende.livejournal.com]

sounds like an awesome book! i will look for it at the library this week:)

thanks!

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

I totally thought of you when I was reading it, with your business skillz and hippie soul and women's studies and politics interests. :)

[lydian.livejournal.com]

Uzbekistan kicked me out, so now I'm in Kazakhstan, and the second thing I plan to do when I get home, immediately after drinking 16 iced coffees in a row, is buy that book!! It sounds really wonderful, and I could definitely use some solid practical advice. Thank you so much for recommending it!

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

YAY!! I'm so glad you did see this post! This woman gets it, the book is definitely worth the read. Sorry about Uzbekistan, though.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

Right. Just added it to my wishlist, but I might check it out at the library first. Thanks for the recommendation--it's totally something I need to read.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Yeah, I had thought of you too when I read it, but I wasn't sure if your problem was too many interests or too much procrastination. :) I hope it's helpful!