Choose Yourself, the latest book by James Altucher is a straight forward kick in the pants to anyone who needs it. It makes a very strong case for what many of us already know (and many others suspect) — that everything we used to rely on for safety (College, Employment, Retirement, etc) no longer can be relied on. No longer can we wait for someone to hire us, invest in us, or pick us. Now is the time we must choose ourselves and, thus, control our own destiny.
He makes his case using straight talk and a no-nonsense style. To do so, he uses facts, reason, numerous case studies, and his own personal failures and successes. But, I think even more important is that this is the first book of this type I have read that stresses personal health and well being as essential tools for choosing oneself. Things like proper sleep, a healthy diet, and daily exercise are requirements for doing your best work. Choosing yourself begins with making these sorts of investments in ones overall well being.
As someone who has “chosen himself” already, I’m often asked by those interested in doing so for books, resources, and my own writings on the subject that I recommend. I can confidently say that this book will now be at the top of that list. Mainly because the author pulls no punches about the whats, hows, and whys of what he believes we all should do. He gets to the point fast and never couches or waivers from it. In fact, he believes so strongly in the ideas he is expressing that he will gladly give you your money back. He just wants to get this message out to as many people as possible.
Do yourself a favor and choose to get it for yourself. What do you have to lose? Especially those who have lost so much already.
P.S. I just noticed that, as I write this, the Kindle version is only $.99 cents but is available on loan for free to Amazon Prime members via the Kindle Lending Library program.