The Squiggly Career: Ditch the Ladder, Embrace Opportunity and Carve Your Own Path Through the Squiggly World of Work

The concept of the 'career ladder' has always felt suffocating to me, so this was a breath of fresh air. Tupper and Ellis argue that the traditional path is dead, and in its place is a vibrant, non-linear journey that they call the 'squiggly career.' I found the exercises on identifying 'super strengths' to be incredibly illuminating because they force you to look at natural talents rather than just a list of job duties. Truth is, we spend about 90,000 hours of our lives working, so why settle for a linear path that doesn't fit? The authors provide a brilliant framework for navigating this messiness. My favorite part was the personal manifesto section, which helped me define my career DNA beyond just a job title. This book is an essential toolkit for anyone feeling stuck in the old way of thinking. It is practical, encouraging, and deeply relevant for today’s fast-moving job market.

Finally got around to finishing this after listening to their podcast for months, and it did not disappoint. The way Tupper and Ellis break down 'super strengths' versus 'learnt strengths' is a game-changer for how you present yourself on a CV. I used their SRI (Situation, Result, Impact) feedback framework during a recent performance review and the results were immediate. The book is packed with external resources, referencing everything from HBR articles to TED talks, which makes it feel like a curated masterclass. I especially loved the section on 'meaningful mentors' versus 'mentors of the moment.' It took the pressure off finding one single person to guide my entire life. The truth is, our careers are messy, and this book gives you the permission to embrace that chaos. It's an empowering read that shifts the power back to the employee. I’ll be buying copies for my entire team this Christmas.

Wow, I wish I had read this five years ago when I was feeling guilty about my 'job-hopping' history. This book validates the idea that trying different routes actually builds a more robust and adaptable skill set. The '90,000 hours' statistic really put things into perspective for me—life is too short to be in a role that doesn't align with your values. I spent a whole weekend working through the 'values' discovery steps, and it was a revelation. It turns out that my frustration wasn't about the work itself, but about the lack of autonomy in my previous organization. The authors provide a compass, not a map, and that is exactly what a modern career requires. It’s an interactive experience, not just a passive read. If you actually do the exercises, you will get so much more out of it. It’s the most practical career book I’ve read in years.

The 'what went well & even better if' framework is something I’ve already started using with my team, and the culture shift is palpable. This isn't just a book for individuals navigating their own paths; it’s a great resource for managers who want to support their employees' growth. We are working across five generations now, and the 'squiggly' approach is the only one that makes sense for everyone from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. The authors have a gift for taking complex career theories and turning them into actionable steps. Whether it's building 'career karma' through networking or taming your confidence gremlins, the advice is always grounded in real-world application. I particularly appreciated the 'random person rule' for building curiosity. It’s such a simple way to expand your horizons. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to stay relevant in an era of automation and constant change.

Picked this up during a particularly messy transition between roles and it really helped calm my nerves. The authors do a great job of explaining why job-hopping isn't the red flag it used to be. In fact, they celebrate the adaptability that comes with a non-linear path. I spent a lot of time on the 'support solar system' exercise. It made me realize that my professional network was way too insular and needed more diversity to truly thrive. To be fair, the writing style can be a bit repetitive at times, and some of the alliteration feels forced. But the core message about taking ownership of your own development is vital. I’ve already recommended the 'what went well & even better if' feedback loop to my manager. It’s a practical, no-nonsense guide that focuses on action over theory. Definitely worth having on your shelf for interview prep or annual reviews.

As someone who has struggled with workplace anxiety, the section on 'confidence gremlins' was a total game-changer for me. Identifying the specific thoughts that hold me back allowed me to challenge them with logic rather than just feeling overwhelmed. The 3 Ds of networking—discerning, deliberate, and diverse—offered a much more manageable way to think about building relationships. I used to hate the idea of networking, but viewing it as an exchange of help makes it feel much more authentic. The writing is accessible and the tone is incredibly supportive throughout. I do wish there were more case studies from industries outside of marketing and tech, as some of the advice felt a bit specific to those worlds. Still, the core principles of self-reflection and proactive growth are universal. It helped me prepare for a recent pivot into the charity sector with much more confidence.

After hearing Adam Grant recommend this, I had high expectations, and for the most part, they were met. The focus on being a 'learn-it-all' rather than a 'know-it-all' is a philosophy I’ve tried to adopt, and this book provides the roadmap to do it. The distinction between 'what' and 'how' strengths was particularly useful for my latest interview prep. It allowed me to talk about my project management skills in a way that highlighted my stakeholder management and risk-spotting abilities. My only gripe is that some of the 'future skills' sections felt like they were added as an afterthought. I would have loved to see more on 'grit' and how to build it over time. Nevertheless, the 'personal manifesto' idea is something I’ll be using to keep myself focused this year. It’s a very modern take on professional development that feels grounded in reality.

Ever wonder if career advice has actually kept up with the 21st century? This book certainly tries, and while the early chapters on 'confidence gremlins' are fantastic, the later sections felt a bit thin. Personally, I found the activities for mapping out values to be the most useful part of the entire experience. It helped me realize why I was feeling so frustrated in my current role—it just didn't align with my core drivers. However, I was disappointed by the 'Future Possibilities' chapter. It promised a lot of depth but felt more like a list of prompts I could have found on a blog. Look, it's a solid read if you are early in your career or looking for a pivot. But if you’ve already read a lot of Adam Grant or Arianna Huffington, some of this might feel like familiar territory. It’s a good starting point, but perhaps not the deep dive I expected.

Frankly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for those of us further along in our careers. While the 'career ladder is gone' premise is spot on, the exercises felt geared toward people just starting out. I did enjoy the section on 'Future Possibilities,' though I agree with other reviewers that it could have used more meat. The authors suggest exploring four types of possibilities—obvious, ambitious, dream, and pivot—which is a helpful mental model. However, the execution of these ideas felt a bit rushed compared to the lengthy chapters on values. To be fair, the focus on 'curiosity, feedback, and grit' as future-proof skills is a great takeaway. It’s a quick read, and the layout is very user-friendly with plenty of space for notes. If you want a structured way to reflect on your path, it’s worth a look. Just don't expect it to provide all the answers to your mid-life career crisis.

Maybe I’m just not the target audience, but this felt like a collection of LinkedIn posts stretched into a book. While I appreciate the attempt to modernize career advice, the constant 'squiggly' terminology became grating after the third chapter. Frankly, the 'confidence gremlins' idea is cute, but it lacks the psychological depth I was hoping for in a professional development text. I found myself skimming the networking section because it felt like common sense repackaged with catchy alliteration. If you've never read a career book, this might be a goldmine, but for anyone else, it’s a bit repetitive. Not gonna lie, the tone was a bit too 'corporate cheerleader' for my taste. It kind of made me want to self-yeet rather than embrace my supposed super strengths. I was looking for grit and data, but I found mostly fluff and colored charts.