This is a summary review of Choose Yourself containing key details about the book.

What is Choose Yourself About?

Choose Yourself by James Altucher offers a guide to create one’s own success by embracing one’s uniqueness, taking risks, and building. (Full Summary…)

Choose Yourself Summary Review

“Choose Yourself” by James Altucher is an insightful and thought-provoking book that offers a fresh perspective on the rapidly changing landscape of the modern world. Altucher presents a compelling argument that traditional notions of job security, financial stability, and success are becoming increasingly obsolete, and he challenges readers to take control of their own destinies by choosing themselves.

The book is divided into two main sections, with the first part focusing on the “why” and the second part on the “how” of choosing oneself. Altucher paints a bleak picture of the current job market and the fading American Dream, emphasizing the importance of adapting to new economic realities. He argues that the days of relying on large corporations or institutions to provide stability and security are over, and individuals must become self-reliant and entrepreneurial.

One of the book’s central themes is the idea that individuals need to prioritize self-love and personal well-being. Altucher asserts that only when we truly love ourselves can we make the choices that lead to personal fulfillment and success. He encourages readers to embrace what they enjoy, say no to things that don’t align with their passions, and simplify their lives.

Altucher also introduces a daily practice that he believes is essential for personal growth and success. This practice involves focusing on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. By addressing these four key aspects of life, individuals can build a strong foundation from which they can choose themselves and create their own paths.

Throughout the book, Altucher shares inspiring case studies and stories of individuals who have successfully chosen themselves. These stories serve as powerful examples of how taking control of one’s life and pursuing one’s passions can lead to extraordinary success and happiness.

Altucher’s writing style is conversational and informal, making the book accessible to a wide range of readers. However, some may find his approach a bit unconventional and irreverent. He doesn’t shy away from discussing uncomfortable topics like failure, rejection, and the need to break free from societal norms.

While “Choose Yourself” provides valuable insights and practical advice for those looking to navigate the changing landscape of work and life, it may not resonate with everyone. Altucher’s views on the demise of the American Dream and the need for radical self-reliance may be seen as overly pessimistic by some readers. Additionally, his approach to personal development and success may not align with traditional self-help literature.

In conclusion, “Choose Yourself” by James Altucher is a thought-provoking book that challenges readers to reconsider their beliefs about success and security in a rapidly evolving world. It offers a fresh perspective on the importance of self-love, personal fulfillment, and entrepreneurial thinking. While not without its critics, the book provides valuable insights and inspiration for those willing to embrace its unconventional approach to personal growth and success.

Who is the author of Choose Yourself?

James Altucher is an American hedge-fund manager, author, podcaster and entrepreneur who has founded or co-founded over 20 companies. He has published 20 books and is a contributor to publications including The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, and The Huffington Post.

How long is Choose Yourself?

• Print length: 276 pages

What genre is Choose Yourself?

Business, Self Help, Nonfiction

What are good quotes from Choose Yourself?

“Stick with the people who love you and don’t spend a single second on the rest… Only think about the people you enjoy. Only read the books you enjoy… Only go to the events that actually make you laugh or fall in love. Only deal with the people who love you back, who are winners and want you to win too.”

“The only truly safe thing you can do is to try over and over again. To go for it, to get rejected, to repeat, to strive, to wish. Without rejection there is no frontier, there is no passion, and there is no magic.”

“Forget purpose. It’s okay to be happy without one. The quest for a single purpose has ruined many lives.”

“the only things that really matter in this world are the relationships you have with the people you love, and the meaningful things that you do. Haters don’t fit anywhere into that. Don’t devote any mental space to them.”

” Everyone is an entrepreneur. The only skills you need to be an entrepreneur are the ability to fail, to have ideas, to sell those ideas, to execute on them, and to be persistent so even as you fail you learn and move onto the next adventure.”

― James Altucher, Choose Yourself

What are key takeaways from Choose Yourself?

Takeaway #1: The flipside of the American Dream is that new opportunities are on the rise.

The American Dream tells us that the opportunities we have to pursue and achieve our goals are equal. When you get past the shiny description, you’ll see the American Dream is not all it’s chalked up to be. The American Dream has an underside where in order to get where you want to go, there could be a lot at stake. The American Dream is also based on material status and conspicuous consumption. Buying into this ideal can actually be detrimental; and that’s why in our generation, a new ideal has emerged.

Takeaway #2: Choose a Career that Makes you Happy.

The ‘choose yourself’ movement, or the idea that you are in the driver’s seat, and you get to choose how to lead your life. Modern technology means that the traditional 9-5 job or linear career paths are not mandatory. Do whatever makes you happy; not because you think it will please others, or because it meets the societal norm of what a successful person looks like. All you really need nowadays to make a living is an internet connection, mobile phone, and laptop or computer. With the plethora of career choices to choose from, don’t do something that makes you miserable just because you get a paycheck out of it. You can be your own boss instead.

Takeaway #3: Don’t let your fear of rejection stop you from pursuing your goals.

Our fear of being rejected is sometimes so intense that it stops us from stepping out of our comfort zones and taking necessary risks. People fear not being seen as worthy, or not being accepted, and so we refrain from these situations so as to not have our insecurities validated. Stop being afraid of rejection and don’t expect to get everyone’s approval, because you won’t. Take control of your life and make the decisions you want to make, on your own terms. This is how you will get to be empowered and build your sense of self-worth. Accomplishing this is tough. So, what does it mean to ‘choose yourself’ every day? What does this actually look like? We’ll talk about this in the next section.

Takeaway #4: Pay attention to the health of your mind and spirit.

There are ‘4 bodies’ that make up a person: mind, body, emotions, and spirit. Each ‘body’ requires attention and care in order for the whole body to function and be healthy. When people get trapped in negative thoughts and worry about things they have no control over, this negatively impacts their mental and emotional health. Your brain is a muscle: you can either develop positive patterns of thinking or get stuck in negative mental loops. Keep a positive perspective and appreciate the things you have in your life, and you’ll see the difference a positive mindset can make. Edudate yourself and read material that uplifts you; start writing down the tips that you feel are truly helpful. Force your mind into positivity.

Takeaway #5. Distance yourself from toxic people and focus on the present moment.

How do you ‘choose yourself’? To become the person you want to be, you need to make sure you are taking care of your mental health and emotional health. Look at the people you surround yourself with, and see how they are influencing you and your overall well-being. If people in your life drain you of emotional energy and cause you to stress, this will impact your ability to achieve your goals and get to where you want to go in life. Distance yourself from others that are negatively impacting your progress. Another thing you can do to improve your mindset is to stop focusing on what happened in the past or what will happen in the future; your attention should be on the here and now.

Takeaway #6. Stick to routines and become micro-ambitious.

Creating habits that stick and stay on track is difficult. So, how do you stay on track so that you can continue to make progress and achieve your goals? It’s a simple, one-word answer: routine. Establishing routines that work is critical for achieving a healthy mental state and becoming the person you want to be. Creating daily routines and focusing on one micro-task at a time is the most effective way to instill the habits that are necessary for success. Helping others is another great thing to do to uplift your spirit and emotional health. Helping others will create oxytocin, which is a hormone that the body naturally produces and makes us feel happy.

Takeaway #7. Searching for your life’s purpose can be an exercise in futility.

One of the biggest fears and challenges that people face is the thought that their lives have no meaning or purpose. It turns out that finding your ‘purpose’ can be an exercise in vain that will lead you nowhere. Trying to find your purpose can be misleading, and most people never do find their purpose. You’re better off enjoying your life and doing whatever makes you happy than hopelessly searching for some special purpose to emerge out of nowhere. Stay on track and focus on strategies that will help you achieve clarity of mind, like meditation and exercise.

Takeaway #8. Cut the middleman and become your own boss

How does a person actually become successful in the ‘choose yourself’ era? If you hate your job or working for other people, it’s time to cut the middleman and become your own boss. If you’re confident in your skills and feel you have something to offer, then do it yourself instead of working for someone else. You’ll see that this is empowering, it’ll stretch your skillset, and working for yourself is much more motivating than working for someone else. Focus on providing value and don’t worry too much about making the most on each sale.

Takeaway #9. Being honest with others will help you succeed.

Honesty is the best policy; while this phrase is overused, it’s true. If you’re a dishonest person that tries to finagle their way into getting what they want, once someone realizes the way you are, you won’t get another chance to prove them wrong. If you’re honest with people, they will see your honesty. They’ll stick by your side and be loyal to you. They’ll also be there to support you when you’re going through tough times. If you’re a dishonest person, then you should seriously reevaluate your priorities and reconsider the significance of honesty in your relations with others.

Key sources: Amazon, Wikipedia