Scrutinizing the powerful She Said: Breaking the Harvey Weinstein story Illuminating the Supreme Court How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work

Jodi Kantor

I like impossible stories.

How, in this environment, is anyone supposed to find and start their life’s work?

Powerful and provocative, How to Start is a statement of faith for young people as they make their way through uncertain times, offering wisdom, strategy, and a set of aspirations to launch their careers and last their whole lives.

About the Book
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Praise for How to Start

  • “Kantor has written the antidote to both toxic hustle culture and passive despair. She doesn't sugarcoat the brutal realities facing young people today, but she refuses to accept defeat.”

    —JENNETTE MCCURDY, author of Half His Age and I’m Glad My Mom Died

  • “Kantor doesn’t show us how to do it her way; she shows us how to find our own way. Young people, people starting over, and those wondering what comes next will love and appreciate this inspiring yet practical guide.”

    —ASHLEY C. FORD, author of Somebody’s Daughter

  • “In this current storm of unease and uncertainty, Kantor’s wisdom is a jolt of hope. Full of practical advice and hard truths, this book is a must read for anyone at the beginning of a career journey.”

    —SHONDA RHIMES, producer, TV writer, and author of Year of Yes

  • “A model of real, grounded, hard-headed optimism in these days of crisis and anxiety – useful not only for new graduates but for all of us.”

    —OLIVER BURKEMAN, author of Four Thousand Weeks

  • “The moment of starting is so important – and so challenging. Kantor makes it easier, with practical suggestions and real-life examples. I dog-eared passages to send to my daughters immediately.”

    —GRETCHEN RUBIN, author of The Happiness Project

  • “I loved it. LOVED IT. I will be gifting copies to every emerging adult I know.”

    —JESSICA LAHEY, author of The Gift of Failure

Students & Recent Grads on How to Start

  • “Jodi Kantor sees us. It took me a year and a half of soul-searching and hustling to land my first job in an industry I love. The process was unsettling, often dehumanizing, and unfortunately typical for current college grads like me . . . Jodi is the experienced friend in your ear sharing her wisdom and timeless experiences to give tangible and specific answers to questions I didn’t even know to ask.”

    —SASHA GREENSFELDER, Colgate University Class of 2023

  • “This book was the best practical advice I have received since starting college. Jodi somehow addressed the anxieties and chaos of our current world while providing specific actions to find joy in a career. A fire just got lit inside of me. I’m so excited to try her suggestions to find my craft.”

    —RUBY RICHARDS, California Polytechnic State University

  • “Jodi’s words feel like a warm hand on your shoulder, steadying you when the search feels overwhelming, while nudging you forward when you need it most. You’d be hard-pressed to find a young job seeker who doesn’t see a piece of themselves in these pages.”

    —LEO INTELISANO, University of Michigan Class of 2027

  • “For the first time in years, I feel calm about my career prospects.”

    —REETI MALHOTRA, Yale University Class of 2028

  • “Like many young people, I sometimes feel like a revving engine stuck in the sand, the weight of perfection and the fear of rejection keeping me from starting anything. Jodi’s sharp, stern honesty and balanced optimism fired me up to break through my uncertainty and take a motivated, grounded approach to my ambitions.”

    —WILL EFRUSY, George Washington University Class of 2026

Watch the commencement address that inspired How to Start.

In May 2025, at the end of a tumultuous academic year at Columbia, Jodi delivered the commencement address that inspired her new book.

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