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Highly recommend!
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Loving every bit of this book! Dr. Schuster & Oxley bring a wealth of knowledge and direction to the table for those of us trying to navigate our careers early on!
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This is a great book written by an amazing man. He takes his deep leadership experience and translates it into easy to connect to alagory. A must read!
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Dr Schuster and Dr Oxley did a great job describing how integrity, ethics, morals and empathy play a decisive role in creating a successful career. They used real life experiences along with a philosophical bias to emphasize important aspects in career development. This is truly a wonderful read for anyone career oriented.
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I bought this book for my millennial son (loved it) but once I started browsing it I couldn’t put it down. You won’t either! In a world with lots of advice from “ influencers” floating around the internet, it’s often only a truly engaging story that can really move people to relate to it and successfully leverage it. And these two authors have delivered on the concept. I look forward to their next installment!
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Fantastic book and one that approaches the numerous thoughts on career. Whether you are approaching your first job or last job, this is a glimpse into thoughts we have all experienced or will experience. I often found a little of myself in Shey, which wasn’t always pretty. Thankfully, there was enough humor to help me better appreciate that the career journey is a challenge no matter who you are or where you start your foray into jobs and life. Truthfully a very engaging read!
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I read the book and then bought one for one of my younger colleagues. A common sense and entertaining read through the most common hurdles we all face in our careers. My only lament is I am reading this at the end of my career and not the beginning. I highly recommend the book and enjoyed the storytelling.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wish it would have been available when I was first starting out in the working world! Definitely a must-have for those in your life who are nearing the end of their college experience and getting ready to make the leap into the professional working world or for those who feel stuck in their current career and looking to make a transformational change. I've already shared my copy with my son and have recommended it to others in my profession.
What I enjoyed the most is not only the pragmatic advice but also the real-life examples of where the authors experienced the concept they are teaching...it made the book feel real but also told in an entertaining way. Very different than many of the options out there and well worth the time to read.
Hats off to the authors. Absolutely brilliant!
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Easy to read and full of good advice brought to life with great story telling
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Easy to read and full of good advice brought to life with great story telling
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Always a pleasure to read Dr Oxley’s insightful and incisive writings. Hopefully a start to many more carols!
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This was a very easy read - particularly when considering the (sometimes dry) subject matter of careers!
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A fresh approach to career insight from Drs Schuster and Oxley that has you turning the page for more, great read and good advice.
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I’ve just come out of my 20’s and this book came at the perfect time for me to reevaluate my outlook on my career and inspire me to make change!
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What a fantastic read! Excellent book with very useful insights. A must read
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There are many coaching books out there, but this one told through a very simple yet compelling story is very gripping. A must read for entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees and those with children
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First business type book I've ever read that I've genuinely enjoyed. Writing offers excellent advice alongside fun and creative stories. Full of great advice for anyone already in or looking to get started with business
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Lovely book, with great wit and surprise wisdom. Can see how this would appeal quite broadly, particularly anyone worrying about a big career step. But regardless, it’s just a really fun story with some sharply drawn observations about life, careers, and people. The authors then offer some frames to build your resilience. But it’s all very carefully done to be practical, relevant, and straightforward.
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Super engaging and full of really sage advice. Perfect for anyone starting out in their career. Can't recommend enough!
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A captivating read that delves into the myriad perspectives on careers, providing insights for both beginners and seasoned professionals. Shey's journey often mirrored aspects of my own, offering humor that added depth to the realization that the career path is a universal challenge, regardless of one's starting point.
One person found this helpful
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This book was extremely insightful. As a young man who runs a business, this modern approach to business and life advice is one of a kind. I liked the fact that real stories were included in the book. These stories will provide useful tools in allowing me to tackle life's biggest challenges. Would definitely recommend it to a friend!
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I am in my 20ies and I really liked that the book started with a story about a guy I could very much relate to. His dilemmas where than analysed in the second part of the book with practical advice from the authors and a number of young entrepreneurs. Never read a book like this - loved it!
One person found this helpful
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The Career Carol brings a great deal of reflection to the reader. The real life insights shared in part 2 helps the reader to relate and to think about what is possible. For those at a cross roads, it will hopefully create some talking points and perhaps some light bulb moments when deciding on the next step! I have already recommended it to a few individuals and look forward to following up with them on their reflections. A great source for exploring your options and a great gift for those who are looking for some inspiration.
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I recently picked up "A Career Carol: A Tale of Professional Nightmares and How to Navigate Them" by Dr. David Oxley and Dr. Helmut Schuster, and I can't recommend it enough!
This book is an absolute gem for anyone pondering their career trajectory. The authors seamlessly blend engaging storytelling with invaluable insights, making it a fun and enlightening read. The narrative truly hits home, unraveling the nightmares we often face in our careers and offering practical guidance on how to triumph over them.
It's a game-changer, providing a roadmap for success while keeping you entertained throughout. Don't hesitate to pick up this book if you're in need of career inspiration and direction—it's a delightful journey you won't regret!
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You start reading and don't want to stop anymore, it's a very good book! I very inspired after I read it.
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This is a must read book for anyone interested in avoiding common pitfalls people go through when persuing career/business! It’s an easy read that’s packed full of useful information. I especially liked the short stories of various business professionals giving their accounts, experiences and reflections. This will be going in my list of books to read again!
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I highly recommend "A Career Carol: A Tale of Professional Nightmares and How to Navigate Them" by Dr Helmut Schuster and Dr David Oxley, for anyone looking to reimagine or reinvigorate their careers with a modern twist, a pinch of pragmatism and a generous sprinkling of inspiration from tales of successes and failures.
This book is an easy, entertaining and informative read for anyone contemplating their next move in the context of a career journey. It embeds valuable life lessons with a captivating storyline that explores those career moments and anecdotes which many will be able to relate with - only this time also arming you with useful tools to strategically navigate these dilemmas with the long game in mind.
If you’re looking for some inspiration to unlock your potential and be the best version of yourself - pick up a copy, and get ready for you - version 2.0!
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Frankly, I wish I had a time machine.... I really could've used A Career Carol earlier in my working life!
It's a book that works on so many levels.
Part One - a modern day fable - is full of imagery, wit, moments of self-recognition, and absurdity, all of which make it a highly enjoyable and empathetic romp through Shey's (the protagonist) world.
Part Two - the 'advice' section - is as about as authentic as you'll ever get from a book tackling these career moments. Schuster's and Oxley's words resonate so much.... presumably because they're so open, vulnerable, and above all else, human in their reflections.
For me, the best example is Oxley's reflections on 'Gilded Cages'. These are words that put an arm around your shoulder, calm you down and tell you things will work out just fine. He opens up and describes navigating a career while having a young family, big mortgage, and climbing interest rates. He says: "I very clearly remember three things about this time in my life: 1) I was very happy; 2) we both told ourselves that everything would be ok in the end; and 3) I saw work as a necessary evil, something to be maximised financially to pay the bills."
Of course, this is just one example - the book is littered with nuggets of wit, wisdom, advice and thought-provoking questions that, ultimately, give the reader a sense of perspective that they aren't alone, that the path might be bumpy but it's been trodden before.
Finally, the writing is really skilled. The fable can be read as a stand-alone piece, or you can (as I have) flick between the fable and the reflections in Part Two. The advice doesn't come at the expense of the fable or vice versa. It's a book that many will pick up and put down multiple times, revisiting passages as they go as aide memoirs, probably taking a highlighter pen to multiple points of resonance.
Great book and probably the most authentic careers book you'll read this year.
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Mixing fable, fun, and smart career counsel, this book is a must-read for every professional. Deep, doable, and with a nice dash of Blink-style takeaways, this book is helping me process my own path, and sparked some good talks with my teenager. Highly recommended for anyone at any stage (and anyone's teenager!)
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A Career Carol is like sitting down with the most brutally honest, darkly funny mentor you never knew you needed. Dr Schuster takes the bones of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and dresses them up in the chaos of modern work life—Zoom meetings, generational clashes, and the tricky art of surviving a career that could span four decades.
Shey Sinope’s transformation from cynical outsider to someone willing (if not entirely comfortable) to rejoin the messy dance of society feels both hilarious and painfully relatable. You’ll laugh at the satire, nod along at the life lessons, and—if you’ve ever been burned out, stuck, or blindsided by workplace politics—find yourself strangely comforted.
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This is a great book to read. I'm in my early 60s, and I've learned much of the advice in this book over my 40 years of working. I often reflect on how unsure I was about everything through a large part of my professional journey. This book opens your mind to how to take on the significant challenges and changes ahead. It's well worth a read, even a second read!
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"A Career Carol" presents an intriguing premise—using the familiar Christmas Carol structure to examine modern career challenges across generational divides. The concept of bridging "analogue and digital eras" while exploring timeless human experiences has potential, and the focus on navigating real career crises rather than offering generic advice could be valuable.
However, the description raises some concerns about execution. The writing style in this summary feels overwrought, with phrases like "entertaining and relevant future" and "decidedly modern approach" that don't convey much concrete meaning. The claim that "business literature is overdue for Shey Sinope" assumes readers will immediately connect with this character without establishing why.
The description also promises quite a lot—bridging generational gaps, providing practical career guidance, and delivering literary entertainment—which may be difficult to achieve cohesively in a single work. The tone shifts between academic credibility (citing the authors as "Drs") and irreverent humor, suggesting possible inconsistency in approach.
While the core idea of examining career development through a familiar narrative framework has merit, the promotional copy doesn't clearly establish what specific insights or practical tools readers will gain. The book might work well if it delivers genuine wisdom about navigating modern workplace challenges, but the description suggests it may struggle between being a serious career guide and a literary pastiche
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Great book - very insightful and the stories are fantastic!
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Great resource. And an essential tool for self-development, I’ve been able to read this whilst travelling to work in the mornings.
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What an incredible read! Easygoing yet intriguing. Definitely a must add to the reading list. The hype around this book is truly justifiable!
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An absolute must read for any high school/college graduate or any young person who finds themselves at a crossroads. The book is filled with real life experiences, guidance, professional advice, and philosophy. I thoroughly enjoyed the emphasis on morality and ethical business which to me is uniquely done in the story telling. Couldn’t recommend it more!
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I have just read A Career Carol. Very good read with a good play on the Christmas carol being applied to the working life of a young man just starting out in life after university. After the end of the story the author gives advice and support for those just starting out in life. Is advice is well worth listening to if you are stuck in a rut and not sure what is next for your career.
The story is quite intellectual and the advice given is still relevant for anyone. I have given it 5 stars.
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"A Career Carol" is a thought-provoking journey through the world of career development. I loved how practical advice is masterfully blended with engaging storytelling! It makes complex concepts to be easily understood. It provides an innovative approach to common career dilemmas and offers fresh perspectives.
I really enjoyed the writing style: clear and concise.
Although the book is particularly impactful for those in early career, I find it suitable for anyone at any stage of their professional journey. I will definitely refer to it in my career coaching sessions.
All the strategies and tips are insightful and highly applicable in today's job market. I also liked real-life examples included in the book to illustrate key points.
I highly recommend "A Career Carol" to anyone looking to navigate their career path with more confidence and clarity. This book offers valuable guidance to help you on your journey.
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There are plenty of books out there which recycle the basics of human kind dilemmas and the way to relate to others.
This book written by Dr Schuster and Dr Oxley presents a refreshing twist of our human nature in the form of a tale, targeting young people in an unpretentious easy going way, and using simple language.
A must read for pragmatic and driven people looking to make the best of themselves.
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My son loved it! He is just at the beginning of his career and found many tips very useful.
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David Oxley’s A Career Carol is a refreshing and inspiring read for anyone reflecting on their professional journey. Through a unique blend of storytelling and career advice, the book encourages readers to pause and reevaluate their goals and aspirations. Oxley does a brilliant job of capturing the emotional and psychological aspects of career decision-making, offering insights that are both practical and deeply personal. This is the kind of book that can reignite your passion for work and help you find clarity in your career path. A must-read for professionals seeking direction and purpose!
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A Career Carol was such a refreshing read that totally changed the game on typical career advice books. This book not only equips you with essential tools for professional growth but also keeps you entertained from cover to cover. The authors, Dr. Helmut Schuster and Dr. David Oxley, have blended humor, relatability, and genuine career wisdom to create an informative guide on navigating a professional career in the modern world.
In opposition to other business books I have read, I found myself unable to put this book down. I was thrown into the world of Shey Sinope and found myself relating to the story in many ways. The book is also visually engaging with clever illustrations to complement the text and bring the story to life.
Whether you're a recent graduate, a mid-career professional looking to change direction, or simply seeking to improve your career prospects, A Career Carol is a must-read.
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What a great read and insight using a modern approach to business. Light hearted and an easy and pleasurable read with some very useful tips and direction to help with moving forward in the business world and situations we may have to tackle along the way. A highly recommended read.
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"A Career Carol" is a must-read for anyone looking to gain a fresh perspective on their professional life. It offers a compelling narrative, practical advice, and a renewed sense of hope for a brighter and more fulfilling career. This book is a remarkable fusion of timeless wisdom and contemporary relevance, making it an essential addition to the bookshelves of professionals at any stage of their careers.
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Can only recommend this book! It gives great career- and life lessons. Advice of how to deal with setbacks and recommendations of how to find your purpose. Especially the Gen Z, people who come out of school or people who are a little ``lost`` in life will benefit from this book. And all of it is packed into a great story. Seriously, one of the greatest books I have read. Can only recommend!!!
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This book is divided into two parts. The first part is super engaging and easy to read. Innovative way of giving advice to those who need. It describes how it’s important to take action so one can take control of their lives.
The second part of the book, the authors share their personal life stories.
Very inspiring and recommended it.
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"A Career Carol" by Dr. Helmut Schuster and Dr. David Oxley is an inspiring and thought-provoking read that encourages individuals to reflect on their own career choices and consider the long-term impact of their decisions. It is a must-read for those looking to inject new life into their professional trajectories while learning from the lessons of others.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading real-life case studies that bring the advice to life. I found the exercises and reflection prompts a unique and refreshing approach. These interactive elements allow readers to engage with the material, making the learning experience more immersive and actionable.
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I found A Career Carol easy to read and entertaining. As someone that can relate strongly to the main character, Shey, the book does at times hit home. It's inspired me to think differently and motivated me to consider what a career looks like for me. It successfully toes the line between reading for pleasure whilst being informative. I have recommended that my friends and family (younger brother) give it a read.
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I have just finished reading A Career Carol for a second time and I’m so glad I made the effort to revisit it.
Most career books out there try to fill each page with pithy, inspirational quotes that offer little in terms of practicality or associability. A Career Carol uses both a 1st person approach in Shey plus real life examples to bring key career choices to life.
It is so digestible and engaging that I finished it the first time in a day. The book leaves you with a sense of reassurance by the end that there is no ‘normal’ route for a career - we all have the same doubts and mini-crises that ultimately shape your long-term career.
What a refreshing take on normally very corporate topic. I’d highly recommend to anyone at any career stage, particular to someone who enjoys challenging themselves with difficult questions.
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The book is in three parts, starting with a fable. I love a good fable to get across a message and this was told in a light hearted humourous way that didn't disappoint. The next two sections give straightforward practical advice and thought provoking insight. If you are a Blinkist fan you'll enjoy the Blink summary and three takeaways. Despite being at a different stage in my career to Shey, I found the content prompted me to reflect on my career and what's important to me now. The next gen contributors are very impressive and as the mother of a teenager deciding on his A levels choices I found a lot of the advice they gave helpful to prompt discussions. Definitely worth a read.
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Loved this book!
Fun and inspiring… really different take on career advice
The authors really have taken a different approach. This is a very fun story and has surprisingly impactful advice to overcome the big career nightmares.
Really like the way they’ve taken some very deep subjects but made them fun.
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While it’s a career advice book it really is a joy to read. The first half is a very funny fable about Shey Sinope, a college student about to graduate. They use a Christmas Carol construct to show the big career pitfalls that will be ahead. But there is a lot of wit and fun in the telling of the tale. Sort of Douglas Adam’s meets who moved my cheese.
The second half is a deconstruction of the story and some practical tips on how to better navigate the big career challenges.
Excellent book for anyone thinking about their careers.
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