LEVEL UP!

A guide to pragmatic life skills that teaches readers how to operate in the world with know-how and confidence.

Scott has put together a “playbook” of wide-ranging qualities that he deems essential for living one’s best life. Fifty skills are presented over seven “levels” and include interactive elements (like self-assessments), quotes (from people like Steve Jobs), and various charts to break down particularly complex information (such as compounding interest vs. inflation). Level 1 focuses on cultivating a “winning mindset” through mindfulness and meditation tips. Scott also suggests here that readers can discover their passions by using the Japanese concept of ikigai, which involves four elements: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Level 2 suggests ways to turn that passion into productivity, including using the “Pomodoro technique” (pick a task; focus only on that task for 25 minutes; take a five-minute break; then repeat four times before taking a longer break). Level 3 delves into physical and mental health, including stress management. Level 4 focuses on critical thinking and problem-solving, offering a list of common fallacies one might encounter in everyday conversations, including “Appeal to Emotion: Attempting to manipulate an emotional response in place of a valid argument” and “False Dilemma: Presenting only two options when more exist.” Level 5 gives tips for better communication and conflict resolution. Level six covers all things financial, from establishing a “wealth mindset” to different types of insurance. Level 7 wraps everything up with an explanation of how to use these skills to become an effective leader.

With a warm and encouraging tone, Scott presents what could, in less capable hands, seem like a discouragingly large amount of information; the author instead makes the included skills feel not just doable but desirable. While some motivational catchphrases can come across as a bit trite (“We are more than our history; we are the authors of our next chapter”), Scott obviously takes great care to treat his audience (which one assumes will be high school or college kids preparing to make their way out of the family nest) as the young adults that they are. This means using straightforward language that never comes across as condescending and providing practical advice that goes much deeper than the typical self-help book. Instead of just suggesting that readers avoid debt, for example, Scott breaks down the difference between “good” and “bad” debt, as well as what a FICO score really means and how to keep track of it. The advice is so detailed and wide-ranging, in fact, that it could certainly prove useful to older adults as well (the guide to fallacies alone should be mandatory reading for all ages). In addition to occasional charts and graphs, hand-drawn illustrations by Ukrainian artist Miroshnichenko are peppered sporadically throughout the book. These quirky black-and-white drawings add some fun and levity to what can be dry topics. This is a book that readers will likely find themselves referencing again and again through different life stages; Scott has written a clear, catchall guide to “adulting” that manages to remain relevant and engaging throughout.

Brimming with wisdom and support—ideal for young adults looking to make their way in the world.