cover image READY OR NOT, HERE LIFE COMES

READY OR NOT, HERE LIFE COMES

Melvin D. Levine, . . Simon & Schuster, $26 (286pp) ISBN 978-0-7432-6224-8

Levine, professor of pediatrics, founder of a nonprofit institute dedicated to studying learning differences and author of the bestselling A Mind at a Time , weighs in on what he sees as the "epidemic" of "work-life unreadiness" that affects 20-somethings as they move from academia to the working world. The difficulties many face confronting this change are often underestimated, Levine argues, and thus often take those making the change—and their families, too—by surprise. Frequently, Levine finds, a lifetime of success in school is followed abruptly by confusion and inertia when it comes time to find work that's meaningful and create a life of independence. Levine outlines four major qualities and values common in young adults who do make successful transitions: they are self-aware, they're keen observers of the outside world, they posses certain "tools" (the ability to master skills, develop work efficiency and think productively) and they're strong communicators. He makes valuable suggestions for parents and educators who wish to encourage the difficult process of developing these traits, using examples of individuals who have—and haven't—been well prepared for this transition. The book's solid research and easy tone are a powerful combination; the result is a valuable resource for anyone concerned with the successful development of young people in the workforce. Agent, Zachary Shuster. (Feb.)