The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work by Jon Gordon

The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work Reviews

• 
  Dana Fontaine

  I recommend this book to three types of people: 1) people who are unhappy with their work 2) people that are unhappy with themselves, and 3) people who are in their 20s, 30s, or 40s that don't know what to do with their lives. This tells the story of Josh and Dharma. Josh is the person, Dharma is a dog, and he (Josh) has lost his love of his job and of life. He has a meaningful encounter and then he has two weeks paid vacation to go find himself. I definitely recommend this book.
• 
  Yelda Basar Moers

  I’m always up for reading a book on one’s purpose in life. What spiritual reader isn’t? The problem is the topic has been overdone and the market flooded with such books. Purpose-inspired titles that I’ve read include: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle and who can forget The Secret by Rhonda Byrne? But I’m left to wonder how the latest book on the topic can add anything new?
  
  The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work by Jon Gordon was just published this year. This little nutshell of a book—a mere 143 pages—reminded me of Henry David Thoreau’s book Faith in a Seed, where he writes, “I have great faith in a seed. Convince me you have a seed there and I am prepared to expect wonders.” Though Gordon is not a philosopher or Transcendentalist like Thoreau, rather an author of bestselling business self-help books, he may have found an original twist on this old, well known adage: the be happy in work or in life, you must know your purpose and be aligned with it.
  
  Gordon’s book follows the story of Josh, a midlevel employee of a respected company who finds he has lost his passion for work. Josh’s boss is aware of his burnout, confronts him, and offers him time off to decide whether his job is worth keeping. So off Josh goes to find his purpose. On his journey, he meets several people who guide him along the way, introducing him to the concept of the seed.
  
  There are four stages of the seed: first preparation, second planting, third growth, and finally the forth stage, the harvest. In the preparation stage, Josh learns that anything one has ever done, all of one’s gifts, talents, lessons learned, lead up to finding one’s purpose. Josh meets a farmer at this stage who tells him that one can’t find purpose without adversity and challenges. “Adversity, for many, features a time of drought. Drought might include a time when ideas, money, good fortune, contacts, and success dry up. It might include a job loss or the death of a loved one or a personal illness…During such times, you feel like you are in a desert, isolated from the prosperity, health and success of the world…However when you progress to the other stages of purpose and look back at the preparation stage of your life, you’ll realize it was the drought that made you the person you are today.”
  
  In the planting stage, Josh learns not to go looking around for his purpose, but to plant himself where he is, and give his all in service to others. In turn, his purpose will find him. I found this to be a novel and refreshing concept. Usually, the hero journeys out, sometimes to far away lands, as in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. Staying put is almost counterintuitive, yet appealing. Following planting is the growth phase where most give up, as it has the greatest resistance. Josh is warned that right before one reaps his or her harvest, one faces the greatest challenges. The closer one gets to his or her goal, the stronger the resistance.
  
  At the end of his journey, Josh makes it through all four stages, and finds his own purpose. He discovers the might of passion and purpose, and seeks to teach others. One of the most touching parts at the end is when Josh shares the story of a loan officer of a mortgage company who told him that her job was to save people’s marriages, because in helping people keep their homes she would be helping to keep families together.
  
  In the end, I found The Seed to be a charming little green book, worth the read for its innovative take on an age-old adage. However, be warned that the writing is simplistic, written for the level of an elementary school student, and ridden with cliché expressions. In my experience, sometimes these kinds of books are not the best written and oversimplified. Still, the concepts of The Seed and its ideas are well organized, well thought out, and stirring enough for a satisfying and thought provoking read.
  
• 
  Gr8fullycre8ive

  This book is magical! My life has changed after reading this book. It's like I have entered a positive portal and there is no going back. If you are trying to decide what to do with your life, I dare you to read this book and see what happens to you and the way your thinking changes. It is an easy read that will leave you more aware of the possibilities and connections that come your way.
• 
  Becky

  I liked the quick pace of this book, and the way it didn't appear to be cramming information into all available space. This is a patient book.
  
  I'm seeing a theme in my reading, that I'm chasing the wrong things. The book Courage by Debbie Ford taught me that once you are wholly honest with yourself, the courage you seek will follow. Jon Gordon teaches that you don't pick an exciting life and step into it - you work hard where you are and that becomes very exciting.
  
  I also like how he tied the process to the four stages of plants grown on a farm - preparation, planting, growth, and harvest. Unfortunately, my preparation has (so far) turned me into a person who still has no idea where to plant herself, so the usefulness of this book to me must remain suspended for the time being.
• 
  Heather C.

  I wish I could give this zero stars. Horribly written, excessively preachy, this story of a man trying to find meaning in his life by looking for signs (from God, for all intents and purposes) is supposed to inspire. Instead, I was left disgusted at the superficiality and uncomfortable by the preaching. A required book for school, I would complain to faculty, but I absolutely love the instructor who assigned it and apparently, it's her favorite book, so... (incongruous because she's brilliant).
• 
  Pariya mhs

  that's what I was looking for :))))
• 
  Melinda

  One of the best books I have read this year. I would recommend it to everyone who is looking for a puprose.
• 
  Becky Carothers

  Okay I like self-help books in some ways but someways I don't. This one was a great read. Instead of just telling you do's and dont's this tells a story. A young man finds himself learning from his boss that he has lost the passion for his job and he needs to find it again. What follows is a 2 week journey for Josh to find his purpose and happiness in his life and work.
• 
  Andrew

  First, I listened to the audiobook...which was read by the worst narrator I have ever heard.
  
  As for the story, I was very disappointed. I am usually a fan of Jon Gordon, but this book was awful. It felt very contrived - like he wrote it in a weekend and used as many cliches as he could until it was long enough.
• 
  Narinder Bhatia

  A nice inspiring read about finding purpose in life. The story is nicely weaved and the protagonist comes across as a very relatable character for the readers. Many of us struggle for finding our purpose in life and at times it appears like an eternal quest. The book beautifully captures the dilemma and confusion of the protagonist Josh, a working executive, who seems to have lost interest in job circumstances lead him on a journey to discover his passion and purpose in life. How the protagonist discovers that the best place to discover happiness is in the present and not in past or future, is one of the core themes of the book. There's plenty the readers could take away from the book and I, as a reader, enjoyed the 4-stage framework, which in way makes the entire quest of purpose appear feasible and easy to accomplish. The story may appear like being dragged a bit but that may happen if the reader has been through similar books earlier. Overall, the book has plenty for the readers, not only to learn but to reflect too.
• 
  Ben Daghir

  Fantastic perspective on growing, finding joy in the work we do, and encountering our purpose through unlikely places.
  
  In my second year of seminary - this book came at a great time. The word "seminarian" has its roots in the word "seed" just as the word "seminary" has its root within the idea of "seed bed."
  
  This book has helped me take a few steps back and reflect on where I've been placed, where I'm growing, and what is really the nutrients of my life.
  
  At certain moments, the book was somewhat "corny and goofy" but the main message was powerful enough and gained my attention to the point where I just didn't care.
  
  I realized that I have room to grow.
• 
  Giselle Ates

  I enjoyed listening to this short purpose-filled business fable. It provides solid time-tested advice with an interesting twist at the end and a fun spin on doggy wisdom as well as sound biblical principles. It’s definitely worth a listen or read, especially if you are searching for your purpose in life or simply need encouragement to continue in your endeavors. You don’t need to be a business professional or Christian to appreciate the story or the lessons it imparts.
• 
  Lauren

  The quick book is the perfect motivation for anyone’s life. “Finding purpose and happiness in life and work” – Jon Gordon has a great message for everyone on simple steps to create the best life for you.
  
  This book reminded me of “The Secret” but I felt like I came away with more guidance and hope than before. It helped me look within myself to find out what worked best for me, what I really wanted out of life and how I could succeed for myself and not others.
  
  Another favorite from this year!
• 
  Dzung Vuong

  When you learn something, like in this book, via story telling, it is easier to read. This is a relatively short book. I was looking at a different book by the same author (The Carpenter) and I came across this.
  This book has some elements of Stephen Covey (teaching) and Og Madino (story telling). All of us have our ups and downs, this book is relevant for many of us.
• 
  Nam Nguyen

  It is an interesting book. It inspired to find my real purpose and happiness in life and work. I learned one thing from Dharma that I should love my passion for no reason and be willing to support people when they are in trouble. Importantly, if we pursue distinction, money will come to use automatically and naturally.
• 
  Estevo Raposo

  Me compré el libro atraído por el subtítulo "Cómo darle sentido a la vida y el trabajo". Contiene una historia breve, que se pasa de mística, y que muestra cómo el protagonista consigue recuperar en su trabajo la ilusión del principio. Supongo que es una historia inspiradora, pero por momentos parece demasiado etérea (o poco concreta) y cercana a la peor autoayuda.
• 
  Anna Nikolova

  Страхотна книга! Чудесен мотиватор! Бях я купила "на сляпо". Благодарна съм, че точно тази бе избрана. Препоръчвам я на всеки, дори и на тези, които са наясно с това какво се случва с тях и техният живот. Вътре има много ценни неща, които ми бяха от полза. Вярвам, че всеки има нужда от малко мъдрост да навлиза в живота му от време на време. :)
• 
  Jessica Sellers

  Everyone has a purpose
  It might not be what makes you the happiest
  Be genuine, be still and listen
  Don’t focus on numbers, focus on purpose, that will bring up the numbers
  Your desire to make a difference has to be greater than your desire to make money
  Changes beliefs leads to changes behaviors. The driving force is the power of purpose
  It’s about you doing the work and sticking it out
• 
  Jeremy Alan Graves

  Such an amazing story
  
  Another great story with an incredible underlying messing. John Gordon again delights the reader with his amazing ability to light up the imagination of his readers and help put them into the shoes of the characters.
• 
  Michael Richard

  This was a decent story about a young guy looking for his purpose in life. It was "campy," but that said, the underlying point of the book and the tone that Jon Gordon sets is meaningful. This was a lighter read than I expected, but it was still enjoyable.
• 
  Emily Horvath

  This was assigned reading for school. I thought the premise was lovely and it attempted to make some great points. That being said I also felt the writing was dumbed down, felt forced, and was very preachy at times.