Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently

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Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently

by Marcus Buckingham

3.66 · rating details · 108 ratings · 44 reviews

Read Find Your Strongest Life and discover: How to make the most of the role you were born to play, How to get others to understand who you really are, The successful strategies of other women like you. Check out what women are already saying about Find Your Strongest Life.

Brooke: When I read the "Ten Myths" that opened the book, I was completely hooked. The s

...moreRead Find Your Strongest Life and discover: How to make the most of the role you were born to play, How to get others to understand who you really are, The successful strategies of other women like you. Check out what women are already saying about Find Your Strongest Life.

Brooke: When I read the "Ten Myths" that opened the book, I was completely hooked. The statistics are interesting and fresh. I also related to the problem that sets up the book: "Which parts of me should I cut out?" As I read, I could see myself in the Marcus's big-picture analysis and statistics. The early part of the book made me anticipate a breakthrough. And Marcus delivered. Overall, he explains a woman's dilemma perfectly . . . in fresh terms with a unique spin. The main ideas in each chapter were so engaging. Chapter 6 in particular is worth the price of the book. I have already started looking for strong moments in my life, and I want to tell every woman I know to do the same. It is definitely life-changing.

Rebecca: It was really good. It was awesome. And to be honest, perfect timing for my life. I'm REALLY in that place. I can't tell you how badly I've been depressed for the last several months just trying to figure out what to do differently so I'm not so miserable. On one hand, I'm grateful I have a job still. I have a mortgage and bills and all that. But on the other hand...I can't continue to work at a job that gets me nowhere, is not rewarding, not challenging, and mentally drains me. I really have started avoiding my family because I've become so rude and snippy. It's a bad cycle. BUT...God willing this year (sooner than later) I will be able to put this behind me and do what I love :) Even if it's making half as much money. Thanks for thinking of me to read this. I needed it!

Delaney: I was on a plane as I finished reading the manuscript. I was going to be with my daughter who is a law student. As I finished the pages, Marcus helped me gain a new understanding of myself that stood out like a neon sign: I am the person who helps others build infrastructure, get through situations ,and set everything right. It goes beyond motherhood. I am an event planner by birth. I see big pictures and the components necessary to get from vision to execution. The content helped me to reframe my own thinking. Very helpful. I'm excited to take the online test and see which role I'm born to play.

Jennifer: As a working mother, I found the concept of the book fascinating. There are daily struggles of trying to balance being the perfect wife, mother, and employee, and the book helped me truly understand how to navigate all those demands.

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Hardcover, 263 pages

Published September 29th 2009 by Thomas Nelson Publishers

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Jan 13, 2012

Lori rated it

Shelves: personal-development, non-fiction, self-improvement, 2011_read

Excellent book - really synthesizes its message without being preachy or overly cliched. Buckingham is a dynamic speaker in-person, and the book manages to capture his passion, intelligence, knowledge, and charismatic motivation. Buckingham CARES - he really, truly wants people to find and focus on their STRENGTHS, building upon those rather than focusing on shoring up weakness.

He redefines strength and weakness, too, in an eye-opening, catchy way. Even if you have a skill or talent ...more

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Nov 08, 2011

Michael Levitt rated it

I had the fortune to review Find your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham. I originally requested this book for my bride, but I took the opportunity to review how not just women could experience a strong life lived.

The book touches on searching yourself, and points out such ideas about Drive, having a caring partner in life, passion, dreams.

Chapter 5 tells the story of two separate families, one focused on Anna, while the second focuses on a gentleman named Charlie.

...more

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Jun 18, 2011

Britni rated it

The book is written for women on how to be happier by finding your strongest life, which Buckingham describes as living your life for and through your strengths rather than dwelling on your weaknesses. He explains that everyone basically falls into one of nine categories - you can find out which category you fall into by taking this test - and that we should be using that part of ourselves in all categories of our lives or we're always going to be wanting something else.

I read through ...more

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Feb 05, 2011

John rated it

But he also has good news: every woman can surmount her challenges and live a full life by listening to, living in, and being led by her strengths.

This is Buckingham's latest book on the subject of strengths, and it is directly targeted towards women. He starts out by spewing out a slew of sad statistics. He points out how women, as a population, are sadder than men, sadder as they grow older, and sadder now than they were 40 years ago. They are also more stressed and far more likely ...moreBut he also has good news: every woman can surmount her challenges and live a full life by listening to, living in, and being led by her strengths.

This is Buckingham's latest book on the subject of strengths, and it is directly targeted towards women. He starts out by spewing out a slew of sad statistics. He points out how women, as a population, are sadder than men, sadder as they grow older, and sadder now than they were 40 years ago. They are also more stressed and far more likely to suffer clinical depression than their male counterparts.

Why is this? He argues that both the complexities and responsibilities of a modern woman's life have mushroomed, and the push to "have it all" but lead a "balanced" life have led to a massive stress overload.

What is the solution? Buckingham offers a strengths-based life as a path out of the jungle the 21st century woman finds herself entangled in. For those unfamiliar with his previous works, he defines a person's "strengths" as actions that give a person a feeling of satisfaction & accomplishment. These are specific areas that are hard-wired into a person and stay fairly constant throughout life- the roles they were born to play.

The secret to a fulfilling life is to discover your areas of strengths, to nurture them, and to let them guide you. Chapter by chapter he discusses strategies for searching for "strong moments" (specific times you feel "in the zone") and then intentionally "imbalancing" your life towards them. There are also specific tactics chapters for career, relationships, and kids.

I think the book suffers from some inevitable tunnel vision: while I believe living in your strengths is an important component to a fulfilling life, it is only a part. He also makes trusting one's feelings a major focus of the book, and (sorry, Marcus) feelings can't always be trusted. Finally, he skitters too close to "Law of Attraction" like concepts in some of the material for my tastes.

All in all, Find Your Strongest Life is, (couldn't resist it!), a strong book. Reading and applying its principles will indeed help women navigate the jungle of 21st century living to find their strongest life. I found it useful myself, both for its universal principles and also to help me understand the challenges that women face today. Highly recommended.(less)

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Apr 16, 2010

Kristin rated it

Shelves: leadership

Having read and enjoyed other titles by this author, I wanted to give this one a try too. He starts with some interesting data on women and happiness, but it goes downhill (IMHO) from there.

The reader is directed to www.stronglifetest.com to take a brief, free online instrument. His argument with this test is that it's an integrator, where the strengthsfinder's purpose was to dissect. I can appreciate that. I found the test very frustrating. I'm not 100% sure I believe my resul...more

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Nov 19, 2009

Kelly rated it

I had to read it with all of the rumblings about women's happiness and after finishing it, I felt like much of the media hype had nothing to do with the real content of focus of the book and that it's discussion of strengths in relation to your work and life as a whole has the potential to be useful and productive for women (though I do wish he and others were also addressing men's need to discover what their strongest life looks and feels like). The author does note the influence of factors (m...more

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Nov 17, 2009

Lori rated it

will be honest I am struggling with this review. There is wisdom in this book that I believe every woman can glean from. I believe it is beneficial to take The Strong Life Test because it does give you a great idea where your strengths lie. Marcus Buckingham has been a Women of Faith guest speaker and you can find this book sold in Christians books stores.

But this is not a Christian book.

I am not a feminist, so when Buckingham began in the introduction talking about Gloria St...more

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Oct 05, 2009

Katie Casey rated it

In his latest non-fiction book, Marcus Buckingham shares some good old common sense advice and maybe some not-so-common sense secrets about (as the subtitle declares) “what the happiest and most successful women do differently.” He advices his readers not to seek perfection or balance or even a happiness rating of 10; but instead, he illustrates ways to find what your real strengths are and how you can capitalize them in the workplace, in your home, and in your life.

And who doesn't wa...more

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Oct 05, 2009

Darlene rated it

Shelves: not-recommended

Very rarely am I caught off guard by a book. Before I received a message from Thomas Nelson, as one of their book review bloggers, that this book would be made available to those who were already reading something (usually it's one at a time) I had already decided that this wasn't a book I wanted to read. I had looked through the selections available and something about the title--perhaps it's the editor in me that doesn't like the combination of "strongest" and "life"...some...moreVery rarely am I caught off guard by a book. Before I received a message from Thomas Nelson, as one of their book review bloggers, that this book would be made available to those who were already reading something (usually it's one at a time) I had already decided that this wasn't a book I wanted to read. I had looked through the selections available and something about the title--perhaps it's the editor in me that doesn't like the combination of "strongest" and "life"...something about that irks me...don't really know why--just didn't appeal to me. The thought that this was also written by a man and I questioned how effectively he could really relate to what women are going through also made me look for something else. Then, when this offer came up to review it when I already had a book for review, I decided why not. Perhaps it would be helpful.

I had never heard of Marcus Buckingham.

I was looking forward to a spiritually uplifting book, that would affirm what God's will was for women (after all this was publisher that specializes in this sort of thing), that would point out even through the examples he gave of women who contacted Oprah after that one show, God can still use those situations; how he pointed out to those women and shared the gospel with them. How he used examples of women in the Bible and Scriptures to validate God's view of women and how He created us and how He views us.

The points in the opening chapter were really very interesting. I was intrigued by them and agreed with them -- that women are more stressed out now with all the choices. That "women's lib" for all it's whoopla really hasn't improved life that much for women. We're often too stressed out running from one thing to the other that we can't enjoy life anymore. It's been so ingrained in us that we have to work to be happy...when that's not necessarily true for everyone.

But as I read through the introduction and the first couple of chapters it occurred to me there was no mention about the Christian experience. What advantages Christian women have over non-Christian women. I can't imagine what it would be like to go through all that I am without having a relationship in Christ. That's what I expected to see.

Perhaps it was because this book was written by a man and from a man's perspective. It's impossible to completely get into a woman's psyche from a male vantage point. Women are very much emotional creatures and I found this book too analytical and not emotional enough. The only time I found my emotions engaged was reading the quotes from those women who contacted Oprah.

This is not a book I would highly recommend, though I can't say I wouldn't recommend it at all. As demonstrated by the number of higher reviews, there were some people who liked it. But it is not a book will be recommending for our church library. As a spiritual resource for busy moms and women, it was highly disappointing.
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Oct 05, 2009

Andrea rated it

Recommended to Andrea by: Thomas Nelson Publishing Company

I read Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham as a member of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers program.

This book was insightful and had many helpful suggestions on how to find my strengths and ignore my weaknesses. Mr. Buckingham has created an online test to help find your strengths and when I took it I was pleased to see how right on it was.

While I found this book helpful, it is lacking in a few important areas:
This book was an inspiration but it was...more

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Oct 09, 2009

Crystal Laine rated it

I really, really liked the things he had to say in this book, and I took the free test on his web site. Discovering my strengths, though, was a bit of a journey. I had to take the test a few times in order to realize how I would REALLY react to the situations presented. After reading what he said in the book, I soon found what really represented my true self. That was the first step.

Then, I went back and reread the book with my information/results of the test. My only complaint with ...more

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Apr 16, 2010

Lorri rated it

· review of another edition

I was inclined to rate this book at 3 stars because of the genre alone. But that is likely because I am a little embarrassed that this one is on my list at all. In all fairness, this was a pretty decent book. A few months back, while I was online, I happened across the author's "Strongest Life Quiz". I was looking for a diversion from what I was doing and so decided to take it. When the results came in I was a little surprise. The feedback was pretty accurate and not at all how I...more

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Dec 02, 2009

Rosa rated it

Shelves: non-fiction, self-development

I suspect I liked this book mostly because it was in alignment with his previous work - I've been a big Marcus Buckingham fan, and have read everything he has written. It is highly likely that I expect more because I crave more, and thus this book was good, and I relished what it contained, but I was left wanting more and not quite sure of what I still wanted. I am continuing to study it: Have now read it and listened to it on audio.

My recommendation to others would be to plan on rea...more

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Oct 10, 2011

Monique rated it

Buckingham puts a interesting twist on building a strong life. He offers a thought provoking quote with each chapter along with informative take alongs at the conclusion of every chapter. The case studies, examples and answers to real questions that women have submitted over time help give understanding and practical application of the strategies presented. Perhaps I read this book at the right time or God has opened my heart at the exact time but this was eye-opening and well written. Must read...more

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Oct 05, 2009

Jennifer rated it

Shelves: book-sneeze, 2009-reads, gave-away

Marcus Buckingham seems to really understand the struggles that women face. By understanding what struggles women face he is able to give us a plan on how to make our lives stronger. He gives advice on how to make every aspect of your life stronger: work, relationships, raising children, and personal life.

I think the ideas make sense to some extent, but the ideas he presents go against all popular ideals. But I think that's the point, obviously what we've been told to do isn't worki...more

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Feb 10, 2011

mandy rated it

I was cynical picking this book up. Not another American (and a man) telling me how to fix/run/move-on with my life. This book gave me some practical tools to help me understand how to work out what are my real strengths, how I can use them, and how it will help me make good decisions that will continue to only make me stronger. I don't give 5's out very often, but I really thank my work for putting this forward as a book to read. I also really thank Marcus and his team for using their strengths...more

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Dec 28, 2010

Heidi rated it

[I originally published this on my work blog http://www.heidirettig.com/blog]

This year, I’m giving all my girlfriends a copy of Marcus Buckingham’s book, Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently.

I first heard about this book from Danielle LaPorte. I had purchased a digital copy of Danielle’s Firestarter program for entrepreneurs, believing that the language of entrepreneurship is the most helpful approach for what professionals...more

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Jun 15, 2011

Lynn Grubb rated it

Have read it twice because I wanted it to soak in. Love the section that outlines Life Roles. Examples: Advisor, Caretaker, Creator, Equalizer, Influencer, Motivator, Pioneer, Teacher, Weaver. Helps you to understand your personal strengths and to create a life that revolves around these "strong moments". Very helpful for me. There is also an on-line test you can take. This book would be great for a small group discussion of women who knew each other.

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Feb 27, 2011

Charity added it

Great book for women about how to really focus in on what makes you feel strong, the things that excite you and give you energy. Life's too short to feel unhappy and unfulfilled! Here's a great take on strengths finders, specifically designed for women. The free test at www.stronglifetest.com is well worth the 10 minutes to take it.

· see review

Dec 03, 2009

Gloria rated it

Recommends it for: Women in their 20s/30s or any jobseeker

Shelves: non-fiction

Fans of Oprah, young adult women, overwhelmed women, and more may find this book helpful in navigating career changes, relationships, and most importantly living authentically. This is easy to read and each chapter provides bullet points of the main ideas. I may revisit it one day for those bullet points alone.

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Jan 13, 2010

Cheri Adams rated it

Excellent book and just what I needed! I really connected with this book. I read it in 3 days!! A record for me! It has an inspring message that grasps all the roles we women play and offers a path to a strong, authentic and fulfilling life. I'll be coming back to this book again.

· see review

Jun 04, 2011

Kristen rated it

Shelves: self, thinkers

Great ideas about listening to your self to find what makes you feel strong, and then incorporating more of that into your life roles. There is a free video series at Oprah.com (called Career Intervention) that Buckingham leads that discusses some of the ideas for this book.

· see review

Jun 16, 2009

Carolyn rated it

Recommends it for: anyone (though it's written to women)

Shelves: for-work

Full of evidence, examples, insight, and practical advice on how to maximize your potential at home, at work, in life... I love the way he describes (and supports) a strength-oriented perspective. Reminds me of "The Cure for the Common Life" by Max Lucado, but more rigorous.

· see review

Oct 03, 2009

Natasha Fondren rated it

Shelves: 365-challenge

Skimmed it in under thirty or forty minutes. It's written in a very skimmable format, which is great. You won't miss anything by flipping through. Basically, all that you can take away from the book is, "Play to your strengths."

· see review

Mar 09, 2010

Maria rated it

I met Marcus at the Mass Conference for Women, and this book is essentially an expanded version of his workshop there, but it had a lot of good "nuggets" of wisdom that I was able to take away and apply.

· see review

Jan 10, 2010

Diane rated it

Shelves: gave-up-the-ghost

The quiz in the book is the most important part as far as I'm concerned, and it doesn't take a full book to explain it. I do, however, highly recommend taking the quiz (which can be found on Oprah's website).

· see review

Mar 29, 2010

Sherrie rated it

Shelves: self-help

I really liked his workshop on Oprah and found the book to be very useful as I considered my own struggles with balancing my life! The case studies were interesting and inspiring. He definitely 'gets it' and is motivating. I will re-visit this work in the future!

· see review

Sep 02, 2010

Caroline rated it

Shelves: personal-development

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

· see review

Aug 18, 2010

Janet rated it

Insightful. Took the test and scored as an Advisor and Motivator. He stresses paying attention to the things that energize and drain you and then shift your life toward the strong areas.

· see review

Feb 10, 2011

Tina rated it

Shelves: business-self-help

This was good-mostly stuff I have a pretty good handle on but always good to touch up on. Also LOVED the part about helping your daughters find and expand their strengths.

· see review

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About Marcus Buckingham

In a world where efficiency and competency rule the workplace, where do personal strengths fit in?

It's a complex question, one that intrigued Cambridge-educated Marcus Buckingham so greatly, he set out to answer it by challenging years of social theory and utilizing his nearly two decades of research experience as a Sr. Researcher at Gallup Organization to break through the preconcept...moreIn a world where efficiency and competency rule the workplace, where do personal strengths fit in?

It's a complex question, one that intrigued Cambridge-educated Marcus Buckingham so greatly, he set out to answer it by challenging years of social theory and utilizing his nearly two decades of research experience as a Sr. Researcher at Gallup Organization to break through the preconceptions about achievements and get to the core of what drives success.

The result of his persistence, and arguably the definitive answer to the strengths question can be found in Buckingham's four best-selling books First, Break All the Rules (coauthored with Curt Coffman, Simon & Schuster, 1999); Now, Discover Your Strengths (coauthored with Donald O. Clifton, The Free Press, 2001); The One Thing You Need to Know (The Free Press, 2005) and Go Put Your Strengths To Work (The Free Press, 2007). The author gives important insights to maximizing strengths, understanding the crucial differences between leadership and management, and fulfilling the quest for long-lasting personal success. In his most recent book, Buckingham offers ways to apply your strengths for maximum success at work.

What would happen if men and women spent more than 75% of each day on the job using their strongest skills and engaged in their favorite tasks, basically doing exactly what they wanted to do?

According to Marcus Buckingham (who spent years interviewing thousands of employees at every career stage and who is widely considered one of the world's leading authorities on employee productivity and the practices of leading and managing), companies that focus on cultivating employees' strengths rather than simply improving their weaknesses stand to dramatically increase efficiency while allowing for maximum personal growth and success.

If such a theory sounds revolutionary, that's because it is. Marcus Buckingham calls it the “strengths revolution.”

As he addresses more than 250,000 people around the globe each year, Buckingham touts this strengths revolution as the key to finding the most effective route to personal success and the missing link to the efficiency, competency, and success for which many companies constantly strive.

To kick-start the strengths revolution, Buckingham and Gallup developed the StrengthsFinder exam (StrengthsFinder.com), which identifies signature themes that help employees quantify their personal strengths in the workplace and at home. Since the StrengthsFinder debuted in 2001, more than 1 million people have discovered their strengths with this useful and important tool.

In his role as author, independent consultant and speaker, Marcus Buckingham has been the subject of in-depth profiles in The New York Times, Fortune, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal and is routinely lauded by such corporations as Toyota, Coca-Cola, Master Foods, Wells Fargo, Yahoo and Disney as an invaluable resource in informing, challenging, mentoring and inspiring people to find their strengths and obtain and sustain long-lasting personal success.

A wonderful resource for leaders, managers, and educators, Buckingham challenges conventional wisdom and shows the link between engaged employees and productivity, profit, customer satisfaction, and the rate of turnover. Buckingham graduated from Cambridge University in 1987 with a master's degree in Social and Political Science.
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Books by Marcus Buckingham

First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently

Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance

The One Thing You Need to Know: ... About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success

The Truth about You: Your Secret to Success [With DVD and Note Pad]

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