Book Review: "What's Your Dream?" by Simon Squibb

Now, I know I am a bit of a hypocrite when I wrote that scathing rebuke analysis of the self-help industry and this is technically a self-help book. But you'll be glad to know it's not all wonders and greatness. Instead it was a bit of help to organise myself followed by a whole lot of vapidity. But, at least it was well written.

It could have been a lot worse and I mean, a lot worse. What's Your Dream? is less of your typical 'this is the way to do this' book that preys on your personal and cultural fears of failure and instead is a 'you can do this if you care to' book that tries to push you along the road. I actually thought this book was pretty good, even though it was a little bit short lived. It was not really anywhere near as long as I thought it was going to be and in nowhere near enough depth. But it did have some interesting talking points. Let's take a look at them.

At its heart, What’s Your Dream? argues that everyone has an innate dream: something they truly want to do with their lives. But fear, self-doubt, or societal expectations often hold them back. Squibb believes that by identifying and pursuing this dream with conviction, people can lead more fulfilling lives. His message is optimistic and encouraging, but at times, it glosses over the practical difficulties of turning a dream into reality, making it feel more aspirational than actionable. I feel like this is a partial let down for what is overall, a well-intentioned book which has actually got me into writing that book I wanted to write and got me started. Though it has inspired me, I still see these very glaring and obvious problems. They are forgivable even though they are the same problems we encounter over and over again in the genre.

The book draws heavily from Squibb’s own experiences. He recounts his early struggles, failures, and eventual triumphs in business, framing his story as proof that anyone can succeed with the right mindset. His background—leaving school at 15, facing financial struggles, and then building multiple successful businesses makes for an inspiring narrative. However, some readers might find that his story, while engaging, lacks detailed insight into the specific strategies that made him successful, relying more on broad motivational rhetoric. I did notice this weird thing he was doing when telling his story. He told his story and then did not actually identify anything within it that may help the reader. This makes the strategies he does give sound a little far off and the autobiographical section feel a bit separated from the rest of the book.

One of the book’s stronger sections explores how fear holds people back. Squibb encourages readers to reframe failure as a learning experience rather than a dead end. He provides examples of entrepreneurs who faced setbacks before achieving success, reinforcing the idea that resilience is crucial. However, his discussion on overcoming fear often leans on generic self-help language rather than providing deeper psychological insights or actionable techniques. Yes, it goes there. But I will say that this book does focus more on the thinking rather than the actual doing and I think that might be the point. It encourages self-reflection. But I also feel the reason that there are not a lot of actionable strategies is because those would look completely different depending on what the person is doing. It's a wavering situation in the book which also might explain why it is so short.

A distinctive aspect of Squibb’s philosophy is his belief in the power of helping others. He argues that by assisting others in achieving their dreams, whether through mentorship, introductions, or simply encouragement, people create opportunities for themselves as well. This aligns with his real-world efforts, such as his free mentorship initiatives. While this perspective is refreshing and altruistic, the book could benefit from more concrete strategies on how to effectively network and build mutually beneficial relationships. Yes, I know it seems to be an obvious point but it would still be nice to learn about the author's own experiences of doing this. It definitely takes me back to that point of the autobiographical section where I said that it felt disjointed and separate from the rest of the book.

All in all, Simon Squibb’s What’s Your Dream? is a passionate call to action, urging readers to identify their true aspirations and chase them without fear. While the book succeeds in motivating readers, its lack of depth and over-simplification of success can make it feel more like a pep talk than a practical guide. It is best suited for those seeking inspiration rather than those who need detailed advice on executing their dreams. I for one, have actually started planning and writing that book - but for more complex dreams that require more action, I don't know exactly how helpful this book will be.