Masters at Work

Award-winning journalist and food writer Patric Kuh explores the restaurant industry-based on the experiences of Lien Ta and Jonathan Whitener's Here's Looking at You restaurant in Los Angeles-and reveals essential details for anyone considering a path to this risky profession. Everyone knows that opening a restaurant is a risky business, a venture with an astounding rate of failure. Patrick Kuh's Becoming a Restaurateur takes readers behind the scenes of one of America's trendiest new restaurants, revealing how Lien Ta and chef Jonathan Whitener of LA's Here's Looking at You managed to beat the odds. With valuable information about what daily life for a professional is like, this is an entertaining, practical guide to what makes a master restaurateur, from writing the business plan to opening night and beyond. Patric Kuh, who started his career cooking in restaurants, is the author of The Last Days of Haute Cuisine, a history of the American restaurant business which won the James Beard Foundation's award for writing on food. He was Los Angeles Magazine's restaurant critic from 2000-2017, and the recipient of both the James Beard Award for best restaurant critic in America and the Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award in 2011. Kuh has been published in Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, and Saveur.

A fascinating guide to a career as a private investigator written by award-winning journalist Howie Kahn and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field-essential reading for someone considering a path to this profession. Becoming a Private Investigator puts a seemingly out-of-reach profession within the your grasp. Weaving practical how-to advice with inspiring case studies, Kahn provides actionable steps anyone can take to pursue a career as a P.I. as he shadows two experienced American P.I.s, Sheila Wysocki and Mark Gillespie, both of whom are investigating a series of deaths about which many questions remain. What skills must they master to find out the truth? What risks must they take to succeed? In a narrative full of shocking details, Becoming a Private Investigator sheds light on the professionals who fight for justice and change the lives of others forever. Howie Kahn is a contributing editor for WSJ., the Wall Street Journal magazine; founding host of Prince Street, a food and culture podcast heard in more than two hundred countries; and coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Sneakers. His work has appeared in more than three dozen publications, including GQ; Wired; Elle; and O, The Oprah Magazine. Kahn is the winner of a James Beard Award for food feature writing and a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Sarah Lawrence College MFA program.

An illuminating guide to a career as a museum and art curator written by acclaimed journalist Holly Brubach and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field-essential reading for someone considering a path to this challenging, yet rewarding profession. Go behind the scenes and be mentored by the best to find out what it's really like, and what it really takes, to become a curator. Esteemed journalist Holly Brubach takes readers to the front lines to offer a candid portrait of the modern curatorial profession. Brubach shadows Elisabeth Sussman of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York to reveal how a top curator actually works. In Becoming a Curator, Brubach reveals the path to becoming a curator in today's ultra-competitive art world, from education to exhibition. Sit in on acquisition meetings, plan a splashy new show, go on a studio visit with an up-and-coming artist, and attend an opening at famed David Zwirner gallery in Chelsea. As museums step into the 21st century, the role of curator is changing and more crucial than ever. For those passionate about art, culture, and museums, this is the most valuable informational interview you'll ever have-required reading for anyone considering this dream career. Holly Brubach writes about art, fashion, culture, and dance. She is a former staff writer at The New Yorker and the former Style Editor at The New York Times Magazine. She has had a long and illustrious career, writing for Vogue, The Atlantic, W Magazine, Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, and many other publications. She has also consulted with Prada and other luxury goods companies throughout the world. She is the author of Becoming a Curator, A Dedicated Follower of Fashion, and Girlfriend: Men, Women and Drag. She is currently working on a biography of Tanaquil Le Clercq, a ballerina for the New York City Ballet and George Balanchine's last wife, which will be published by Simon & Schuster. She lives in Pittsburgh.

An illuminating guide to a career as an architect written by art and design journalist Janelle Zara and based on the real-life experiences of two experts in the field-required reading for someone considering a path to this rewarding profession. Go behind the scenes and be mentored by the best to find out what it's really like, and what it really takes, to become an architect. Design critic Janelle Zara takes readers to the front lines to offer a candid portrait of this challenging profession. What does it actually mean to be an architect today? What do they do? How do they do it? Zara shadows acclaimed architects Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee of the prestigious Los Angeles-based firm Johnston Marklee. Learn from the founders as they near the unveiling of their major new building, the Menil Drawing Institute. Sit in on meetings as they compete for new projects, and watch as they conceive, draft, render, plan, construct, and execute buildings. Architects must juggle hundreds of items to ensure their ideas come to life as planned. Zara shows that good architects must have artistic vision as well as organizational acumen. An accessible and informed primer on a hot profession, Becoming an Architect is the most valuable informational interview you'll have-required reading for anyone considering this dream job. Janelle Zara is a journalist specializing in art, design, and architecture. She has writer for T Magazine, Architectural Digest, Artforum, and The Wall Street Journal. She lives in Los Angeles.

An illuminating guide to a career as a baker, written by acclaimed journalist Glynnis MacNicol and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field-essential reading for someone considering a path to this challenging, yet rewarding profession. Go behind the scenes and be mentored by the best to find out what it's really like, and what it really takes, to become a baker. Esteemed journalist Glynnis MacNicol takes readers to the front counters of bakeries and cafes to offer a candid portrait of modern baking. MacNicol shadows Mary Louise Clemens, the owner and head baker of Ladybird Bakery in Brooklyn, to reveal how bakers work and how they stand out in a neighborhood, community, and city. In Becoming a Baker, MacNicol reveals the path to becoming a baker, from education to the creation of new recipes, from negotiating with suppliers to the possibility of opening a small business. Prepare the legendary "Brooklyn Blackout" cupcakes in Ladybird's kitchen, shape croissants at the beloved Sea Wolf Bakery in Seattle, and learn why bakers think the Great British Bake-Off has captured our collective imagination. As the food industry changes to meet the 21st century, the role of a baker is becoming more and more central to our lives. For those passionate about nourishment, working with your hands, and the place of locally-owned businesses in communities, this is the most valuable informational interview you'll ever have-required reading for anyone considering this career. Glynnis MacNicol is a writer and cofounder of The Li.st. Her work has appeared in print and online for publications including Elle.com (where she was a contributing writer), The New York Times, The Guardian, Forbes, The Cut, Daily News (New York), W, Town & Country, The Daily Beast, mental_floss, and Capital New York. Her series of articles on the Brownsville neighborhood in Brooklyn for Chase's award-winning "From the Ground Up" package won a 2015 Contently Award. She is the author of the memoir No One Tells You This and the coauthor of There Will Be Blood, a guide to puberty, with HelloFlo founder Naama Bloom. She lives in New York City.

Choosing what to do with your life begins with imagining yourself in a career. Using stories of real practitioners in the field, the Masters at Work series offers the opportunity to see through the eyes of someone who has mastered a profession and learn what the risks and rewards of a job really are. According to a LinkedIn survey that polled 8,000 professionals, the second most popular childhood dream job for respondents was a veterinarian. It's a career that appeals to many, due to its involvement with animals and association with helping and doing good. Still, much of the day-to-day elements of the job are not known by the wider public. This series, and individual guide, provides valuable and relevant information about what daily life for a professional veterinarian is like, and will be a vital resource for anyone interested in pursuing the path. Is there such a thing as a typical veterinarian? Journalist and author Boris Kachka sets out on a journey, determined to discover how to turn a childhood dream into a real career. Becoming a Veterinarian is a behind-the-scenes, honest, and inspiring look at the day-to-day life of a veterinarian through the eyes of four people who have made this career their life's work. There's Michael, who thought he would be an architect, but instead works with urban pets at the ASPCA in New York; Elisha, who studied dance before she began treating cows, cats, and horses; Idina, who was injured in a car accident and was forced to find a second career; and Chick, who was earning a Masters in economics but turned to veterinarian science after he began working nights at an animal hospital. With each, Kachka dives into every element of the job: science, surgery, financials, finding a program, and everything in between.

A fascinating guide to a career as a life coach written by award-winning journalist Tom Chiarella and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field-essential reading for someone considering a path to this rewarding profession. Being a life coach is a unique career with the ability to change lives. Becoming a Life Coach takes us behind-the-scenes through the experiences of two top-tier life coaches who spend their days working one-on-one with clients to create new paths forward. The result is an entertaining, practical look at how one gets into and grows within this rewarding career. Tom Chiarella is a Professor Emeritus of English at DePauw University and longtime writer for Esquire where he profiles celebrities, athletes, and political figures and pens two columns for Golf and Influence. He's also a contributing editor at Popular Mechanics and Chicago Magazine. He has also written for Golf Digest, Outside, Wired.com, BleacherReport.com, Elle UK, Fashion (Canada), Euroman, and Mr. Porter. He lives with his family in Bainbridge, Indiana. He's the author of Foley's Luck, Thursday's Game, Writing Dialogue, and Becoming a Real Estate Agent.

A fascinating guide to a career in neurosurgery written by award-winning journalist John Colapinto and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field-essential reading for someone considering a path to this most challenging profession. Choosing what to do with your life begins with imagining yourself in a career, actually meeting the emotional, physical, and intellectual demands of the job. Often regarded as one of the most technically and emotionally demanding of surgical disciplines, becoming a neurosurgeon requires years of study. This practical guide offers a unique opportunity to see what daily life for a neurosurgeon is like, from someone who has mastered the profession and can explain what the risks and rewards of the job really are. Joshua Bederson is the chief of Neurosurgery at the esteemed Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. New Yorker writer John Colapinto brings to vivid life what Dr. Bederson's professional life is like to show all the varied facets of his work, from extensive study and research to brain operations, one-on-one consultations with patients, and even staff meetings with fellow surgeons and students. Since Mt. Sinai is a teaching hospital, we learn alongside the residents and interns how Bederson trains neurosurgeons, passing along the knowledge and skills he honed over decades. The result is a multidimensional portrait of a man and a department, a practical guide for how to enter and learn the profession, as well as a moving glimpse into the world of patients and doctors who face some of life's most harrowing challenges. John Colapinto is an award-winning staff writer at The New Yorker. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller As Nature Made Him. He lives in New York City.

A fascinating guide to a career in marine biology written by bestselling journalist Virginia Morell and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field-essential reading for someone considering a path to this profession. For the last two decades, Dr. Robin Baird has spent two months out of each year aboard a twenty-four-foot Zodiac boat in the waters off the big island of Hawai'i, researching the twenty-five species of whales and dolphins that live in the Pacific Ocean. His life may seem an impossible dream-but his career path from being the first person in his family to graduate college to becoming the leading expert on some of Hawai'i's marine mammals was full of twists and turns. Join Baird aboard his Zodiac for a candid look at the realities of life as a research scientist, from the ever-present struggles to secure grants and publish new data, to the joys of helping to protect the ocean and its inhabitants. You'll also learn pro tips, like the unexpected upsides to not majoring in marine biology and the usefulness of hobbies like sailing, birdwatching, photography, and archery. (You'll need good aim to tag animals with the tiny recording devices that track their movements.) Becoming a Marine Biologist is an essential guide for anyone looking to turn a passion for the natural world into a career. This is the most valuable informational interview you'll have-required reading for anyone considering this challenging yet rewarding path. Virginia Morell is a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine and a contributing correspondent to Science. She has also written for Smithsonian, Discover, The New York Times Magazine, International Wildlife, Audubon, Slate, and Outside, among other publications. She and her husband, writer Michael McRae, live in southern Oregon, on the edge of the Siskiyou Mountains, where they hike every day with their Scotch Collies, Buckaroo and Annie Oakley. Gabra Zackman knows romance. Her clever and "thrilling romantic caper" (Library Journal) Bod Squad series was inspired by the more than one hundred romance and women's fiction titles she has narrated for audio. She divides her time between her native New York City and Denver, Colorado. "Virginia Morell has written more than just a "how to" in this marvelous little tome. Becoming a Marine Biologist is chock-full of great practical advice paired with an equally compelling story. Watching Robin Baird, the main research scientist and cetacean expert, navigate and overcome substantial obstacles to realize his dream job made me realize how both fortunate accident and hard work can play equal roles in what we become. That voyage was as thrilling as traveling with him and his research team on his Zodiac, searching for little-known species such as the pantropical spotted dolphin. Morell also provides an amazingly succinct overview of humans' storied history with - and brutal exploitation of - Earth's magnificent but vulnerable oceans. This book is for readers who want to imagine a new career, and for those who love the ocean and its fascinating creatures." "Morell's smart, short primer will make marine biology equally intriguing to those already enchanted with the sea's creatures and to confirmed landlubbers."

The must-have book for any yogi or yogini who's curious about taking the next step and becoming a yoga instructor. Choosing a profession begins with imagining yourself in a career. Whether you see yoga as a side gig or your life calling, Becoming a Yoga Instructor is the perfect resource to help you figure out how to get there-and what it'll really be like once you do. Journalist Elizabeth Greenwood has been practicing yoga for over twenty years. Now, she takes you along as she studies with teachers across the country to figure out how these women and men rose to the top of their profession-and how they stay there. In these pages, you'll take a private lesson with Abbie Galvin, a rock star instructor whom other yoga teachers fly around the world to learn from. You'll visit a small business owner as she opens up her very first studio, and meet newbies hustling as they figure out how to stand out from the competition, whether by leading yoga retreats to Costa Rica, helping veterans struggling with PTSD, or teaching classes over YouTube. Bursting with inside information about the yoga industry, and the spiritual, physical, and psychological benefits that daily practice can bring to your life, Becoming a Yoga Instructor is a perfect virtual internship for anyone contemplating turning their love of yoga into a career. Elizabeth Greenwood is the author of Playing Dead: A Journey Through the World of Death Fraud. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, VICE, O, the Oprah Magazine, Longreads, GQ, and others.

An illuminating guide to a career as a fashion designer written by the Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue Lindsay Peoples Wagner, based on the real-life experiences of three acclaimed designers-required reading for anyone considering this competitive profession. Go behind the scenes and be mentored by the best in the business to find out what it's really like, and what it really takes, to become a fashion designer. Lindsay Peoples Wagner profiles three influential New York designers-Christopher John Rogers, Becca McCharen-Tran of Chromat, and Rosie Assoulin-to reveal how this dream job becomes reality. Today's designers must operate as innovative brands and businesses as well as inspired creatives. The designers in this book have built new models of success while addressing issues of identity, race, and inclusivity. Peoples Wagner showcases their paths to prominence, from early days and school to investment rounds and scaling. Becoming a Fashion Designer shows that this profession is about far more than clothes. Lindsay Peoples Wagner is Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue. She was previously fashion editor at New York Magazine and The Cut.

An acclaimed investigative journalist explores ethical hacking and presents a reader-friendly, informative guide to everything there is to know about entering the field of cybersecurity. It's impossible to ignore the critical role cybersecurity plays within our society, politics, and the global order. In Becoming an Ethical Hacker, investigative reporter Gary Rivlin offers an easy-to-digest primer on what white hat hacking is, how it began, and where it's going, while providing vivid case studies illustrating how to become one of these "white hats" who specializes in ensuring the security of an organization's information systems. He shows how companies pay these specialists to break into their protected systems and networks to test and assess their security. Readers will learn how these white hats use their skills to improve security by exposing vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can detect and exploit them. Weaving practical how-to advice with inspiring case studies, Rivlin provides concrete, practical steps anyone can take to pursue a career in the growing field of cybersecurity.

Based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field, an immersive, accessible guide to a career in hairstyling brought to life by acclaimed writer Kate Bolick-essential reading for anyone interested in this creative and dynamic profession. Gwenn LeMoine sees the world through the lens of hair. The daughter of two hairstylists, she has taken her natural talent to an entrepreneurial level and is now the owner of Parlor, a wildly popular, two-location hair salon in the East Village and Brooklyn. A pioneer with four decades of expertise in styling eccentric celebrity personalities, LeMoine works with clients such as such as Piper Kerman, Rue McClanahan, Molly Ringwald, Twyla Tharp, and William Wegman, to name only a few. Her work has also been featured on television (SNL, VH1, ETV), in magazines (Real Simple, Nylon, The New York Times, and Paste), and at awards shows, such as the Tonys and Emmys. In Becoming a Hairstylist, Atlantic columnist and New York Times notable author Kate Bolick provides a compelling profile of a career in hair styling through the life of LeMoine, and offers us a glance at a day in the life at Parlor. The perfect resource for anyone interested in a career in cosmetology, Becoming a Hairstylist portrays how to excel as a stylist-at any age and for all types of customers.

A reader-friendly guide to the inner workings and behind-the-scenes action of Silicon Valley and venture capitalism. Investigative reporter Gary Rivlin gives an armchair tour of the world of venture capitalism, while providing vivid case studies illustrating how to get started in the field. He shows how once-small companies such as Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon used venture capitalism to transform into the icons they are today, and the VCs that made a fortune in the process. Readers will learn what series funding is, the difference between an angel and super angel investor, and how to go about identifying ideas worthy of funding. Becoming a Venture Capitalist is not only an exclusive look into the world of legendary venture firms-as well as stories of their most interesting characters, including Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, and Mark Zuckerberg-but a wonderful guide on how to break into a seemingly impenetrable world. Gary Rivlin is a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter and the author of five books, including Katrina: After the Flood. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Mother Jones, GQ, and Wired, among other publications. He is a two-time Gerald Loeb Award winner and former reporter for the New York Times. He lives in New York with his wife, theater director Daisy Walker, and two sons.

Choosing a profession begins with imagining yourself in a career: here are all the details you need to get started in the popular field of real estate-from salary expectations, regional challenges, and how to use social media to your lucrative advantage. What makes a great real estate agent? Is it just numbers? Sales volume? How do you get to the top of the market in boom times? How do you survive a soft market? What tools must you bring to the job? Is it at all like those reality shows on TV? Starting in his own backyard, Esquire writer Tom Chiarella explores the requisite skills needed to thrive in various real estate scenarios: a static buyer's market in rural Indiana, a booming seller's market in Seattle, and the incredibly high-end market of Chicago's luxury high-rises. Forming a personal connection with each of his subjects, he watches them work in the front seat of their cars, at lunches, on street corners, and in the doorways of homes. What Chiarella discovers is that great real estate agents devote themselves to the job with a sense of craftsmanship. Showcasing the individual tools used to develop a successful real estate career, Becoming a Real Estate Agent profiles individuals who live a life of thrilling improvisation, action, and instinct-a life in which excellence is sometimes gauged by the ability to walk away from a commission when circumstance demands it.

"If you are curious about life as a sommelier, this charming book makes an easy, nutritious appetizer." -The New York Times An illuminating guide to a career as a sommelier written by acclaimed food and drink writer Rosie Schaap and based on the real-life experiences of experts in the field-essential reading for anyone considering a path to this profession. Wine is a pleasure, and in its pursuit there should be no snobbery. The sommelier is there to help, to teach, to guide. Acclaimed food and drink writer Rosie Schaap profiles two renowned sommeliers to offer a candid portrait of this profession. Learn the job from Amanda Smeltz, a poet and wine director in New York, and Roger Dagorn, a James Beard Award–winning Master Sommelier. From starting in the cellar, grueling certification exams, to tastings and dinner service, Becoming a Sommelier is an invaluable introduction to this dream job. Rosie Schaap is the author of Drinking with Men: A Memoir. She is the former "Drink" columnist for The New York Times Magazine, and has also contributed to Lucky Peach, Saveur, The New York Times Book Review, Travel + Leisure, and This American Life. She was previously and variously employed as a community organizer, an editor, a manager of homeless shelters, and, for many years, a bartender.