How are you, really? Living your truth one answer at a time

Entrepreneur, host of the popular Goal Digger podcast, and online educator Kutcher wants to delve into readers' thoughts and dreams. Tired of advice like "fake it till you make it" and "think positive," Kutcher says it's time we dug deeply to find out who we are, who we have around us, and what we're going to do to improve our lives. She urges readers to examine their feelings, to get rid of the "golden handcuffs" that are tying them down, and to let their dreams come true. Kutcher has a conversational style, and she's not afraid to honestly share her own dark, critical moments. She encourages us to feel at home in our bodies, to explore the world, to build meaningful relationships, and to have fun. We all have a gift to share, says Kutcher, and she pushes readers to take those small first steps toward making that possible. To get creative ideas flowing, each chapter offers prompts, like "What inspires you?" or "When was the last time you felt amazing?" Kutcher concludes with a list of "jump starts" to spark introspection and conversations. This upbeat book is sure to be popular.

Goal Digger podcaster Kutcher encourages readers in her upbeat if clichéd debut to ditch received wisdom and pursue their callings. Mixing personal anecdotes with lifestyle advice, the author advocates for listening to "tiny pings" of intuition and being honest with oneself about what one wants: "Cut the crap and stop with the niceties." Kutcher offers strategies to get in touch with one's desires, including spending five minutes per day playing and nurturing creativity, as well as picturing oneself as a five year old and asking, "What does she need today?" Kutcher recommends taking risks and emphasizes that fear of failure shouldn't prevent one from pursuing one's dreams. To illustrate, she describes her podcasting process as an "imperfect action" that allows for mistakes because getting started is more important than getting things right on the first try. Platitudes ("Falling down is so much better than never rising up") and frequent entreaties to check out her podcast and website grow tiresome, but Kutcher's discussion of her miscarriages brings an affecting vulnerability to the proceedings. Kutcher's optimism and candor buoy an otherwise uneven guide. Agent: Margaret Riley King, WME. (June)