After three decades in corporate America, Mike Wysocki wondered if the grass really was greener on the other side. So he put his background in sociology to work and spent years surveying industry veterans in a variety of occupations.

The responses were eye-opening: an honest, insider's look at what workers say about their careers outside of the office.

Wysocki chose the 101 most powerful responses for Careers By the People to demystify the world of work with practical experience rather than theory. These industry profiles pair the practicality of guidance counselors with the storytelling of a networking event (without the small talk).

Told in a Q&A format, insightful answers to thought-provoking questions include:

descriptions of a day-in-the-life of the profession they chose.truths about conflicts, co-workers, and management.common misconceptions, issues and what pitfalls to avoid.what's fulfilling, what's draining, and what's worth it.

With humor and authenticity that doesn't hold punches, this career guidebook will help you narrow down career choices so you can determine what is best for you.

All paths lead to retirement--which one are you on?