The Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition

Many of us wrestle with those daunting “life choice” questions from time to time: what should I be aiming for? Am I being ambitious enough? Or has an excess of ambition led me astray?

The Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition is here to help: Stefan Stern has written a collection of essays which consider different aspects of ambition and its place in our lives. They ask: what does success mean and what might it look like for you? When is enough enough? And is Lady Macbeth right to suggest that only those with the “illness” of ambition achieve the highest goals?

This is not a “how to” book. If anything, it is closer to being a “how not to” book.

Each section is prefaced with a quotation from Macbeth with Stefan drawing parallels between the major themes in the play and how they can be applied to modern life. Expect to discover why ambition could be considered an illness, how ambition and success work together, generational changes and shifts in attitude over the years, and how gender roles have an impact on our goals. 

Incisive, contemporary and accessible, this book is for anyone who is looking for a change of direction or emphasis on how to move forward. It will also provide consolation, amusement and plenty of insightful meditations on the complex nature of ambition.

Image credits: Design by Mecob. Images: © Shutterstock.com. Page image © Rex Features from Macbeth (2015).

Book designs, cover and other images are for illustrative purposes and may differ from final design.