A job is never just a job. It is always connected to a deep and invisible process of finding meaning in life through work.
In Thomas Moores groundbreaking book Care of the Soul, he wrote of the great malady of the twentieth century
the loss of soul. That bestselling work taught readers ways to cultivate depth, genuineness, and soulfulness in their everyday lives, and became a beloved classic. Now, in A Lifes Work, Moore turns to an aspect of our lives that looms large in our self-regard, an aspect by which we may even define ourselvesour work. The workplace, Moore knows, is a laboratory where matters of soul are worked out. A Lifes Work is about finding the right job, yes, and it is also about uncovering and becoming the person you were meant to be.
Moore reveals the quest to find a lifes work in all its depth and mystery. All jobs, large and small, long-term and temporary, he writes, contribute to your lifes work. A particular job may be important because of the emotional rewards it offers or for the money. But beneath the surface, your labors are shaping your destiny for better or worse. If you ignore the deeper issues, you may not know the nature of your calling, and if you dont do work that connects with your deep soul, you may always be dissatisfied, not only in your choice of work but in all other areas of life. Moore explores the often difficult processthe obstacles, blocks, and hardships of our own makingthat we go through on our way to discovering our purpose, and reveals the joy that is our reward. He teaches us patience, models the necessary powers of reflection, and gives us the courage to keep going.
A Lifes Work is a beautiful rumination, realistic and poignant, and a comforting and exhilarating guide to one of lifes biggest dilemmas and one of its greatest opportunities.