A Life at Work: The Joy of Discovering What You Were Born to Do

By Thomas Moore

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 Moore’s 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 Life’s Work, Moore turns to an aspect of our lives that looms large in our self-regard, an aspect by which we may even define ourselves—our work. The workplace, Moore knows, is a laboratory where matters of soul are worked out. A Life’s 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 life’s work in all its depth and mystery. All jobs, large and small, long-term and temporary, he writes, contribute to your life’s 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 don’t 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 process—the obstacles, blocks, and hardships of our own making—that 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 Life’s Work is a beautiful rumination, realistic and poignant, and a comforting and exhilarating guide to one of life’s biggest dilemmas and one of its greatest opportunities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Feb 26, 2008
• ISBN: 9780767928489

Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore is the author of the bestselling Care of the Soul and twenty other books on spirituality and depth psychology that have been translated into thirty languages. He has been practicing depth psychotherapy for thirty-five years. He lectures and gives workshops in several countries on depth spirituality, soulful medicine, and psychotherapy. He has been a monk and a university professor, and is a consultant for organizations and spiritual leaders. He has often been on television and radio, most recently on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday.

Reviews for A Life at Work

[bakelaurie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't finish this book. It wasn't because I didn't enjoy it or find it helpful, I just have been in a reading slump for a while. Getting back on here I hope will inspire me to get back to my reading!!

[micalhut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've always found Thomas Moore's work to speak directly to the deepest part of my soul in a healing way, and he has done it once again. To read about his soulful journey that meanders about as my own, is quite inspiring, more than likely because he is such a good writer and his is intensely successful by our world's standards. However, he makes you feel like that's not what matters . . . which is good, right? Kind of a dichotomy in values, which works for me.

[silvernfire · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'd already read one of Thomas Moore's books before reading this one. I think this book would've been the better book to start with. Although it focuses on work--both in the sense of your daily job and of your life's Work--it also covers topics Moore probably makes in all his books. There was a bit on the soul, on the spirit, on love and sex, on being open to experience and to foolishness. Since this is a skinny book, he doesn't go into any of these topics all that deeply, making it a good introduction. But if you've read his other books, you suspect there isn't much new here except for how to apply all this to work. So I'd say this was enjoyable, but not a must-read even if you're a fan of Moore's.