Work: Making a Living and Making a Life

The philosophers of ancient Greece viewed it as demeaning, while Asian traditions venerated it. Protestantism cemented it as the foundational ethos of modern capitalism—though the Bible portrays it as both a glorification of God and a punishment. With this long history of mixed messages, it’s no wonder many of us feel ambivalent about the activity that consumes most of our life’s waking hours—in one loaded word, work.
 
With interviews, case studies, anecdotes, and a dose of good humor, Joshua Halberstam explores the subtle balance between making a living and making a life—posing such probing questions as: Why do so few of us claim to enjoy our work when studies tell us otherwise? Are you too ambitious or not ambitious enough? Where do you draw the line—if any—between your professional and personal selves? What aspects of your job make you happy? Thoughtful, surprising, and inspiring, this is a unique look at an age-old topic—and a valuable benefit for anyone seeking more rewards and fulfillment in their own working life.
 
“In this thoughtful, comprehensive, and profound work, Joshua Halberstam tells us how we can become entrepreneurs of our own careers in order to fully live our values in all aspects of our lives.”—James A. Autry, author of Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership

Joshua Halberstam, Ph.D., divides his workday between teaching moral philosophy and directing marketing campaigns and managerial programs for a number of well-known companies. A frequent guest on "Oprah," he currently teaches philosophy at Columbia University. He is also the author of several other books, including Schmoozing and Everyday Ethics.