An Evening with Thomas Moore
Wednesday, March 5, 2008

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 his groundbreaking book Care of the Soul, Thomas Moore taught readers ways to cultivate depth, genuineness, and soulfulness in their everyday lives. Now, in A Life at 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 at Work is about finding the right vocation, yes, and it is also about uncovering one’s avocation—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 at 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.

Join the IIS Community as we dialogue with Thomas Moore about A Life at Work: The Joy of Discovering What We Were Born To Do.