How to Find Fulfilling Work

The School of Life

by Roman Krznaric

This is a book about how to take working life in new directions - how to negotiate the labyrinth of choices, how to think about personal ambitions and motivations, and ultimately how to take concrete steps to finding a fulfilling career.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Philosophy, Business, Psychology, Personal Development, Audiobook

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2012

About the author

Roman Krznaric is a social philosopher who writes about the power of ideas to create change. His latest book is the international bestseller The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World. His previous books, including Empathy, The Wonderbox, How to Find Fulfilling Work and Carpe Diem Regained, have been published in more than 25 languages. He is Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University’s Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing and founder of the world’s first Empathy Museum. His new book, History for Tomorrow: Inspiration from the Past for the Future of Humanity, is published in July 2024.

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doing what it says in the title, Roman Krznaric explores the concept of meaningful work for those who are unhappy with their 9-5 and looking to change that. And he does a pretty good job of it!

Approaching his subject via a variety of disciplines, Roman frames work itself within a historical context, showing how it has evolved over time (mainly with an eye to the West) as well as incorporating psychology to explain how we can entrap ourselves in jobs that offer us money and status but fail to provide meaning or utilise our talents. People’s fear of change and why failure is more potent than success are concepts that are also addressed to encourage the reader onwards, past the doubt.

He also includes inspiring stories about people who were stuck in jobs they hated but who took a risk (and often a steep pay cut!) and are now in jobs they love and are much happier, as well as people who had no idea what they wanted to do so went out with the express purpose of trying as many professions as they could (usually for no money) to find out where their passions lie.

By far the most useful aspect of the book were the pointed questions scattered throughout to get you thinking about your own situation, how you can change it and what you really want to do. I also liked the idea of creating your own job - a bespoke career – as well as Marie Curie’s life story as an example of working up to the career you want over time. It’s a concept that’s not as dramatic as handing in your notice and immediately jumping into something completely different but made more sense, at least to me.

The chapter on juggling parenting and a working life was the only part of the book I didn’t go for and that’s because I’m not a parent and don’t plan to be.

Otherwise, this book gave me a lot to think about, as I hoped it would, and is full of great ideas, advice and inspiring stories to help anyone looking to get an idea of what they really want to do with their working life and help them realise it. I didn’t come away from this knowing exactly what I want to do but I feel like it has pointed me in the right direction with an idea for figuring it out, and that’s very positive.

[بَرسا · Rating 5 out of 5]

داستایوفسکی میگه:«دردناک ترین مجازات برای انسان آن است که به یک عمر کار بی فایده و بی معنا محکوم شود.».
این کتاب در واقع هم نقش پیشگیری رو داره و هم نقش درمان.پیشگیری برای کسایی مثل من که تازه کنکور دادن و میخوان راهشونو پیدا کنن و درمان برای کسایی که به نظر خودشون راه رو اشتباه رفتن و شجاعت برداشتن اولین قدم توی راه درست رو ندارن.
قبل از این که کنکور بدم احساس میکردم که زندگی خیلی آدما مثل افسانه سیزیف میمونه که برای شکنجه هر روز مجبور هستن که یک سنگ رو تا نوک قله بالا ببرن و این همه زحمت بکشن تا دوباره برگردن پایین کوه و همون سنگو بالا ببرن.این کتاب دقیقا برای شکست “چرخه سیزیف”نوشته شده.
کتاب شاخصه های یک شغل ایده آل رو برای هر فرد جدا میکنه و مشخصه های اصلی یک شغل خوب رو داشتن معنا-شادی-آزادی میدونه.
در ادامه کتاب با مثال های جالبی از افراد مختلف آشنا میشیم که انتخاب های غیرمعمول و غیر قابل تصوری دارن اما همین انتخاب ها و همین جنون های زیبا باعث شده که زندگی هاشون از ۹۹٪ مردم زیباتر و با معنا تر باشه.
در آخر هم به قول خود نویسنده امیدوارم وقتی کسی از شما سوال کرخ کننده ی «چه کار میکنی؟» رو میپرسه بتونید پاسخ قدرتمندی رو بدید که ثابت کنه که عمرتون رو دارید صرف فعالیت های ارزشمندی میکنید. ؛)

[صان · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب خوبی بود. توی بازه‌ی کنونی، بهش نیاز داشتم.

فصل اول میاد داستان آدمایی که تغییر شغل‌های بزرگ داشتن رو می‌گه که بگه مبحث طبیعی‌ای هست این قضیه. بعدش میاد فاکتورهای شغلی که می‌تونه رضایت‌بخش باشه رو می‌شمره و تحلیل‌شون می‌کند. بعد میاد موانع و ریسک‌ها و ترس‌ها و نحوه‌ی مقابله باهاشون رو می‌گه. بعد از آزادی شغلی حرف می‌زنه و چیزهای مفیدِ دیگر.
‌
می‌تونه آدم رو از سردرگمی در بیاره و جرقه‌هایی باشه برای فکر کردنِ بیشتر و خلاقیت در انتخاب شغل.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lowdown:

We all hate our jobs. Well, I hated my job, which is exactly why this book ended up in my handbag. That, and my adoration for The School of Life and anything connected to Alain De Botton. In How to Find Fulfilling Work, Roman Krznaric gives compact advice on how we can use our passions and talents to create a meaningful career and live a simpler existence.

Supporting his advice with statistical data and an historical perspective on the evolution of work, Krznaric asserts that nothing is beyond our reach so long as we consider hybrid careers and direct our potential toward ‘wide achievement’: excelling in multiple areas rather than swallowing the popular notion of specialisation.

The book itself is neatly set into five sections in an attempt to keep a daunting topic easy and forthright; instead of quoting journal articles, examples are made of Hollywood movies and notorious personalities.

What I liked:

I felt less alone in my discontent. The use of case studies helped disprove the idea that something is wrong if we don’t find our work fulfilling. Dissatisfaction at work is widespread and does not discriminate amongst industries or personal temperament.

Exercises in brainstorming empower the reader to think outside the box and break a potentially scary change into manageable baby steps, often by recruiting others to provide suggestions and/or an element of mentorship.

What I didn’t like:

Although the content was reassuring, I felt I was already one step ahead of Krznaric’s ideas. This is possibly just my personal impression due to months of career-change rumination; those just beginning to feel restless may be enlightened by the suggestions on offer.

Also, the exercise that suggested sending a mock personal ad to ten people was beyond my reach. Yes, I could have scraped together some friends and family to throw ideas at me, but I couldn’t get past the fear that they’d think I was circulating chain mail. Again, possibly just me.

Verdict:

For those who’ve ever wondered if there was more to life, this pocket-sized manual will prove that there is. Encouraging and written with kindness, How to Find Fulfilling Work is for anyone wanting to get a sense of value and meaning out of their working life. As John Burroughs said, ‘Leap, and the net will appear’.

4/5 Stars



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[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you have a niggling feeling that you could be doing something amazing with your life, but you're not quite sure what that is? Do you want to change careers, but get confused by all the options?

I've asked these questions many times, and was extremely happy to find a book about careers that was neither dry nor off with the fairies. 'How to find fulfilling work' is a self-help book without the fluff, positive affirmations, and uncovering your childhood trauma. This is self-help for thinking people.

'How to Find Fulfilling Work' draws on ideas from psychology, history, sociology, philosophy, and a variety of interviews and autobiographies. It turns out that fulfilling work is something that people have been researching for many decades now. It is great to know that this is a problem of society, and not just you.

Roman Krznaric's great book on how to find fulfilling work examines the contemporary world of work and career confusion. I'm one of many people searching for answers about what to do with my life. We've spent endless hours searching online for career advice. We've taken all sorts of personality tests and skills tests, to see what career we're most suited for. And we've also come up with lots of answers that we're not so happy with. Many websites and books sound promising, but they are always missing something somewhere. 'How to Find Fulfilling Work' is by far the best book I've read on finding a career that you enjoy. I love it because it's practical, shares real stories and science, and it just makes a whole lot of sense to me.

For example, I was so relieved to read that we are confused by career choices these days simply because psychologically there are too many choices for our brains to deal with.

The book is not filled with a bunch of time consuming exercises. Rather, Krznaric asks a few simple questions along the way, with a few tasks that help you uncover you career motivations, like whether you prioritise success, respect, passion, talent, money or making a difference in your career decisions. He then advocates taking action to discover the work you find fulfilling through actually trying out different jobs. Rather than sitting at home reflecting on what you might want to do, follow someone around for a few days who does a job you think you might like, or interview people about their careers and what they enjoy about them.

Taking action is one of the most valuable messages from this book. I've spent far too long thinking about what I could be doing, or trying to come up with how I can create careers from my passions. But in the end I'll never really know what I like until I try things out.

The practicalities of doing fulfilling work are also explored in this book. I love the story of the Pulitzer prize winning poet, Wallace Stevens, who continued working at an insurance agency despite being offered a faculty position at Harvard. It is just one example of different ways we can view our working life. It made me think that perhaps I don't need to find the perfect career - I just need to find one that is good enough, and allows me to pursue other interests in my free time.

Here are some of the things that went through my head while I read this book: "That is so true! Why hasn't anyone said this before? Finally, I know the history of careers! I'm reading this too quickly, I'd better slow down or I won't remember it all!".

This is the thinking person's guide to changing careers or finding fulfilling work. Reading this book will help you find your place in the history of work, understand what academics have uncovered in their research, and provide an action-orientated path to feeling fulfilled in your career.

Now I just have to start doing...

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't want to join the rat race.
Not be enslaved by machines, bureaucracies, boredom, ugliness.
I dont want to be a moron, robert, commuter.
I don't want to become a fragment of a person.
I want to do my own thing.
I want to live relatively simply
I want to deal with people, not masks.
People matter. Nature matters. Beauty matters. Wholeness matters.
I want to be able to care.

[Anita Ashland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic of how to find fulfilling work is such a first world problem that I was prepared for this to be a book worthy of dissing. Additionally, because none of the stories and advice in the first half of address people who have the responsibility of providing for children, and therefore don't have the luxury of taking a "radical sabbatical" and so forth, I was ready to toss it aside.

But then I came to the three exercises on pages 88-93. The first exercise asks you to spend 10 minutes making a map of sorts of all the jobs you've held. I went ahead and listed everything, from my part-time jobs in high school and college, the temp jobs in between my "real" jobs, and also my self-employment. It's the first time I've studied my work history in this way, rather than as something simply to put on a resume, and it was eye-opening. Another exercise asks you to list five jobs you might want to try if you have a year off to work any job you wanted. It was interesting to both the patterns and wild disparities. The third exercise is to write a half page personal advertisement about yourself wherein you describe your interests and motivations (but don't mention specific jobs) and then show it to 10 people you know in different walks of life and ask them to read it and recommend 2-3 different careers for you. I haven't done that exercise yet but can see how it could be helpful.

I liked the story of the poet Wallace Stevens. His day job was in insurance and he even declined a professor job at Harvard after he became famous. The Marie Curie story was interesting too.

Yep: "without work, all life goes rotten, but when work is soulless, life stifles and dies." - Albert Camus.

"Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation. - Aristotle. That sounds good but how to achieve it? This book will at least spark a few ideas about vocation and career.

[Nima · Rating 5 out of 5]

سنیتسنذسنسژدتسینسسذنسذییتاس
عجب کتابی
اگه میخواید دیدتون کاملا نسبت به شغل تغییر کنه این کتابو بخوانید اگه نمیخواید هم این کتاب رو بخونید.
کلا که همه باید این کتاب رو بخونن.
این کتاب مشخصه‌های کار رضایت بخش رو به ما یاد میده و دید رو باز می‌کنه و کمکمون میکنه بفهمیم دقیقا وقتی از کار حرف میزنیم دنبال چه چیزی هستیم.
به من که خیلی سردرگم بودم که کمک بزرگی کرد.

[Sleepless Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book but it just isn't the book for me. The next month is going to be one of the busiest I've ever experienced (might even beat May 2016, let's see) but review to come, one day! For now:

Israeli-Palestinian Seminar Adventures:
- The post-seminar depression is very real.

- It's so beautifully normal. We're just friends, close friends who haven't seen each other for months. Israelis and Palestinians beat each other up in the streets last month and yet, we can still simply be friends, just like that. Out of the bomb shelters and into the dialogue room.

- Palestinians are remarkably creative when it comes to making fun of Abu Mazen. Israelis gotta learn, we don't get to this level of salty.

- It should come as a surprise to no one that many dialogue participants are former theater kids. Like oops, turns out being a verbal team player who likes pretending to be other people leads to openness and a willingness to debate emotional topics.

- Me, an Israeli, casually going, "So basically, I disagreed with everything you said," meanwhile Palestinians are here like, "First of all, I appreciated your opinion and your thoughts and before I comment I have to thank you so much for sharing..." and ack, Palestinian culture is so polite and civil, how does this even work, what is this

- And I'm incredibly frustrated. We are slamming our heads into walls, we are the centrists of our societies and even we disagree, we lack a shared language, everything is a chicken and egg situation, a reaction. I know change happens slowly but I am terrified there will never be change.

- Palestinians collectively agreed that the Hamas are now stronger than they were before. Unsurprisingly. I wish I knew what my government was thinking.

- I met people who I only knew through the Zoom calls during the war. And it was amazing to look at them, to hug the people who were there for me in one of the hardest moments of my life. I didn't need to say anything- they knew.

- We went on a tour of Jerusalem. I know this city well and yet, seeing it through the eyes of a Palestinian-Israeli group was different. I've never spoken Hebrew in Damascus Gate or the Muslim Quarter before. We felt protected. There's the knowledge that together, we can defend each other from any extremist, Palestinian or Israeli. We are safe.

- I sometimes feel like I carry the entire LGBT+ community on my back, I am obligated to represent, to show that the "gays" are okay, hoping that maybe, just maybe, I can help queer Palestinians in some way, I can destroy taboos and show that being queer isn't shameful.

- "People forget this but Jerusalem is a city. It's not just a symbol, it's a city, a struggling city."

- We kept telling each other we love each other. Constantly and casually, in between arguing and drinking on the roof. So many hugs, so much casual intimacy, I hadn't realized how hungry I was for this.

- I heard Christian antisemitism from a Palestinian for the first time and it simply left me speechless. I didn't call her out on it because I didn't expect it. Usually Palestinians who do dialogue are so good at not being antisemitic, what do you mean you think about Jesus' death when you see religious Jews.

- When I said that justice is a key factor in any peace, Palestinians listened to me more. When a Palestinian recognized Jewish self determination in the land, I took them more seriously. It's that easy.

- Me on the first day: idk man, yogurt, rice and tofu is a little bit of a weird combination
me now, after this being our lunch and dinner for several days: wow, i can see the light

- Palestinians and (Jewish) Israelis both like making jokes about how everyone hates them. Also, the more I learn about how Arab countries treat Palestinians, the more I sympathize with Palestinians like seriously, how could these countries treat them so badly

- He told me he admires my curiosity and my ability to earnestly listen to everyone and wow, I feel like I've lost myself in the last year, that my social skills took a hit, that I've become more critical and close-minded than I used to be but remembering that this is who I want to be felt like breathing again.

- We combine Hebrew and Arabic in the most natural of ways.

- I love how proud Jerusalemers are. Heck yes, our pride is so well-placed and deserved, Ramallah and Tel Aviv can kindly show themselves the door. And yes, making fun of non-Jerusalemers is an immediate way to connect with every Jerusalemer.

- I spoke about how I experienced the war for quite a while before she stopped me and said, "I need to ask, are you Jewish or Arab?" and it should not surprise me that everything I said could have easily been said by a Palestinian.

- We saw a sticker of the Religious Zionism party, covering the Arabic part of a street sign in the Muslim Quarter. And a friend and I went back and removed it. As we did so, a Jewish dude walked past us and said, "there's no point in doing that, Arabs don't know who they are". And it's true. Palestinians didn't know who Lehava are. They don't know who Religious Zionism are. But I do and Israeli extremism hurts me personally. I do not want to live in a racist society. I refuse to.

- We talked about how it feels when foreigners assume we've lost our basic humanity. When a South American friend told me "if only you were more rational", when Europeans assume that the problem is racism, when they suggest we fight only because we don't know each other, when Palestinians get told that they're inherently violent, always terrorists. Don't assume we're less intelligent, compassionate, kind or reasonable than you.

- Me: "I spent the war watching the news and going, "oy"."
Her: "that's very Jewish"

- A Palestinian and I were trying to hang posters on a bamboo fence despite much wind. And as we struggled to cut tape fast enough against the wind, he said, "this struggle is what the conflict feels like" and truly, sometimes, I do feel like we are tiny pieces of tape, trying to fix impossible circumstances, fighting against gravity. It took a few tries but you better believe we got those posters up together, making dumb jokes all the way.

- I didn't think the Crusades were a sensitive topic but as we stared at the hills of Jerusalem and our tour guide described how Muslims, Jews and Christians were slaughtered by the Crusaders, it suddenly felt personal and contemporary.

- That moment when a Palestinian said, "we blame Israel but our dysfunctional leadership is at least half of the problem, look at how successful Israel is compared to us, look at their democracy and healthcare and tech scene" and the energy in the room shifted as all the other Palestinians objected with so much passion.

- "Words can be weapons and our whatsapp group is not the place for dialogue". And apparently, compared to other Israeli-Palestinian dialogue groups, we did a good job during the war. We didn't fall apart, we cried together, as bombs rained on Khan Younis and Nir Oz, we reached out to each other, even if just to fight, just to point fingers, just to share photos of destruction.

[Hamêd · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب به معنای واقعی کلمه یک کتاب خودیاری محسوب می شود. هدف اصلی آن این است که اجزاء اصلی یک شغل رضایت بخش را به خواننده معرفی کند و همچنین موانعی که در برابر رسیدن به آن وجود دارد، بشناساند. نویسنده اطلاعات مختلف را از رشته های مختلف همچون تاریخ، جامعه شناسی و روانشناسی گرد می آورد تا یک افق دید واقع بينانه برای خواننده ترسیم کند. همچنین تمرینات مختلفی را برای یافتن شغل دلخواه پیشنهاد می کند. وی عناصر یک شغل رضایت بخش را معنا، شادی و آزادی می داند و به توضیح هر یک می پردازد. یک شغل رضایت بخش شغلی ست که برايمان اهمیت زیادی دارد و ما را در وضعیت سیلان (جریان) قرار دهد به گونه ای که آن قدر غرق اش می شویم که گذر زمان را حس نمی کنیم. نویسنده در پایان نتیجه می گیرد که ما باید خود رسالت شخصی مان را بیافرینیم و برای این کار می بایست خطر کنیم و حاضر باشیم آن «جهش ایمان» را که کیرکگور از آن سخن می گوید، از خود نشان دهیم.

[Sepideh · Rating 3 out of 5]

"هنر، حذف غیرِضروری هاست."
ازین دست کتابهاست باید چند باری خونده بشه تا جانِ کلام، خوب در ذهن آدم بشینه. امیدوارم بتونم استفاده کنم از نکات کتاب و توی زندکی خودم بکار بگیرم.
خوندن کتاب برای کسانیکه از شغل فعلی شون راضی نیستن و مُدام با خودشون کلنجار میرن که پس چی شد! همینه دیگه تهِ زندگی! خالی از لطف نیست.

[Seval · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bir gün fark ettim ki eğer bir insan başka birini tamamen ezip mahvetmek, ona en berbat cezayı, en korkunç katilin karşısında titreyeceği, peşinen geri çekileceği cezayı vermek istiyorsa, tek yapacağı, onu işe yaramayan, manadan bütünüyle yoksun bir işte çalıştırmaktır." - Fyodor Dostoyevski

The School of Life dizisinden çıktığı ve Alain de Botton dizi editörü olduğu için dikkatimi çekmişti. Hem çalışmanın kısa tarihçesi hakkında bilgiler içeren, hem iş tatmininin boyutlarını örneklerle ve uygulamalarla ele alan, yaklaşımını çok beğendiğim bir kitap oldu. Bence ya uygulamaları yaparak yavaş yavaş okunmalı ya da bir kez okuyup sonra ikinci turda uygulamalara gerçekten vakit ayırmak üzere yeniden dönülmeli.

[Viènna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring and thought provoking, but I wouldn't have it any other way coming from 'the School of Life'. I enjoyed the doing and thinking about the various excercises and questions posed through-out the book. In a way it is an extension of ideas already floating around in my head. Having figured out that I'm not driven by money or status, I'm experimenting with branching out and have had my first conversational research to find work and activities more closely linked with my passions and/or that have some sense of meaning. This may not be for everyone, we can't all be yoga teacher or career coaches, but even thinking differently about your paid work, and seeing if you can make some small changes there, may make it less of a obligation/struggle. Can recommend this little book of thoughts, especially if you, like me, wish to and like putting ideas into action.

[Astrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in one day. Insightful and inspirational.

[Josh Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read! Roman Krznaric provides actionable steps to finding fulfilling work and explores the stories of famous (and not so famous) men and women who created and nurtured their vocations or "dream jobs". It doesn't matter if you're a twenty something just starting out in their career or an established workplace professional - I think anyone would benefit from the knowledge within this book.

[Thurston Hunger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone had recommended this author and this was the only book I could quickly find by him, which is a bad match for me. I'm too old and weirdly too well compensated to seriously consider jumping trains at this point

He addresses this on pp57 and then goes on a money can't buy you happiness arc. Which, yeah of course I agree in parts, but as my 11-year old quoted the other day while walking our dog and chatting, "Money can't buy me happiness. A puppy makes me happy. I need money to buy a puppy."

I feel my son's point is well-taken as well, even though we are NOT getting a second dog. I honestly don't know how many people are really happy in their vocation, I can think of one person, but for many a job inherently will have tasks that have to be done, and aspects of drudgery and well, expectations. For a more pure happiness, I think find hobbies that can fit financially and time-wise into your non-work like. No great wisdom there I know...

And Krznaric offers up the idea of a job that has flow, freedom and probably another "F-word" Fulfillment? Funds? Farfenuggen? Flow is actually pretty important and helps with the hobby aspect I think. It helps to be able to have those "this is not who I am moments" as in I am not a QA tester I am a poet/bridge players, and your hobby is your secret you. (It even helps to say I am not (just) a parent, I am a ....)

So I'm lucky to have some flow with my day job. And I've already taken three of his "radical sabbaticals" and enjoyed them, but they definitely do cost you. I wish I had maybe found this book 20 years ago whenever I went to a "career counselor" who did have me take something like the Briggs-Myer dealy and I ended up never completing my sessions with that person.

I do admire the notion that Kzrnaric pushes to get people out and interacting and active, making lists, etc. Hey good luck to you, seriously.

But when I read some of the five examples that the author tosses around
"food photographer, member of parliament, tai chi instructor, social entrepeneur running a youth project and wide-acheiveing Renaissance generalist" That was one proposed set, followed by a "real" example of
massage therapist, sculptor, cellist, screen play writer and owner of her own bar on a tiny old-fashioned Canarian island."

These suggested options trigger a kind of response in me that one reserves for people talking about their past lives.

Looking around Silicon Valley circa 2014, I sure see a lot of cubicles, and maybe there are some secret sculpting cellists in them (I truly hope so) but they're rosining their bow with less party favor jobs.

And more power to them, bring creativity to your tech writer days and spend your nights covered in rosin and clay. (In fact just do that and maybe skip reading this book).

I may read something else by the writer but not sure if the School of Life is too cool for me.

[Cláudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Só lendo esse livro, você não vai encontrar o trabalho da sua vida.
Tenho certeza.

Mas é um livro inspirador, escrito por um cara que, como todos nós, já teve um bom número de dúvidas sobre seus caminhos profissionais. Felizmente, pra ele, as coisas deram certo - tenho certeza que esse livro é um best seller. Mas ele também fala sobre como tomar escolhas difíceis, que envolvem ganhar menos dinheiro e ter mais realização, por exemplo, e também o que priorizar na busca pelo seu emprego dos sonhos.

Esse livro foi emprestado por uma amiga que estava encantada por ele, e eu a entendo muito. Acho que pode ser de grande ajuda (ou simplesmente piorar tudo, o que não necessariamente ruim) para quem já está de olho em outros vôos, questionando o caminho trilhado até agora. Não salva vidas, não, mas dá uma coçadinha onde já está formigando.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly a prescription or a blue print, but it helps to explain why we’re always looking for one and not likely to find one. More of a philosophical approach to thinking about work and job satisfaction. He argues we need meaning, flow and freedom in our work lives. And that while meaningful work is possible, it’s also possible to find meaning and fulfillment outside of work. I don’t know how helpful all of this manages to be in terms of figuring out where you want to be, but there was something comforting and well-written enough about it to quell some anxiety, which is valuable in and of itself.

[Mohammad Ghaffari · Rating 3 out of 5]

در حقیقت سه و نیم البته. بحث اصلی کتاب همون‌طور که از اسمش پیداست، درباره‌ی شغله؛ شغل رضایت‌بخش. نویسنده سعی می‌کنه با مثال آوردن از زندگی بقیه و کمی هم ارجاع به مسائل روانشناختی و آماری، راه و چاه خودش برای پیدا کردن شغل رضایت‌بخش رو مطرح کنه. دو بخش مهم کتاب به نظر من یکی مطرح کردن ویژگی‌های شغل رضایت‌بخش بود (شخصا به این ویژگی‌ها فکر نکرده‌بودم تا حالا) و دیگری چند راهکاری که برای جدا شدن از شغل فعلی و رفتن به سمت شغل رضایت‌بخش مطرح می‌کرد. یک‌بار خوندش خالی از لطف نیست، مخصوصا برای دانشجویان مقطع لیسانس. ترجمه هم به غیر از یکی دو لغزش سهوی بسیار خوب بود.

[Sophie Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what I needed at this stage of my life. Roman gives you the tools to work things out for yourself without being overbearing. The use of philosophy etc to explore the subject matter is fascinating and means the book is educational on a number of levels.
The breakdown of fulfilling work into the categories of flow, meaning and freedom was eye opening but also touched on things I already knew yet hadn’t been brought into such sharp focus for me. I think this is the most important book I’ve read this year in terms of my personal development. Thank you Roman.

[Michael Nazari]

I recommend this to anyone who is unsure of choosing a career or unfulfilled at their current job. Krznaric really captures the modern challenges of vocation and how to go about exploring different jobs. As someone who feels as though I'm not the one-career-forever type, it's relieving to hear about others who changed careers or have multiple ones. For those of us who have a hefty handful of interests, this book is a wonderful tool.

[Vahid 22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

خوندن اين كتاب به كسانى كه در جستجوى شغل هستند ، كسانى كه شاغلند و از شغلشون راضى نيستند و حتى كسانى كه شاغلند و از شغلشون راضى هستند توصيه ميشه ! شما در اين كتاب با تحقيقات علمى و تجربيات انسانهاى مختلف در زمينه هاى متفاوت شغلى و زندگى مواجه ميشيد و بيطرفانه نگرى و تحليل هاى چند وجهى كتاب به شما قدرت درك و تعمق در موضوع و در نهايت خودياريگرى رو اعطا ميكنه . اكيدا توصيه ميشه

[Shaghayegh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"هنر، حذف غیرضروری هاست"

هنوز دارم کتاب رو مزه مزه می کنم
خوشمزه بود

[Ville Verkkapuro · Rating 3 out of 5]

These book by School of Life are very clear and thoroughly researched, leaving no rock unturned and providing extremely satisfying solutions to complex questions. Yet still they are what they are, maybe lacking a certain kind of soul that you find from other places, but I'd say I'll still give this and other ones too thumbs up.
About work: what a giant issue it is, impossible to unfold fully ever, something that we absolutely need to do most of our lives and something that is both a privilege and a burden, demeaning us from our self-worth and giving it to us. We need to do it for ourselves and for others and... I'm just saying, maybe basic income would solve a lot of these issues. To me at least it's the never-ending loop that makes it so draining; it never stops, not even for a while, you are forever enslaved and blinded by its sheer presence.
I'm just asking: would you do what you do for living if you wouldn't get paid for it?

[Alexander Kustov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generic advice

[Rob Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the book: If you feel trapped in your job or long for more fulfilling work, you’re not alone. How to Find Fulfilling Work explores the core components of what makes work meaningful and full of purpose, detailing exactly which steps you need to take to find work that brings out the best in you and keeps you truly happy.

About the author: The Observer named author Roman Krznaric one of Britain’s leading popular philosophers. He teaches at The School of Life, of which he’s a founding member, and is a counselor to organizations such as Oxfam and the United Nations. His other works include Empathy and The Wonder Box.

My highlights:
We’re dissatisfied when our expectations about work aren’t met. The dissatisfaction we feel at work often stems from the fact that our expectations are higher than ever before.
Either lower your expectations (supporters of this approach say that work has always been tedious and never a joy, and that therefore we should lower our expectations and look for fulfillment outside of work) or you can join those who think finding fulfilling work is possible, if perhaps challenging.The latter approach encourages you to pursue your dreams, instead of regretting that you never tried to free yourself from the shackles of your unfulfilling job.
In today’s world, there is an overwhelming number of job choices. we’re haunted by the possibility that our choice was the wrong one.
We’re haunted by the possibility that our choice was the wrong one.
We’re haunted by the possibility that our choice was the wrong one.
It's not easy to leave the career path we're already on – but if it isn’t fulfilling, make a change! we feel bound by our educational past.
If you want to make a career change, you have to change your mindset and overcome this psychological hurdle. Think of it as a decision between two types of regret: you’ll either regret that you abandoned the career you invested so much time and energy in, or you’ll regret that you never had the guts to quit and set out in pursuit of a more fulfilling future.Perhaps this will help you choose: psychological research has shown that the regret of not taking action on things that are really important to you is one of the most corrosive emotions you can experience.
Money and status aren't as fulfilling as we think. there is no clear relationship between happiness and monetary wealth. While evidence shows that money contributes to your well-being up to a certain point – the meeting of your basic needs – it gives but little satisfaction once you earn beyond this point. This is due to a psychological mechanism called the “hedonic treadmill”
Making a difference gives you a sense of meaning, though it’s not easy to combine with enterprise. There are different core elements that make up fulfilling work. One of these elements is the sense that your work has meaning. That is, your work imparts a feeling of contributing to the world in a positive way.
Following your passions and finding your flow experiences will make you happy. to find out what you’re passionate about, set aside some time to mull over what gives you a flow experience.Flow is a state of total focus and concentration where you're so absorbed in your activity that you forget about everything else. Engaging in what you love is usually accompanied by this feeling.
The flow experience is crucial to happiness in life and work because it gives us a gratifying sense of being able to fully access our potential.
Observe yourself and your flow experiences by keeping a flow diary.
If you want fulfilling work, you should seek freedom. A core element proven to be part of job satisfaction is to have a “span of autonomy,” that is, some time where you're at liberty to make your own decisions. The more freedom you experience, the happier you’ll be.
Find freedom outside the office by working less.
To find fulfilling work, you should abandon meticulous planning and test it out. A far more effective approach is adopting the mantra “act first, and reflect later” – meaning it’s better to try out several jobs than to fritter away the hours in search of the perfect position in print or online. Recent research has shown that substantial change is best seen by “experiential learning.”
A less radical approach is the “temporary assignment.”
Take your time: vocation can't be found overnight – it slowly grows within you. vocation is something that gives purpose to your work in its entirety. It’s a broader goal that you are pursuing, the thing that gets you out of bed every day.
The perfect vocation; instead, it germinates within you, slowly growing as your sustained work nurtures it.
It really does pay, then, not to demand that your vocation be revealed to you immediately. Instead, allow it to form through your experience.
Final summary good pay and social status are no longer good enough. We want our work to be purposeful, meaningful and rich with freedom and flow. In order to find exactly that, we must abort meticulous planning, try things out, take some risks and learn from our experiences.

[Anna Lluna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cheap self help and half interesting anecdotes of which I will remember nothing the next time I go for a job interview. Do I like this job? Ñeh. Do I need it? Hell yeah.

[Inês · Rating 3 out of 5]

«Não se trata de encontrar o emprego de sonho que preenche todos os nossos requisitos - este é um ideal mitológico que é aconselhável abandonar.»

Talvez não existam trabalhos perfeitos, mas este livro explora conceitos interessantes como: o "paradoxo da escolha" - o que fazer num mundo cheio de possibilidades? -, a ciência falível dos testes de personalidade, as cinco dimensões que podem dar um sentido ao trabalho («ganhar dinheiro, alcançar determinado estatuto, fazer a diferença, seguir os nossos interesses e utilizar o nosso talento»), a "esteira hedónica" (que não é mais do que o conceito que explica que, à medida que temos mais, as nossas expectativas aumentam e passamos a querer ter mais ainda).
Fala sobre a pressão social e sobre a angústia que sentimos e que nos limita quando pensamos que, com uma mudança de rumo, vamos desperdiçar os anos que investimos na nossa formação. Formação essa que escolhemos aos 17 anos (ou antes até), quando éramos uma pessoa totalmente diferente da que somos agora. E, já que falamos em crescimento, convém lembrar que o facto de crescermos também faz com que o nosso trabalho perfeito de hoje não seja o mesmo de amanhã. Lidemos com isso.
Afinal, como mudar? Fazendo-o gradualmente ou drasticamente? O que é isso de «licenças sabáticas radicais, projetos de reorientação ou pesquisa conversacional»?

É um livro interessante, com algumas repetições aqui e ali a roçar a autoajuda (passemos à frente os pedidos de reflexão e elaboração de mapas), de leitura fácil, mas com conceitos teóricos que podemos absorver e relembrar em certos momentos da nossa vida.

«A crença que o trabalho é virtuoso causa bastante prejuízo.»
Bertrand Russel

[Nick Argiriou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Βιβλίο-έκπληξη, μια και η καλύτερη μου προσδοκία ήταν να διαβάσω απλά ένα καλό "how-to-book".
Η βασική ιδέα του βιβλίου είναι: καλό είναι να συντονιστούμε με την σημερινή πραγματικότητα των διαρκών αλλαγών και να στήσουμε έτσι την ζωή μας, ώστε να αλλάξουμε μερικά επαγγέλματα, ώσπου να βρούμε αυτό που μας εκφράζει.
Ωραία ως εδώ. Περίμενα τυποποιημένες συμβουλές του τύπου "πήγαινε σπούδασε, μάζεψε λεφτά, πως μπόρεσες να κάνεις αυτή τη μ*, δες λίγο τον εαυτό σου, ψάξου μεγάλε κλπ"- ΟΧΙ.
Πήρα το βιβλίο αυτό έχοντας στο μυαλό μου τον επαγγελματικό προσανατολισμό της κόρης μου, όμως έδωσε σε μένα προσωπικά πολύ περισσότερα από αυτά που περίμενα: μια καινούρια αντίληψη (ε αυτό κάνουν τα βιβλία άλλωστε).
Το βιβλίο δείχνει μια ολόκληρη στάση ζωής που ακολούθησαν άτομα που άλλαξαν επαγγέλματα. Βρήκα σχετικά εύκολη και εξιλεωτική, ως και χρήσιμη και υποχρεωτική την διαδικαστία αλλαγής επαγγελμάτων.
Στην Ελλάδα κάτι τέτοιο θεωρείται αδιανόητο, ως καταδικαστέο ("δεν τα έβγαζε πέρα με τίποτα"), όμως έτσι παραλείπουμε να δώσουμε στον εαυτό μας την ευκαιρία να ζήσει.
Το βιβλίο διανθίζεται από πολλά παραδείγματα, ιστορίες, λογοτεχνικές και επιστημονικές αναφορές στο θέμα με συγκλονιστικό τελείωμα την φράση στην ταινία "Ζορμπάς": "Ο άνθρωπος χρειάζεται λίγη τρέλα, αλλιώς δεν τολμά ποτέ του να κόψει το σκοινί και να απελευθερωθεί".
Η μετάφραση έχει κάτι λίγα θεματάκια ως προς την μεταφορά των όρων πχ. χρησιμοποιείται ο μεταφρασμένος όρος "διαλογική έρευνα": Εννοεί κάντε "έρευνα με διάλογο". Φυσικά μέχρι να το εξηγήσει σκεφτόμουνα τώρα κάνει σπαγγάτο και κάτι περίεργες στάσεις γιόγκα και του έρχεται η επιφοίτηση του αγίου πνέυματος. Πέστα ελληνικά βρε άνθρωπε.
Συστήνεται ανεπιφύλακτά για το θέμα, για γονείς και για μαθητές και για τον καθένα.

[Mark Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I try to avoid self help books, finding them patronising, poorly written and more often than not stating the bleedin' obvious as a pretext for selling something. How to Find Fulfilling Work is none of those things and is refreshingly free of the pseudo-spiritual bollocks typical of this genre. It also hits a sweet spot between being grounded in the real world of mortgages, families and responsibilities but also sufficiently provocative to spark some meaningful soul searching about one’s previous and future career choices. It won’t work for everybody, and the author pretty much acknowledges this is a book aimed squarely at the educated professional experiencing a mid-career wobble/existential crisis market. If you fall into that demographic and frequently lie awake at night wondering how you got there, then I’d suggest the couple of hours it takes to read this slim book would be well spent. At worst, you’ll go into that next Monday morning team meeting in the comforting knowledge that you are almost certainly not the only ball of self-loathing, anxious, mis-directed energy sat around the table. At best, it might prompt some practical new ideas of what you can do about it.