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A Bit of the World's Work: The Adventure of Charlotte Mason
Charlotte Mason’s principle of "personhood" not only makes each of us unique but connects us with the world and those around us. This is a book of exploration, drawing on the volume Ourselves along with Mason's other writings. It is written to help us all find our "bit of work in the world."
138 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed Anne’s thoughts and the evidence of what a wide feast she is drawing from.
August 2, 2024
Brilliant. White synthesizes so many ideas and so many books into a cohesive argument that we can and are made for work and how to accomplish it
Cup 9 is one of the most beautiful CM chapters I've read in a long time.
As a homeschooler with one final year of homeschooling considering what I want to be when my kids grow up, this hit the spot - what bit of the world's work do I have before me?
Brilliant.
Cup 9 is one of the most beautiful CM chapters I've read in a long time.
As a homeschooler with one final year of homeschooling considering what I want to be when my kids grow up, this hit the spot - what bit of the world's work do I have before me?
Brilliant.
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August 18, 20252025: rereading my own book because sometimes I need to hear what that "other person" wrote, even if it was me.
October 13, 2024
I've been reading through this book with a friend. I love how Anne pulled out so many Charlotte Mason ideas and made me think about them in a new way. It's a wonderful book, a little quirky in all the right ways. Often, books that give me so much to think about aren't this much fun to read. So enjoyable!
June 29, 2024
Gosh I just loved this book. It’s a great way to visit the principles of Charlotte Mason, but it’s also for everyone who wants a reminder of what matters in life with a nice helping of humor.
February 26, 2024
I love anything Anne writes. It’s always a breath of fresh air—unassuming, full of humor, while also leaving you with a good deal to chew on.
Some quotes from my commonplace:
We owe it to ourselves to become people who are able to produce honest work in a given time, but, more than that, who understand “ought” and “why,” who are becoming those who can do our bit of the world’s work. We gain power over our apt-to-run-off inclinations. And if we don’t grow in integrity, we’re cheating ourselves, putting cheese into our own honey jars.
Like imagination, like reason, Courage does not have to be pinned on our chests or poured into us, but rather it needs to be fed, often incidentally, but always generously.
It means that you need to learn as much as you can about the real stuff of creation, even if, and especially if, you’re a city dweller. Because you can be an expert in some online game world, but know very little about your own.
You can be useful simply because you have paid attention.
You can wire up your life, get quite a lot of impressive blinking and buzzing out of it, even impress people with your clever talk, but still miss the “act of will” that allows someone to do more than “just to get on.”
Lady Mary herself goes through dark times when she seems consumed by her own griefs; but it is when she accepts the responsibility of estate manager that she is able to look away from those things and succeed at tasks she never thought she would do. Like Mary, we can learn to “shine in use.”
When I realized my mistake, I thought that it wasn’t far off the mark, that my prayers probably do as much banging into as barging into, but God accepts both versions of what we’re asking for (to finish the verse) is His mercy and grace.
Some quotes from my commonplace:
We owe it to ourselves to become people who are able to produce honest work in a given time, but, more than that, who understand “ought” and “why,” who are becoming those who can do our bit of the world’s work. We gain power over our apt-to-run-off inclinations. And if we don’t grow in integrity, we’re cheating ourselves, putting cheese into our own honey jars.
Like imagination, like reason, Courage does not have to be pinned on our chests or poured into us, but rather it needs to be fed, often incidentally, but always generously.
It means that you need to learn as much as you can about the real stuff of creation, even if, and especially if, you’re a city dweller. Because you can be an expert in some online game world, but know very little about your own.
You can be useful simply because you have paid attention.
You can wire up your life, get quite a lot of impressive blinking and buzzing out of it, even impress people with your clever talk, but still miss the “act of will” that allows someone to do more than “just to get on.”
Lady Mary herself goes through dark times when she seems consumed by her own griefs; but it is when she accepts the responsibility of estate manager that she is able to look away from those things and succeed at tasks she never thought she would do. Like Mary, we can learn to “shine in use.”
When I realized my mistake, I thought that it wasn’t far off the mark, that my prayers probably do as much banging into as barging into, but God accepts both versions of what we’re asking for (to finish the verse) is His mercy and grace.
February 24, 2024
I enjoyed Anne's thoughts and illustrations from history, books, and life. A good companion/follow-up read to Cindy Rollins' Beyond Mere Motherhood.
October 15, 2024
Read with a friend and discussed-really enjoyed this one! Full of ideas 🩷
February 12, 2024
A Glimpse of Ourselves
In her gentle welcoming way, Anne sits down with us over coffee (each of the chapters is a different cup) and talks about books as she leads us to consider Charlotte Mason's Ourselves.
For me it's like meeting a kindred spirit, a Christian bibliophile who knows the kindness of George MacDonald and the genius of Luke Howard.
A lovely and thoughtful book to inspire meditation of the principles of excellent education.
In her gentle welcoming way, Anne sits down with us over coffee (each of the chapters is a different cup) and talks about books as she leads us to consider Charlotte Mason's Ourselves.
For me it's like meeting a kindred spirit, a Christian bibliophile who knows the kindness of George MacDonald and the genius of Luke Howard.
A lovely and thoughtful book to inspire meditation of the principles of excellent education.
March 14, 2024
I have looked forward every day to my “cup of coffee” and have now finished sharing the whole pot with Anne White. I love the way she writes, not preachy at all but so relatable, witty, and with understanding, pulling in a delightful variety of minds sharing ideas with Charlotte Mason! Just the perfect balance of camaraderie and practical encouragement. Thank you, Anne, for writing this book and helping us to appreciate the bit of the world’s work we are blessed with.
September 3, 2024
There are many very good ideas here, but I found the book to be a bit disjointed and sometimes felt like I was all over the place with it.
This book is based on Charlotte Mason's Ourselves and reinforces many of the wonderful ideas. Inspirational and of value to reinforce ideas of education and teaching and learning.
This book is based on Charlotte Mason's Ourselves and reinforces many of the wonderful ideas. Inspirational and of value to reinforce ideas of education and teaching and learning.
August 5, 2024
Really enjoyed this one, but I'm confident that my discussion group contributed much to that enjoyment. This slim volume is packed with nuggets to unpack.
March 19, 2024
Fabulous.
February 18, 2025
This was a meditative read for me and I found it delightful to sip on most mornings. It's like Anne opened up her commonplace journal and weaved together a beautiful tapestry where you can trace out the science of relations she has made in her many years of reading of contemplating the ideas of Charlotte Mason. Anne gave me words to describe the "painful anxiety" I feel in regard to the world's work God has given me to do. I feel equipped and encouraged to keep walking out this path faithfully.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews