کار همچون زندگی

by Thomas Moore, محمدرضا سلامت (Translator)

تامس مور سال‌ها در زمینه‌های دین‌شناسی و روان‌شناسی در دانشگاه‌های آمریکا تدریس کرده و معتقد است که «کار» و «زندگی» دو مؤلفهٔ جدانشدنی در حیات هر انسان است؛ یعنی زندگی ‌کردن همان کار کردن است و کار کردن همان زندگی کردن. شخصیت آدمی بر اثرِ کار یا کارهایی که می‌کند، در طول زندگی شکل می‌گیرد و شخص به انسانی بی‌همتا بدل می‌شود. اما اشخاص بسیاری با غفلت از این واقعیت کار را به «شغل» یا «حرفه» فرو می‌کاهند و از این‌رو، بین کار و زندگی جدایی می‌افکنند.

از نظر مور، کار و زندگی دو روی یک سکه‌اند و به همین دلیل باید «کار همچون زندگی» تلقی شود. به بیان دیگر، باید کار را زندگی کرد و این خود هنری ممتاز است.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Spirituality, Self Help, Philosophy, Business, Audiobook

254 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2007

About the author

Thomas Moore is the author of the bestselling book, Care of the Soul, Ageless Soul, and fifteen other books on deepening spirituality and cultivating soul in every aspect of life. He has been a monk, a musician, a university professor, and a psychotherapist, and today he lectures widely on holistic medicine, spirituality, psychotherapy, and the arts. He lectures frequently in Ireland and has a special love of Irish culture. He has Ph.D. in religion from Syracuse University and has won several awards for his work, including an honorary doctorate from Lesley University and the Humanitarian Award from Einstein Medical School of Yeshiva University. He also has a B.A. in music from DePaul University, an M.A. in musicology from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in theology from the University of Windsor. He also writes fiction and music and often works with his wife, artist and yoga instructor, Hari Kirin. He writes regular columns for Resurgence and Spirituality & Health.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Hossein · Rating 5 out of 5]

به گونه‌ای اروتیک عاشق کارتان باشید...

امتیاز واقعی کتاب شاید 4 ستاره بود(عمدتا به خاطر اینکه گاهی از اوقات حرف‌هایش تکراری می‌شد و حوصله‌ام سر می‌رفت!) اما به اندازه یک کتاب 5 ستاره از همراهی و مطالعه آن درباره خودم و دنیایم آموختم. برایم سخت است که بتوانم به کسی توصیه‌اش کنم و به نظرم از آن کتاب‌هایی‌ست که باید سعادت این را داشته باشی که در زمان مناسب تو را بیابند.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moore takes on work in the modern age from a roughly third generation Jungian perspective. He goes over the process that people go through to know themselves professionally, some of the paths and flights people take when they don’t, and some of the digging and trials people go through to figure it out. Sometimes I find him and other Jungians a bit cringe. Still I think he’s getting at something simple and earnest that we guardedly cover over in our hardened shells.

[Inder · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know, I have never made it through an entire book by Thomas Moore, despite feeling that his books are the sort of thing I should be interested in. His rambling musing style just doesn't do it for me. I thought maybe this book would be different, but it's just not keeping my attention. I'm halfway in, and I doubt I'll finish it.

My biggest problems:

1) I was tired of his alchemy analogy before he even used it. Is your life work like alchemy? But alchemists were idealistic, deluded idiots who believed you could make gold out of silver! How is this a good analogy for my life? Also, the analogy is propped up against the rest of his text in a really awkward way. It doesn't really relate to the rest of the book, and feels forced.

2) He seems to be saying that if I want to discover my life's work, I need to see tell my story to a sympathetic stranger, analyze my dreams, and generally, get some therapy. Well, I'm sure the therapists of the world are happy about this advice. But it shouldn't take 200 pages to say "know thyself." The advice is redundant and worse, devoid of any actual content. "See a therapist" is advice the same way "Get advice" is advice.

3) It's one of these books where the goal seems to be to get the reader to "think critically" and it feels like a condescending lecture from my high school English teacher, but devoid of any actual critical ideas. Just a conclusory "Don't believe everything you think."

It's too bad, because Moore's books always seem right up my alley and so promising. But I've never actually been able to read one, so maybe I should give up.

[Haniye_Mirkamali · Rating 4 out of 5]

خوانش: ۲۹ آذر ۰۱
ساعت: ۱۴:۰۰

[Elly Tarahimofrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

من این کتاب را خیلی شانسی خواندم و روزی که با دوستم کتاب خریده بودیم و موقع جدا شدن پاکت‌های کتاب‌هایمان را اشتباهی به خانه آوردیم و قرار گذاشتیم یک ماه پیشمان بماند تا بخوانیمشان. و این‌گونه بود که انتخاب دوستم را خواندم.
کار همچون زندگی به من کمک کرد تا درک کنم که خیلی از جاها در طول مسیر زندگی درست قدم برداشته‌ام و متوجه شدم که بعضی اوقات در جامعه مدرن ما تمایل داریم که بیش از حد فکر کنیم و در تلاش برای زندگی خود انتظار بیش از حد از خود را داشته باشیم. انگار به گونه‌ای تربیت شده‌ایم که زندگی را بیشتر محل نبردی بدانیم بجای اینکه باید سفری عمیق و غنی باشد. شاید خیلی از مسیر زندگی را درست انتخاب نکرده‌ام ، اما هنوز این راه من است و جاهایی که من به موفقیت‌های زیادی رسیده‌ام برای خوشحال بودنم کافی‌ست. موقع خواندن زندگی آدم‌های این کتاب و فکر به خودم واقعا احساس راحتی و رضایت می‌کردم و می‌دانم که در واقع رویاهایم را دنبال کرده ام. من آماده هستم که نیمه نرفته زندگی را با آغوش باز شروع کنم و دقیقاً می دانم چه کاری انجام خواهم داد و به دست خواهم آورد.

[culley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I plowed through this one in audio format for a class. Moore has a background in the priesthood, music and Jungian psychology. This book is an exploration of self-actualization as a function of work. It is really about much more than vocation. The book seemed so deeply influenced by the theories of Jung that I question how accessible this book would be to someone not interested in psychology. Other reviewers on this site have raised issue with the Alchemy metaphors— this is straight out of Jung and quite interesting if you are into dream work. Daimons, duende, Saturn and Puer…. I think these concepts would be too much for many of the people who really need this book. On the other hand, Moore presents deep wisdom for those people with the mental strength to stay with him. Not for everyone, great for some people.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to credit this book mostly with the fact that it helped me to understand that I have been on the correct and most fulfilling life path all along. In other words, Thomas Moore once again helped me to see that sometimes in our modern society we have a tendency to think too much and expect way too much of ourselves in our life quest. We tend to see life as more a battle to be fought rather than a journey that must be deep and enriching and meant for us and who we are as individuals. I may have not had the most traditional life path, but it is still mine and I have accomplished so much. Thank you Thomas Moore for helping me along in this realization. I feel comfortable and content for maybe the first time in my life knowing that I have in fact been following my dreams. I am ready to start the second half of my life with open arms knowing exactly what I will be doing and accomplishing.

[Hedieh Madani · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting examination of what makes up one's life work, how to bring inspiration to the daily grind and how to make room for your passions. I also found it fascinating that he brings up how much job mismatch can depress people. I read it at an interesting juncture in my career and it was a good reminder that, despite the fact that many people's jobs and passions are one, it doesn't have to be that way for everyone. Takes the pressure off. Moore writes beautifully. I can see this being a book you'd revisit from time to time when you're feeling disconnect between what you do at your desk and who you want to be.

(3.5-3.75. Rounding up!)

[Christy Peterson]

Part of Oliver DeMille's review of this book is this:

"Above all, this is a book about depth. So much in life is shallow, but your life itself must find real depth in order to find true success, happiness and meaning. There are so many books in this genre, but this is certainly among the very best! Whatever you do, be sure to read pages 91-95, and study the section on how our most important answers in life don't come rationally (p. 122-140)! Finally, what are the phases of your life so far? And ahead? What are the most important passages you've been through? What inspires you the most? And who?

The message of this book is a must in our generation---a call to become who we really are, to do what we were born for. In a world of career path and limiting structure, this book is a call to be ourselves. and a guide on how to do it. Whether you agree or disagree with the specifics (and I did both), the general ideas are considered and discussed far too little in our society. This book is a remedy! I highly recommend it."

I just wanted to make note of it so that when I read it I will be able reference the above.

[Sajede · Rating 2 out of 5]

اگرچه اولش کتاب رو خیلی پرشور شروع کردم و دوست داشتم ببینم ملکیان در مورد چه کتابی مقدمه نوشته ولی خیلی خورد تو ذوقم. کتاب محتوای خاصی برای ارائه نداره و بیشتر انگار یه آخوند نشسته اونجا و داره یه سری اصول رو تفت میده و حجم کتاب رو میبره بالا.
البته سبک نوشتاری و تفکری مور کلا این مدلیه و خودش هم قبلا کشیش بوده ولی باز هم انتظار دیگه‌ای از کتاب داشتم.
ترجمه کتاب هم خیلی دلنشین نیست و در کل توصیه نمیکنم.

[The Scribbling Man · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thin sketchings of Jung, bolstered with repetitive anecdotes and self help slosh. Not without some small merit, but surface-level and lacking practical steps, leaning way too hard into its analogies.

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Thomas Moore’s approach to life and bringing soul into every aspect.

[Erin Mccarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say this book is life changing would be a presumption, but it has greatly altered my perspective in finding a life’s work. I constantly underlined sentences and paragraphs that resonated with me. At times it felt like he was writing specifically about me. His descriptions of the soul and the spirit were especially helpful.

[Randy Greene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thomas Moore’s eclectic background in spirituality, education, music, and psychotherapy prepared him uniquely to write A Life at Work, and the reader can see the influence each had on Moore’s approach to the book. The book endeavors to take readers on a journey to better know themselves in order to discover the work that will bring them a sense of meaning and fulfillment; to illustrate his points throughout the book, Moore uses an analogy of an alchemist concocting an elixir of life, drawing parallels with life application from the ingredients of the elixir and from the drive with which the alchemist pursues his goal.

Moore opens with a brief look at the frustration and disillusionment many people feel with their current careers before describing the challenge and reward of embarking on this quest to find the calling of one’s life. He discusses the soul and spirit of work as understanding the depth of oneself. “Deep,” he says, “is perhaps the best word to describe the experience of the soul…. Soul is there in the most ordinary circumstances of life, but it is their mystery and their depth” (30). From there, Moore challenges readers to confront the pains of their past and use them as a tool to acknowledge the root of what motivates them and stirs their passions. The final chapters of the book address the need for self-care, ways to deal with struggles as they arise, the importance of loving one’s work in spite of (and sometimes because of) those struggles, and the benefit of developing a well-rounded, multifaceted life as a complement to one’s work.

Moore has a graceful style that draws upon the deep recesses of spirituality within us all. His poetic tone, in partnership with his continual analogical references to the alchemy process, creates a mystical sense of profundity within the text. Readers who long to find meaning in their lives and work will likely resonate with this intense spiritual approach and be compelled to begin their journey to a state of fulfillment. The book skillfully addresses several common misconceptions about what it means to find one’s life work and provides a general direction of how to achieve it.

I had two primary issues with this book: first, it fails to give concrete steps for the reader to take; second, it largely does not apply to me in my particular situation.

As with many texts in the self-help genre, A Life at Work pursues motivational goals more than actionable ones. While the book does give guidance that is helpful in a general sense, the underlying message it communicates is that the reader cannot truly understand themselves - and therefore their life work - without the help of an experienced counselor. Given the intimately personal nature of an individual’s calling, there is certainly a measure of truth to this idea, but it feels contrary to the book’s purpose. On the face of it, Moore seems to have promised a guide to discovering the soul and spirit of meaningful work, but the undercurrent of the text itself indicates that no book can accomplish that promise.

In addition, Moore’s book failed to connect with me because I am already engaged in a career and role in which I find wonderful purpose and meaning. I do not relate to the feeling of being stuck that he describes in the first chapter, so the rest of the book falls flat against my particular life situation. This is not a knock against the book itself - as I mentioned earlier, it probably resonates well with people in that place in their lives - but I could not find an application in my own life for most of Moore’s recommendations.

While I understand the value of the book and its relevancy to the readers for which it was written, I do not fall within Moore’s target audience so the value of the work was, unfortunately, lost on me.

[Sigrun Hodne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I needed to read & think about right now.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one to pass around, given to me for Christmas by my parents. Explains why many people are dissatisfied with jobs/work and how that permeates into other areas of life and personality. Also relates finding your purpose to the practice of alchemy - got me interested.
Moore explains how to care for your soul and spirit and how to encompass your past/bad times to make that fuel who you are now/who you will become (meant to be).

Finding your purpose is not a one step easy process and Moore uses the myth/fairy tale Rapunzel as one example. Many people ignore/deny that shortcuts (in the manner of stealing roots from someone more powerful or in a different place than you to gain what you want) is not the way to live your life to your best. It takes hard work, balancing of your soul/spirit, hope and honesty (listening to your true self) to reap the rewards of good life (family, friends, celebrations) and find what you makes you happy.

[Maei · Rating 2 out of 5]

توی کتابفروشی میچرخیدم که این کتابو دیدم
هیچی ازش نشنیده بودم
جمله ی “چگونه میتوانید کاری را که برای آن زاده شده‌اید کشف کنید و به رضایت خاطر برسید؟” اول کتاب قلقلکم داد که بخرمش.دو سه صفحه ای خوندم و خریدمش.
یکی از سخت‌خوان‌ترین کتابابی بود که تا حالا خوندم و واقعیت چون سبکش برام جذاب نبود جزو کتابای سخت‌خوانی نبود که برای فهمیدنش تلاش کنم و بارها بخونمش،منکر نکات مثبتش نمیشم ی جاهایی ی جمله هاییش واقعا جالب بود و عمیق
مثلا این :
«مردم اغلب گمان میکنند که همیشه دارند واقعیتی را بی‌طرفانه تجربه میکنند درحالی که به واقع همواره از پشت عدسی قصه های آشنای زندگیشان واقعیت را می‌بینند.»
یا این:
«اگر دلیلی برای بودن خویش داشته باشید،احساس بیهودگی نمیکنید.»
و…
اما انسجام متن طوری نبود که تشویقت کنه ادامه بدی،صادقانه ی جاهایی واقعا اذیت کننده بود و ی سری مثال ها بچگانه‌ بود.
جزو کتاباییه که نمیدونم اگه ۱۰سال دیگه بازم بخونمش نظرم همینه یا نه اما به هرحال لذتی نبردم از خوندنش.
میدونید ی جوری بود که انگار اونچیزی که کتاب میخواست بهت بگه شسته و رفته نبود،هرچند خیلی از پارامترا سلیقه‌ایه.

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

p. 2 "creativity is an instinct, not an optional gift granted to a lucky few."
p. 10 "the point is not merely to succeed but to become a deeper, more complex,more mature person through your struggle."
p. 11 "Pay attention to your deep and complex interior life, become more sensitive about your relationships, consider your past thoughtfully, and use your imagination at its full power. Work from the ground up toward finding the work that will make your life worthwhile."

best parts of the book... then I got bored and quit reading.. I skimmed it. it was ok.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

Alternatively:
The Alchemist
Do What You Are : Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type
Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design
Mastery

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book. I’d say this is about equal and opposite to Bullshit Jobs: whereas that book focused on the nature of employment which is ultimately a waste of time/energy, created for the ego of a higher-up, this book is focused on the nature of the person employed, and how they might go about addressing the past and present to find their *~life’s work~* in future.

A “life work” is distinct from a career, in that one’s life work is the overarching trajectory of all one’s experience/learning/efforts. It is not so much the destination (success, productivity, wealth, retirement) as it is the journey: the sense of self both forming and being formed by one’s efforts, one’s activities, the way one wishes to shape the world, the things one finds fulfilling.

Throughout, Moore uses the conceit of alchemy to explore the topic: like an alchemist, one gathers materials (all past experiences, worries, victories, failures, desires, etc.), sticks them in a vessel (a journal, conversation with friends, therapy, meditation), applies heat or something, and observes the changes.

This conceit was not troubling to me, though the image was sometimes distracting. I was also somewhat distracted trying to suss out the author: Moore apparently lived in a monastery from age 13-26, then discerned out and did several other things, including working as a therapist and getting married/having children. His emphasis on Jungian archetypes and dream analysis seemed ……a little “woo." And yet! The consideration given to these more archaic ways of framing the world left me feeling like a cold rational empiricist, doomed to travel empty landscapes with no whispers in my ears.

Not sure if this has guided me in any way toward my life’s work, but it does make me want to revisit some fairy tales.

[Dennis B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This non-fiction spiritual novel provides an insightful path on applying a soulful attitude in choosing our life's vocation including work which might be considered "mundane" by society at large.

As Moore did with "Care of the Soul" and "Dark Nights of the Soul", this novel was a pleasure to read while being educational on so many levels - and not "educational" in the traditional ways of academia and religion.  He has a way of writing in a way that leaves the reader in a serene state of mind while acknowledging (rather than separating from) the parts of life that many of us would rather avoid.

The book covers such topics as a deep inner sense of "calling", a powerful strength that accompanies this spirit while sometimes clashing with the world at large, accepting one's past difficulties and embracing them as something to help on our current endeavors, the acceptance of chaos and failure as a natural part of the life/work process, "life in a tower" i.e. how soul and happiness can still be absent while being externally successful, and loving what you do in any work situation even if it does not feel like a calling.

The last point includes the term 'avocation' i.e. a work situation that is fulfilling even if we are not paid for it.  For me, one of my avocations is writing a blog which includes reviews like this.  ☺

I received much personal fulfillment from reading this book.  It advanced my level of forgiveness to myself and others for past failures, roadblocks, and bad deeds.  It was also a great pleasure to read, placing me in a balanced state where I could feel the depths of spirituality and worldliness simultaneously.

Thank God Moore has written many more books.  Another of my avocations is to read as many of his works as possible. - dbamateurcritic

[Corbin Buff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts off strong. 2nd half or so of the book I found a bit meandering. Still worthwhile. Biggest takeaways are the alchemical approach to work and being ok with living a multidimensional life.

Work is a laboratory where the matters of soul are worked out
Work should be inspiring and challenging
Many people are suffering from lack of soul in their work
Read biographies of people who have found their way to fulfilling work - they bring with them the values and perspectives they experienced in times of failure and stagnancy and do their work with added depth.
Doing work that has no soul is the great hidden malady of our time. Alchemy offers a model for worthwhile work
Are you able to read the worlds and pay attention to the signs? Your vocation. See events as symbols, images, signs. This is how the world “speaks” or “calls”
You don’t have to do exactly what the signs indicate, but it helps to consider them.
You can have a multiplicity of callings or a shift in callings. Sometimes these themselves are all part of a greater calling
Nurture a strong sense of calling without fixing on any particular form of work
The poly centric life. Multitalented, multifaceted.
You do not need to have one single focus. You can go “both ways” and more.
The dominant energy in socitety is unity and single mindedness, but you don’t need to follow that. Wallace Stevens
Keep your sights on the vocation you feel within you, the interior life
Begin with who you are - make a soulful life the primary goal
Loving your work doesn’t mean liking every minute or being passionate about everything you do. It can be subtle, invisible, a quiet hum in the background
You feel your soul present in work when you are present
It is a radical challenge to live boldly from the heart/soul

[Jackie St Hilaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life just doesn't happen. We all have to work at it.

When you get into the twilight years, you sometimes like to review your life and your life's work.
I realize that my life's work wasn't really that much work, it was more like an experience of living.

I look back when I was a student in high school and when my family life was moving in a positive direction, working part time was pleasant enough, I was helping my family with extra money and had extra money for myself. Then we moved to another state and my life was chaotic, school and work became a drudgery. How come? I wasn't happy and nothing I did was going to make me happy. I had no clue what happened to me and my life. I had no idea what to do about it.

I'm not going to give you a biography but suffice it to say that throughout the years I have grown in understanding that my presence and my work are inter-related.

Thomas Moore gives us a glimpse of what to look for in our quest for self-fulfillment. It's not about the degrees, the money, the careers. It's about loving ourselves and finding a "niche" to give of ourselves in this world that needs people who love themselves enough to give who they are, not what they do.

[Lavanial · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains the soul of a person; family, culture, neighborhood and the spirit, the aspirations and heights we reach with practical implementations of time management, self discipline imbued with spirituality such as kindness, generosity and hospitality. It discusses morality which reminds me of my father's discipline in life and his beauty in loving life, people and beauty in all its forms.

The ability to have a good home, happy children, to create a better society and in creating decent art has been wondrously exemplified by Him and I love him so much for being someone truly emotional, spiritual and moral in his relationship with family and friends. I love him unconditionally because that's what I am here for, it's so nice to appreciate all the places God resides. I love what He loves in my mother and am often reminded to be just like Her.

Traditions and mythology are further explored, a big part of my childhood and my present adult self. I truly enjoy going around the planets in the family temple but mostly I love listening because I am afraid there are too many words, and not enough ears. Its so nice to appreciate content on vitality of the community, the colours representing energy and passion in the pursuits of life.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the idea of using the alchemical process to discuss the process of becoming, finding your life's work, and understanding that can be a vocation, a hobby, or any and all other aspects of living life. I agree with the author that a career needs to acknowledge the spiritual in order to be deeply engaging. After the culmination of life experiences, you can go on to become a teacher and healer for others: "You have gone down into the rich humus of human existence with your open hearted choices and your bittersweet struggles, and out of that initiation you can say the words and embody the vision that will heal others."

[Kenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For readers familiar with Thomas Moore, this book's themes are not surprising--connecting with one's soul, applying principles of alchemy to address one's needs, incorporating arts and pleasure into something we associate with drudgery, and so on. What I liked about this book in particular was his continuous exortation to live a full, multi-valent life, and not worry about vocation as a singular pursuit. Overall, I found this book helpful and encouraging, and I will probably return to it when I have my next career crisis.

[Deana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoy Thomas Moore’s insight into the stuff of life. I was almost dissuaded from reading this based on some negative reviews. This is NOT a “What Color is Your Parachute?” -style guide to finding a career. Moore always goes deep with these questions, and this book is no exception, as he extends “work” to a much broader sense than your job or career, spending much of the last part of the book discussing a life’s “opus”. I loved it!

[Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were certain chapters I really connected with and others not so much. Perhaps that is just where I'm at in my life work. In my experience, this book is best read one chapter at a time and really sitting with the information in each chapter to see what connected to my personal life. Full of new perspectives for me on ways to view a life work, this is a book I will be coming back to in different transitions in my life.

[Josephine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as illuminating for me as some of Moore's other works, maybe because it suggests an approach to life which I feel unwilling to take. Some of his connections to broader thought are interesting and insightful, but fewer than in powerhouses like The Reenchantment of the World where he's tripping over himself with concepts that enrich all aspects of life. Was hoping for a more concentrated dose of that centered on my work life, which is painful for me, but I don't feel like I really got it.