Five Minutes on Mondays: Finding Unexpected Purpose, Peace, and Fulfillment at Work

by Alan Lurie

Imagine the leaders of one of New York City’s top real-estate firms coming together every Monday morning to hear…the moral and spiritual thoughts of a Rabbi. Wouldn’t you like to be a fly on the wall? To hear the paths Alan Lurie traced for his listeners, how he helped them bring together their spiritual and business lives, the sacred and the profane? Five Minutes on Mondays compiles these talks for the first time, sharing Lurie’s deep and profound inspiration on the challenges we all face–at work, and in life. Lurie draws on millennia of philosophy, theology, and science to help us answer our deepest questions, comfort our deepest yearnings, and become better people–more connected to each other, and to the Greater Purpose. • Prosper while keeping your integrity • Balance faith, honor, and ambition • Use your workplace as your moral and spiritual "gymnasium" • Find deeper meaning and purpose in your work • Face your fears and failures, and keep going • Gain real respect–and give it • Live one authentic life–at work, and everywhere else

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Business, Personal Development, Leadership, Reference, Spirituality

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book in September when I returned to work for the new school year. I tried to read one lesson every week. Some lessons were applicable for the week, which allowed me to think about the lesson and how it relates to my life. I shared some of the lessons (passages) with my friends. This allowed us to talk about what the lessons was trying to teach us. I read the last lesson during the last full week of the school year, fitting indeed!

To live life to the fullest is to find purpose, peace, and fulfillment with regards to your family, friends, health, career, and the greater good.

[Micah Fagre · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you’re finished changing, you’re finished."

"In Hebrew, the word for work is 'avodah' , which also, surprisingly, means prayer."

"Buddhism teaches that we should embrace awkwardness; that this feeling is a signal that we are on the right path toward growth."

There is a need to simultaneously remember: "For my sake the world was created" and "I am but dust".

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok book to keep on your phone for when you are stuck some place and have a few minutes to kill. I got it for free - not sure that I'd pay for it.

[Mirna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great stories, quotes and examples, and references. But not too much "structured" approach, nor any big new revelation - mainly all common sense and obvious stuff.

[Sumeet Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read.
Very nicely written.
Good crisp chapters.

Sumeet
Author, Life is a pack of 52 cards

[P.J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this thinking it would give some good ideas for our weekly management meetings. Instead, it became the book I'd read when I need to go to sleep and was struggling to do so. This isn't the type of book I'd read in my spare time normally and it really didn't give any insight that I hadn't already heard.

[Christine Lussier · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy enough read, probably better if you read one section per week, rather than at once. Parts were a bit much & I did skim at times. Other stories were enjoyable & thought provoking(nothing life altering!)

[Josetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

One doesn't have to be Jewish, religious or even spiritual to get something out of this book. But if you keep an open mind, you can get a lot out of it, particularly relating to success in the workplace, by looking at spiritual ideals as "human" ideals.

[Pete Halsted · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of bite size entries to provoke thought and inspiration. Although there is a lot of religious context referenced, it never felt "preachy" or pushing a religious agenda, and there is plenty to take from it regardless of your religious beliefs

[Charmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Focus on Your Strengths: Know where you are most effective, be comfortable with your inclinations and limitations, and allow yourself to be supported by others with complementary strengths.
- Develop what you do best.

2. People who consistently and clearly tell the truth build trust, which results in a good reputation, which begets new and repeat clients, which increases business, which accumulates.

3. A true desire for authenticity must be without ulterior motives; without ego or expectation of reward and recognition.

4. We must look after our own needs.
- We cannot delegate or abdicate the responsibility to take care of our health, earn a living, raise a family, and enjoy the pleasures that life offers.
- On the other hand, if that is all we do—if our only focus is on ourselves—we are not a conscious, moral, engaged, human being.

5. Never say, “Instead of.”
- Always say, “In addition to.”
- When we divide our reality into two opposing camps, we immediately set up a confrontation with no resolution except the conversion or destruction of one of them.

6. Those things that cause fear are seen as our greatest teachers because they tell us where we are stuck and where we need to grow.

7. If we believe that we are inherently defective, then we shut off the opportunities to naturally learn and grow.

8. Creativity is certainly not limited to the arts but includes any endeavor to discover an original, useful answer that lies beyond that which is readily apparent.

9. Wisdom comes from the basic humility of accepting that we do not know everything, that others know things that we do not, and that life involves continual learning.

10. We do not need to be “worthy” of it, because abundance already exists, just waiting for us to recognize and appreciate it.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I am retired now, I was curious about what the advice the author would provide on finding unexpected purpose, peace, and fulfillment at work. The author is a Jewish rabbi, and I am Christian, but I found no conflict there.

I did find a few typos ("hording" for "hoarding") and some subject/verb disagreements. Also, the author referred to a pyramid standing on three legs. I hadn't thought of a pyramid as having legs, but the base is actually a square with four, not three, sides even though each side (wall) of the pyramid is a triangle with three sides.

The author used some of his own material and also drew on suggestions given by other inspirational writers. In my opinion he chose good material for the book, and I did learn from the book so I am glad I read it.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this almost a year ago and I'm still only 17 percent done. Time to give up. It's okay, not life-changing and some of the stories could easily be applied to us cubicle-dwellers. If you go to church or synagogue or the mandatory CEO meetings, you hear the same kind of sermons - not what I feel like reading in my spare time, but I'm not religious either, so it's not like I'm the target audience.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free kindle read. Enjoyed the idea that businessmen might decide to do something good for the soul rather than the pocketbook. This is a series of inspirational talks given by a rabbi to a groups of businesspeople. He has some good thoughts, repeats other good thoughts, and tries to marry the spiritual with the go-go business world.

Nice idea, but not sure that many follow this ideology.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked Five Minutes on Mondays based upon my fast read on the cover; wow! Rabbi in the secular world giving business colleagues a spiritual compass and moral standards what a concept. Filled with stories of Jewish traditions and acronyms . Five Minutes focuses on the wisdom and knowledge from a Rabbi's POV while opening our hearts to whatever the circumstance we must use God as our compass. Great inspirational self-help read.

[Camilla Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read it on the train to work, primarily as the source of inspiration, but then soon it became an addiction - my day wouldn't be the same if I hadn't had a portion of Five Minutes while on the train. Thank you, Alan Lurie, for a lovely, entertaining collection that has helped many people, more than you know.

[James Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a free book on Amazon Kindle and the title was interesting enough to catch my attention. I'm glad it did.

The book is divided up into short readings and reflections. I have been reading a couple a chapters a day. The author shares wisdom as a Jewish Rabbi who's worked with business professionals.

Well worth spending a few minutes with the wisdom from the author on a daily basis.

[arun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Quite a few thought provoking writings.

[Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merely average reading that isn't especially well organized or new.

[Debbie Korn]

Inspiring but Lurie takes from many people. Lots of the ideas in his book are not his own but the messages are timeless and appropriate for North Americans.

[Tammy Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a few quotes that were very inspiring.
Always maintain only a joyful mind.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't actually finished this and I don't think I'm ever going to. It just wasn't holding my interest so I think I am actually going to give up on this book.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful exploration into how to be happier and find greater purpose and compassion.

[jessica]

[free nook book]

[Marc Rohde · Rating 1 out of 5]

It couldn't hold my attention so I gave up.

[Loucindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good points to ponder and a nice way to start exploring spirituality linked to career.

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's all theory, and theory that most already know. There is nothing in this book on how to implement the theory.

Not worth reading.

[Chuck Heikkinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of short essays on including spirituality in everyday life and work.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time reading through this book! Because it is good! A morning reminder of important truths to apply!