The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work

By Alain de Botton,

Book cover of The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work

Book description

From one of our greatest voices in modern philosophy, author of The Course of Love, The Consolations of Philosophy, Religion for Atheists and The School of Life - a lucid exploration of the state in which most of us spend most of our lives

'De Botton's wit and powers of…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

In this profound yet highly readable book, the contemporary French philosopher Alain de Botton profiles a number of career professionals, among them an accountant, a painter, a transmission engineer, and yes, a rocket scientist.

At the heart of de Botton’s enquiry is a rather simple question: Is work more than just making money? I believe that it is, and the philosopher’s conclusions say as much.

He urges workers of all stripes to “make an imaginative connection between what they have done with their working days and their impact upon others.” Writing these recommendations has been a kind of work, and…

From David's list on working life.

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