Chapter One excerpt from A Life at Work online

Random House offers "Getting Nowhere", Chapter One of Thomas Moore’s new book A Life at Work, free to readers online. It opens with Sappho’s "Pain penetrates me drop by drop."

The publisher's main description page for A Life at Work includes:

"Moore reveals the quest to find a life’s work in all its depth and mystery. All jobs, large and small, long-term and temporary, he writes, contribute to your life’s work. A particular job may be important because of the emotional rewards it offers or for the money. But beneath the surface, your labors are shaping your destiny for better or worse. If you ignore the deeper issues, you may not know the nature of your calling, and if you don’t do work that connects with your deep soul, you may always be dissatisfied, not only in your choice of work but in all other areas of life. Moore explores the often difficult process — the obstacles, blocks, and hardships of our own making — that we go through on our way to discovering our purpose, and reveals the joy that is our reward. He teaches us patience, models the necessary powers of reflection, and gives us the courage to keep going."

Rabbi Lawrence Kushner recommends the book by writing, "Forget about the color of your parachute, here is a book that teaches you how to fly. Through ancient parable, contemporary therapy, personal vignette, and, above all, an uncommon sapience, Moore deftly guides through life’s greatest quandary: Why have I been created? Give this book to yourself."

Biographical information at the bottom of the publisher's page describes this Thomas Moore. The byline link at the top of the page redirects to a different author.