What is the meaning of work? In The Art of Living series' novel Work, Lars Svendesn takes the reader on a philosophical exploration of this question. Using views of philosophers like Socrates, Aristotle, Marx, and Adam Smith, to that of contemporary celebrities like Woody Allen, Svendesn paints a very broad picture for the reader to examine. The book reads exceptionally well, and is highlighted by Svendsen's clever witt. It is a far cry from your standard philosophical text.Svendsen covers a wide range of topics including: being managed, getting paid, life without work, distribution of work in society, and even the effects of technology on work. At the end of it all though, here's my favorite quote:
I believe that we should rather commit ourselves to work, as such commitment is a precondition of finding genuine meaning in it, but on the other hand, work should only be ragarded as one source of meaning amoung others.
Whether you decide to read this novel or not, I highly recommend taking a step back and truly asking yourself what work means to you.
