Is Your Work Worth It?

A critical examination of the complex and revealing questions we must ask ourselves about our work and the value it brings to ourselves and others.

According to recent studies, barely a third of American workers, and even fewer globally, feel “engaged” at work, and nearly half are “unhappy” doing what they do for a living. In the post-pandemic era with its turbulent job markets and spiraling economic landscape, many workers find themselves wondering: is my work worth it?

In Is Your Work Worth It?, a prominent philosopher and an organizational psychologist investigate the purpose of work and its value in our lives. The book asks vital questions, such as: 

• When and how much should we work?
• Should I work for love or money?
• What would make life worth living in a world without work?
• What kind of mark will my work leave on the world?

This essential book combines scholarship, cultural artifacts like film and literature, and inspiring stories to help us clarify what worthy work looks like, what tradeoffs are acceptable to pursue it, and what our work can contribute to society.