Teaching and Learning about the Purpose of Work and Money

The Hungry Spirit: Beyond Capitalism, a Quest for Purpose in the Modern World
By Charles Handy, Broadway Books, New York, 1998. From one of the worldsÕ most respected business and social philosophers, this is a groundbreaking book that challenges us to question our reliance on traditional definitions of success and inspires us to find meaning and fulfillment in our professional, personal, and spiritual lives.

Mindfulness and Meaningful Work: Explorations in Right Livelihood
Edited by Claude Whitmyer, Parallax Press, Berkeley, CA, 1994. Some of the most renowned leaders of our time share their insights on the practice and value of working, and on finding work that is meaningful, life-affirming, and non-exploitative. The authors illuminate the Buddhist idea of Right Livelihood and shows us how to overcome the obstacles in our path so that we can find meaningful work, and live in a way that encourages inner peace, self-worth, and purpose.

Money and the Meaning of Life
By Jacob Needleman, Currency Doubleday, New York, 1991. Needleman explores the historical significance of money and compares the idealism of money with the realistic role it plays in society. He tries to answer the essential question of how to cultivate a spiritual life while living in a society that worships money.

Your Money or Your Life
By Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, Penguin, New York, 1992. In this practical guide to stepping out of the work more/spend more cycle, the authors offer their personal plan for taking back control of their lives. Their nine-step program tells how to get out of debt, develop savings, reorder material priorities and live well for less, resolve inner conflicts between values and lifestyles, convert problems into opportunities to learn new skills, attain a wholeness of livelihood and lifestyle, and save the planet while saving money.