How to Avoid Work: A 1949 Guide to Doing What You Love (2012)

brainpickings.org

62 points·jsc123··5 comments

I respect Maria Popova a lot but this is a rather insipid collection of motivational quotes and vintage photos. Instead of reading it as a piece of self-help, look at it as a continuation of the Protestant work ethic: that our good works in the world put us in a state of grace with God. It's just a modern twist on the idea that what you do is who you are, which I personally have always found a little reductionist, even classist.

> classist

Apparently, you're not alone in that sentiment:

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/01/...

HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7084381

Odd coincidence: both authors seem to have studied at U. Penn (possibly at the same time).

The greatest quote in that Slate article: "Job creation goes both ways." Who can do what they love without the labor of those who can't?

I thought the Hunter S. Thompson article linked from the sidebar offered far more interesting advice regarding finding direction and life's fulfillment:

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/11/04/hunter-s-t...

I agree. It was pretty powerfull stuff:

I’m not trying to send you out “on the road” in search of Valhalla, but merely pointing out that it is not necessary to accept the choices handed down to you by life as you know it. There is more to it than that — no one HAS to do something he doesn’t want to do for the rest of his life.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com