Work To Live [Mass Market Paperback]

 

 

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At a time when the relentless drive of the corporate profite-imperative has swept up so many of us in a mindless labor habitrail-whose only reward seems to be more and faster-paced work-Joe Robinson has done some hard thinking and insightful research and come up with a number of unique solutions to help us break the dysfunctional employer-worker relationship that's quickly eroding life in this country. (If you're the type who blames MTV and other red herrings on societal woes, stop and think how much time away from family mothers and fathers are forced to spend these days just to hang on to their paychecks.) It's interesting to me that an author calling for basic rights in the workplace-things that labor unions supposedly won for the work force decades ago-can be viewed in some quarters as an extremist. I've read some of the reviews that equate Robinson's ideas with socialism or that accuse him of somehow being oposed to "the American way." This is knee-jerk reaction at its worst: "Robinson wants fairness so be must be socialist!" "Robinson enjoys vacations so he must hate work!" Granted, debate in this country has become dangerously polarized, Still, it's depressing to see how easily people can twist nuanced, reasoned argument into black and white polemic. I can't say I agree with everything Robinson says in this book, but I do recognize much of what he describes in the fact that I work harder than my father ever did, with far less time off, and probably a slightly lower overall quality of life. I certainly live in a smaller house and spend less time with my family than he did. Americans are fond of believing we have "the highest standard of living in the world." Guess what? We don't, even though we now work more and have less time off than even the famously workaholic Japanese. Check the health stats-this country's human machines are breaking down. And if you think our current obesity problem is simply a lack of self-control and an insidious fast-food industry, ask yourself when the last time you said, "I'd love to get in shape, jog every night after work, but I just don't have the time." That's the point. Fewer and fewer of us have the time any more to take care of our basic human needs for mental and physical and spiritual rest and improvement. Robinson doesn't want a life of vacation. He doesn't advocate the end of capitalism. He just wants us to fix the machine, so we can improve our lives, keep our economy strong before our own ignorance and insatiable demands for more, more, more break it down completely. This is an important book, a step toward a more prosperous and fulfilling United States.

This is a fabulous, must read book that shows what you can do to make changes in your own life so that you've actually got one. "Work To Live" offers specific ways to create hope and freedom for dazed,confused and burnt out Americans. Highly recommended.

Joe Robinson is on to something with "Work to Live." It seems like everyone I know is crying for more free time, but the days just get longer, the weekends shorter and there seems to be no relief in sight. Emails, voicemail and fearful days are eating into our peace of mind and keeping us on duty 24/7.
Show your boss this book the next time he or she gives you a hard time about taking time off. There's great information here to support your cause because a break from the job is a good thing for the workplace, not just the workers.
After spending years putting in 60 hour weeks, missing weddings and funerals, and most of my life, I was downsized. "Work to Live" and Joe Robinson can help us all realize that if we don't take care of ourselves, no one will.
Learn from the Europeans who would never dream of giving up their vacations. Why do we? It's time to get a life...now.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Rather work than Hunt
Whatever happened to personal responsibility and self-determination? The reason people work so much is because they feel that it is a means to satisfy their wants. Read more

Published on Mar 23 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars Too extreme
If the author had his way, we would be working only 20 hours a week with 8 weeks of vacation a year. The author thinks and shameless writes that working hard is bad. Read more

Published on Feb 23 2004 by Jaewoo Kim

5.0 out of 5 stars STOP OVERWORK! TAKE A LONGER VACATION!
This is a must-read for all Americans! Because most Americans work too much and have very little vacation, they are stressed out, eat too much junk food, don't get enough sleep,... Read more

Published on Oct 11 2003 by Sweethome

5.0 out of 5 stars Stop America's decline toward third-world status!
This is a wonderful book about the detriments of overwork, and the fact that Americans work more hours than anyone in the industrialized world. Read more

Published on May 3 2003 by Joe Keene

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book!
I decided last year that I would like to learn the Spanish language. Like many such wishes, this one has fallen victim to a lack of time... Read more

Published on Mar 28 2003 by Robert Drago

5.0 out of 5 stars Going beyond escape
Highly recommended. Our workaholic-fueled corporate world pressures us to live in a way completely inconsistent with our own best interests. Read more

Published on Feb 12 2003 by Maureen L. OConnell

5.0 out of 5 stars Work to Live
Take time off work and read this book. It will change your life!

Published on Feb 10 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Big Brother Needs To Start Listening....
I am going to keep this brief. Joe Robinson's book needs to be read by every person who has ever worked a day in America. Read more

Published on Jan 16 2003 by Chris

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