Work life in America is caught in a crisis of meaning. People work in unfulfilling jobs for faceless corporations or businesses that only care about the bottom line. In this inspiring memoir and manifesto, sustainable business pioneer Dave Smith calls for a return to work with meaning, work that enriches our own lives and the lives of others, work that isn’t abstract but real.
“Dave Smith holds nothing back in this candid account of his experiences in for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. This book is an inspirational read for anyone who is looking for answers and is a tip of the hat for anyone who follows their own principles in the marketplace of life.”
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“Dave Smith’s book is a provocative hymn of praise to meaningful work by a man who has done a lot of it. Smith takes the reader on a guided tour of his work life, often successful, always contributing to the common good, and he does it in a humble style that draws the reader in to his accomplishments. A great book, especially for young people who find themselves on a treadmill of meaningless, money-chasing careers.”
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“Throughout Dave Smith’s timely new book, one theme resonates: Sanity is usefulness. Dave’s whole life of social engagements and human-centered enterprise has been a testament to this principle. Citing such diverse influences as Thoreau, E. F. Schumacher, and Alan Chadwick, Dave’s trenchant critique of a society dominated by faceless corporations, along with his alternative of cooperative, meaning-centered organizations, shows us another way to live and work, one rooted in ancient wisdom as well as the best of our own American history. May this book inspire and influence many, young and old, to follow Dave’s sterling, principled example.”
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