Henry at Work

Thoreau on Making a Living

By: John Kaag, Jonathan van Belle

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

What Thoreau can teach us about working—why we do it, what it does to us, and how we can make it more meaningful

Henry at Work invites listeners to rethink how we work today by exploring an aspect of Henry David Thoreau that has often been overlooked: Thoreau the worker. John Kaag and Jonathan van Belle overturn the popular misconception of Thoreau as a navel-gazing recluse who was scornful of work and other mundanities. In fact, Thoreau worked hard—surveying land, running his family's pencil-making business, writing, lecturing, and building his cabin at Walden Pond—and thought intensely about work in its many dimensions. And his ideas about work have much to teach us in an age of remote work and automation, when many people are reconsidering what kind of working lives they want to have.

Through Thoreau, listeners will discover a philosophy of work in the office, factory, lumber mill, and grocery store, and reflect on the rhythms of the workday, the joys and risks of resigning oneself to work, the dubious promises of labor-saving technology, and that most vital and eternal of philosophical questions, "How much do I get paid?" In ten chapters, including "Manual Work," "Machine Work," and "Meaningless Work," this personal, urgent, practical, and compassionate book introduces listeners to their new favorite coworker: Henry David Thoreau.

©2023 John Kaag and Jonathan van Belle (P)2023 Recorded Books

Interesting and enjoyable

I really enjoyed this book. It’s outside of what I normally listen to but I found it entertaining and informative. Great story and all around interesting views on work. Highly recommend!!

Excellent Book

The book made me want to quit my cushy corporate job. But I’m a coward. I’m now tasked with a job to figure out how to live a more meaningful work life. I desperately need find meaning in my work again. Thank you, authors, for this needed push.

Carpe Diem

Very enjoyable book that deepened my understanding of Thoreau and underscored my mantra of Carpe Diem. I was reminded to live deliberately in retirement.

Must read!

Fascinating and insightful look at the life of Henry David Thoreau. Caused me to contemplate my life’s work, to fully appreciate what I’ve done so far and how I move forward from here. I want to read again and make some notes.

Interesting Observations of Work Based on Thoreau

I found this book to be very thoughtful. It forced me to consider what is the value of work and how work should be viewed. I would suggest that before you listen to this you may want to read On Walden Pond so you have some context for the authors points about work. I found myself pulling off the shelf my now 50 year old copy to reread Thoreau in the original. I would suggest that this book would make an interesting discussion on the meaning of work for high school seniors or early in college / skill study. Thanks to the authors for their work and making me think.