Kindle
$9.59
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$9.59
Buy new:
-44% $9.59
FREE delivery Saturday, May 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$9.59 with 44 percent savings
List Price: $16.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, May 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 16. Order within 20 hrs 9 mins
In Stock
$$9.59 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$9.59
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.03
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, May 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 16. Order within 20 hrs 9 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$9.59 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$9.59
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Jeff Goins
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do Paperback – March 24, 2015

by Jeff Goins (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,895 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$9.59","priceAmount":9.59,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"59","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"Sc8h6A1JUYwDh8rEOdx8JtAxuNZDJXWlsNbZJyVpy8qzyV0MTZulaG7cXL4BG0YJGghjfrR1W84%2BFEzRE%2BkvwWOCKpkdpuaLijUJ81HdY8rcHn26Ywc5ISKWjIuMwKIs2tjk0aHgQFGC%2FB4S03QKvg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.03","priceAmount":8.03,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"03","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"Sc8h6A1JUYwDh8rEOdx8JtAxuNZDJXWlpXczwOzuz39wz0JKDDUslCILGz%2BGw7wj4XpZm6XCB3dmdW90mpLnJHydasHdlcWGT71%2BQMt%2Fh%2Ba70Add89MkztwJAtXA2n99aiDvnkdebq1LmsSGpvFeNWV57O%2FF8aqwJ7Eofnn%2F4JiHSMem2aA39rRE03%2BmmFdR","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

USA TODAY, WASHINGTON POST, AND PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY BESTSELLER!

Jeff Goins, a brilliant new voice counting Seth Godin and Jon Acuff among his fans, explains how to abandon the status quo and live a life that matters with true passion and purpose.

The path to your life's work is difficult and risky, even scary, which is why few finish the journey. This is a book about discovering your life's work, that treasure of immeasurable worth we all long for. It's about the task you were born to do.

As Jeff Goins explains, the search begins with passion but does not end there. Only when our interests connect with the needs of the world do we begin living for a larger purpose. Those who experience this intersection experience something exceptional and enviable. Though it is rare, such a life is attainable by anyone brave enough to try.

Through personal experience, compelling case studies, and current research on the mysteries of motivation and talent, Jeff shows readers how to find their vocation and what to expect along the way.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperCollins Leadership
  4. Publication date
    March 24, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    5.45 x 0.9 x 8.35 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780718022075
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0718022075
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do
$9.59
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 18
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life
$13.85
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 18
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Mastery
$17.99
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 18
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

From the Publisher

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

Finding your purpose is more of a path than a plan: it involves twists and turns that you never expected. Ultimately these surprises lead you to your destiny. And once you arrive at what you thought was the destination, you realize it’s only another leg in the journey. This book is a description of that path, as well as the steps it takes to navigate it. It’s the way of master craftsmen and artisans, a centuries-old road that requires both perseverance and dedication—the narrow path that few find. Discovering your calling, it turns out, isn’t so simple. If you’re feeling stuck in life, The Art of Work is the roadmap you need to discern, embrace, and master your calling to build a body of work you can be proud of.

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

AUTHOR BIO

Jeff Goins is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur. He is the best-selling author of five books, including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. His award-winning blog Goinswriter.com is visited by millions of people every year, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Psychology Today, Business Insider, The Huffington Post, Time, and hundreds of other publications. Through his online courses, events, and coaching programs, he helps thousands of creatives succeed every year. Jeff lives just outside of Nashville, where he makes the world’s best guacamole.

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

Follow the seven stages of calling to discover your life’s work.

Understand how accidental apprenticeships differ from mentoring and why taking action is key.

Learn how believing The Myth of the Leap can prevent you from achieving your dreams.

Discover how living The Portfolio Life can lead to your greatest satisfaction and best work.

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

The Art of Work, Jeff Goins, Framework, Discernment, Impact, Leadership, Business

Steven Pressfield—best-selling author of The War of Art

“The Art of Work will make you think differently about what you do and how you do it. Jeff Goins is a fresh young voice in a field full of copycats. He challenges us to approach our work the way we would a canvas—both delicately and with furious discipline. People will be reading this book, and profiting from it, for a long time.”

Seth Godin—best-selling author of What to Do When It’s Your Turn

“This is one of the most honest, direct, and generous books about you and your life that you will read this year. It took guts to write and it will take guts to read. Leap.”

Michael Hyatt—New York Times best-selling author and former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers

“Today, unlike any previous time in history, we have options about the work we do and the role it plays in our lives. But it is precisely here that so many of us get stuck. With so many choices, we struggle to figure out what we really want or where to start once we do. In The Art of Work, Jeff Goins provides a clear framework for discerning our calling, developing our mastery, and

maximizing our impact. This is the plan we’ve been waiting for—from a guide we can trust.”

Chris Brogan—New York Times best-selling author of The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth

“This is the real stuff. The Art of Work is a powerful dive into what matters, how to connect with that inside yourself, and then how to bring it out into the world in a useful way. This book will push some buttons you want pushed, and from there, it will guide you toward a new level. Dig in.”

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is one of the most honest, direct, and generous books about you and your life that you will read this year. It took guts to write and it will take guts to read. Leap." —Seth Godin, best-selling author of What to Do When It's Your Turn

"The Art of Work will make you think differently about what you do and how you do it. Jeff Goins is a fresh young voice in a field full of copycats. He challenges us to approach our work the way we would a canvas--both delicately and with furious discipline. People will be reading this book, and profiting from it, for a long time."
—Steven Pressfield, best-selling author of The War of Art

"Today, unlike any previous time in history, we have options about the work we do and the role it plays in our lives. But it is precisely here that so many of us get stuck. With so many choices, we struggle to figure out what we really want or where to start once we do. In The Art of Work, Jeff Goins provides a clear framework for discerning our calling, developing our mastery, and maximizing our impact. This is the plan we've been waiting for--from a guide we can trust."
—Michael Hyatt, New York Times best-selling author and former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers

"I used to think hating your job was just a normal part of every adult's life--that is until I discovered I could build a job I actually loved. Thank goodness for Jeff and thank goodness for this book. Here's to not waiting one more day to find, build, and engage in work you love!"
—Allison Vesterfelt, author of Packing Light

"This is the real stuff. The Art of Work is a powerful dive into what matters, how to connect with that inside yourself, and then how to bring it out into the world in a useful way. This book will push some buttons you want pushed, and from there, it will guide you toward a new level. Dig in."
—Chris Brogan, New York Times best-selling author of The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth

"At times, The Art of Work felt like I was reading my diary. Jeff has such a knack for clearly articulating the thoughts we’ve all quietly wondered!”
—Jon Acuff, New York Times best- selling author of Do over and Start

“How would it feel to go to work each day because you wanted to—not because you had to? In The Art of Work, Jeff Goins shows you how. This is a real-life treasure map that can lead you to the life you were meant to live.”
—Chris Guillebeau, New York Times best-selling author of The Happiness of Pursuit and The $100 Startup

“Our hearts crave connection to a meaningful calling. The Art of Work shares the process for hearing that calling and then doing the work that feels like ‘slipping into an old pair of shoes.’ A must-read for anyone wanting to live a life that matters—fully alive.”
—Dan Miller, New York Times best-selling author of 48 Days To The Work You Love

“The Art of Work accomplishes the next to impossible, providing clear, relevant, useful guidance on finding your calling while being enormously enjoyable to read. It is required reading for anyone who is asking, ‘What should I do with my life?’”
—Pamela Slim, author of Body of Work

From the Author

"What's happened to you is rare," my friend Mark said to me just before I made one of the most important decisions of my life--the decision to quit my job and become a full-time writer. My last day at work also happened to be my thirtieth birthday, which made it a milestone in many respects. The truth, though, is the day itself was less significant than the process it took to get there.

When asked how I got to this point, I struggle to give an intelligent answer. The experience of finding your calling can be both mysterious and practical. It takes effort but also seems to happen to you at times. What I've come to understand is that finding your purpose is more of a path than a plan: it involves twists and turns that you never expected. Ultimately these surprises lead you to your destiny. And once you arrive at what you thought was the destination, you realize it's only another leg in the journey.

This book is a description of that path, as well as the steps it takes to navigate it.

Everyone, it seems, is searching for a purpose, for something to satisfy their deepest desires. I believe that "something" is a calling.

What is a calling? You will hear me use the word interchangeably with the terms vocation and life's work, but quite simply, it is the reason you were born.

When I began working on this project, I thought I knew what the process of pursuing a dream looked like, but what I found surprised me. Discovering your calling, it turns out, isn't quite so simple. The journey looks different for each person, but there are common themes that consistently emerge. If we look at those themes, we can identify a pattern that will help us understand our own vocations a little better.

What if what happened to me wasn't so rare? What if everyone has a calling? That was the question that sent me on my journey. The people whose stories appear in this book, many of whom I personally interviewed, are not extraordinary, in the sense that you've heard their stories before.

They are not typical case studies for success, and that was intentional. In these seemingly ordinary accounts, I think we understand our own stories, which often feel far too ordinary for our liking, a little better. Some readers might be disappointed with the subjectivity of such a book. But this is the way we live our lives--not as research projects and book reports--but as anecdotes and emotions. And in each experience, we find certain truths we might otherwise miss. My hope is these stories connect with you in ways that plain facts cannot, and in reading them, you too are changed.

The Art of Work was not the book I intended to write but ended up being the one I was supposed to write. A calling is like that too, I suppose. It is the thing that you never thought would be, the twist in the plot that makes everything else come together, and somehow in the end you cannot imagine otherwise. 
Writing this book illuminated my own understanding of how purpose and vocation work together, and I hope it does the same for you.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0718022076
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins Leadership (March 24, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780718022075
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0718022075
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 0.9 x 8.35 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,895 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jeff Goins

Jeff Goins

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Jeff Goins is a writer, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur with a reputation for challenging the status quo. He is the best-selling author of five books including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. His award-winning blog Goinswriter.com is visited by millions of people every year, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Psychology Today, Business Insider, Time, and many others. Through his online courses, events, and coaching programs, he helps thousands of creatives succeed every year. A father of two and a guacamole aficionado, Jeff lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,895 global ratings
What is your calling?
4 Stars
What is your calling?
Even though Jeff specifically said that this wasn't a 'guru book,' I think I still expected it to be. Jeff has always written in an affirming nature: 'everyone has a story to tell,' and Art of Work is no different. It focuses on figuring out the path to discover your calling, interspersed with stories of people finding their calling. I'm enjoying it thus far.This book is equal parts inspirational, self-help, and a regaling of people who exemplify what Jeff coins a “portfolio life.” This read in more relaxed and perhaps introspective. Unlike other books out there, there is no end goal, other than perhaps a hearty, “I can do this too.”I firmly believe that if someone hasn’t found their calling, this may be just the book to give them the proverbial “kick in the pants’.” So, if you're looking for a 'guru' or 'how-to' book, you should look elsewhere. If you want an inspirational book about discovering your path, then Art of Work is for you.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Gathering The Kings
5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Pleasure
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
Jeff Goins writes one of the greatest books on discovering the joy and passion behind work. With great stories from all over the world of people who have tapped into a well of satisfaction at their jobs, Mr. Goins does an incredible job of capturing their hearts in order to prove his points. This is not on the must read list for all of our new hires.
Helpful
 Report
Gerard White
4.0 out of 5 stars What a Difference a Book Makes
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
“It seems to me I could live my life a lot better than I think I am. I guess that’s call me, they call me the workin’ man.” — Rush

The Art of Work by Jeff Goins is a fantastic book that both self-help book for searchers and manifesto on the importance of taking pride in one’s vocation. Whether or not you are content with your chosen career or not, this book is a must read.

One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book was its organization. Mr. Goins takes the reader through a three part process of “Preparation,” “Action,” and “Completion,” in which the chapters of each part lay out the ideas through real world vignettes, specific language, and logical arguments. While the messages build and overlap, at no time does the book feel stale or repetitive.

The true genius of the book, however, is Mr. Goins’s remarkable ability to address current societal and workplace trends without seeming preachy, such as this excerpt on craft:

“For those who grew up on microwaves and prime-time TV, the concept of craft is lost to us. We did not grow up with an understanding of doing things with excellence, if it was expedient and got the job done, then it was good enough. In a world intent on following the path of least resistance, the goal is expediency, not excellence.”

I was born in 1967, so I feel as though I have one foot in each generation, and this resonated with me. My father always took pride in his work, always went the extra mile, and never gave less than his best. He in turn passed this valuable lesson onto my sister and me. However, once I entered the work force, the messages I heard were quite different. “Time is money!” “That’s good enough!” “Are you trying to make us look bad … stop working so hard!”

One of the more interesting concepts that Mr. Goins introduces is “The Portfolio Life,” and while the actual idea is the brainchild of the Irish author/philosopher Charles Handy, it is Mr. Goins unpacking of the idea that makes it a clear and tangible option.

“The basic idea of a portfolio life is that instead of thinking of your work as a monolithic activity, what if you chose to see it as the complex group of interests, passions, and activities it is?”

Your true vocation is a manifestation of all of your life’s work, not just what you are paid to do or where you receive your benefits. Understanding this system of living, if you will, allows the reader to begin to open up to their dreams, passions, and direction that lies within. Once I started to look at my life as a total package and not divided by work, family life, hobbies, etc., what I was seeking began to become more apparent allowing me to focus on where all things in my life were pointing to and taking me. To swim against this, is why sometimes life becomes miserable and monotonous.

White reading The Art of Work, I came to see that while I enjoy my job, and give it my best, in the end it is not what I want as a vocation. I, like Mr. Goins, have always wanted to be a writer. And like his situation, I am a writer, but I have never allowed it to become my primary focus. As Mr. Goins so eloquently points out in the following passage, all my preparation - the schooling, the internships, the sacrifices - have brought me to a place I thought I wanted to be, but in the end, it isn’t where I was meant to be.

“All this preparation has culminated in helping you achieve the wrong goal. At those times, you might feel stuck. What do you do then? … You realize that it’s never too late to change and take a turn in the direction of your true calling.”

Before you think that the book will simply make you yearn for pursing your dreams, I assure you that it is much more than that. It helped me recognize my dreams, appreciate my portfolio thus far, and show me steps to fine tune my life to lead me to my true calling or vocation.

In the book, the author also tells the reader the importance of apprenticeship, and introduces the concept of accidental apprenticeships. In reading this book, I became an apprentice, when I least expected it! Thank you, Mr. Goins for a being a wonderful model to follow.

Oh, and Mr. Goins, I’ll be stopping by for guacamole sometime in the near future!
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Cori Dyson
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
I first discovered Jeff Goins from the app coach.me (formerly lift) when he hosted a #500 word every day challenge. I looked into his website and recommended his blog course for my wife. Only recently have I read his book and started the Art of Work Mastermind course for myself and I'm wondering why I waited so long. About a year ago I began a painful process of realizing that all that I had studied, trained, spent long hours and hardships for was no longer satisfying and I kept thinking that there has to be more to life. His book has been as much instructive as it has been confirmative for me.

One normally receives this type of validation and confirmation in the confines of a relationship with someone, but Jeff is able to write a book for the masses in a conversational style like we are simply having coffee together and catching up and is able to provide that elusive validation through print. Validation through the written word alone would be worth getting the book.

Jeff brings you on a journey with him and along the way meeting interesting people whose own stories clearly elucidate his points. This journey has unexpected twists and turns that while surprising also fit in the journey. By the end of the book, you have taken a tour around the world, met unique and interesting people, become friends with Jeff, and learned more about who you are as a person and what you want out of life.

This book is part philosophy, part atlas, and part trailblazing. It is difficult to put this book into one niche or one hole, it simply doesn't fit. You will be changed by the end of the book in ways you didn't expect. You will discover something about yourself that you did not know before you picked the book up.

For me, this book is validation that I am moving in the right direction. This book is and will be an inspiration to keep going when it gets hard and to push through those parts because the best is just around the bend.

The book is easy to read, flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter and is written well. It is a very quick read and most could read it in a weekend. It is one that you will want to keep, dog ear pages, re-read parts or the whole later on. It is informative, transformative and a simple joy to read. I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone. This would make a great gift as well.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
Please mind that you can’t just read the book and hope anything changes. You’ve got to practice.
Report
A great reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Greta book
Reviewed in India on October 11, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book helps you understand the importance of your Life's calling nd also helps you to visualise what will be your thoughts when you are on the death bed..this is important to know.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Mario
3.0 out of 5 stars Hay mejores libros, este es puro rollo
Reviewed in Mexico on October 28, 2018
Verified Purchase
Si buscas un libro para encontrar tu llamado, es mejor que busques a autores que estén especializados en este tema y con suficiente experiencia tales como Jack canfield o ken Robinson o inclusive Susan jeffers, este autor es solamente otro blogero que junta lo que tiene y lo “escribe bonito” para su libro
Report
BookWorm
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and Motivating
Reviewed in Canada on September 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
This was just what I was looking for. Lots of great examples and motivation on what a calling is and how to find yours. Easy and practical. I would recommend to others.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Lin
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for those looking for the meaning/ purpose of life
Reviewed in Australia on November 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book drew life examples to demonstrate what's the callings for us, possible ways to find them and how to live a better and enriched life.

What I learnt most from the book is
1. Bonhoeffer case- who lost his life due to his answer to the calling showing that pursuit of the dream can be deadly, but the reward/ legacy / the experience is something we cannot simply acquire with money
2. No one is born with a plan, the calling/ purpose is found through a series action
3. "The most important stuff is the ordinary stuff. The smallest moments, the ones we think are insignificant are the ones we will cherish the most.
4. "Life is not a support system for your work, your work is a support system for your life
5. We are more capable than what we realise. To become a better version of ourselves, it requires 'the kind of practice' and 'intentional effort' which push us beyond who we are.
Report