Life Work

I don't like to read novels, but a friend, who enjoys history, had recommended  String Too Short to Be Saved (Nonpareil Books, No. 5)  after I had told her about  Home Life in Colonial Days , Everyday Life in Early America  and  The Reshaping of Everyday Life: 1790-1840 (Everyday Life in America)  - so I thought I would read this biographical book and then decide if I wanted to read his novel (which I just ordered and received and will start tonight). I loved this book; it was extremely engaging and I like Donald Hall as a person and I enjoyed his thought patterns. It was fascinating to read about historical accounts of work in this world, his personal day, history of his work life and his daily work life, or Life Work. The second part of the book was more about his family history of work, his father's work and how it affected him and his life on his grandfather's farm which was fascinating and wonderful. When I read the last page last night, I decided to reread the preface because the last sentence was the first sentence and when I read it the first time I didn't understand. This book is a beautiful meditation on work and a reflection on life and history and it is a super choice for your next read.

There is the work that we actually do, the things we produce, the calls and deals we make, the programs we write and then there is the commitment and the diligence that we bring to our daily work. The second may be the better. While Donald Hall's poetry and prose products stand on their own 'Life Work' is a focus on his craft, his discipline. Unlike some of his other prose work this volume is prudently written.This is the book that started me down the path of reading all Donald Hall's work. After a few volumes it remains the best.

A family history of work in which we find dedication to it, aversion unavoidable in some, acceptance in others. The sadness of Turns of fate coupled with acceptance, all braided into a personal narrative of what life is, a beginning, a middle and an ending.

"Life Work" could be called "Ode to Work". Hall writes lovingly about his work on the family "home" place from his beginning farm work with his grandfather to his own writing work as an adult and inhabitant on the old farm where he now lives with his wife, poet Jane Kenyon. I found his attitude toward work refreshing. I appreciate his reflections on the meaning "work" gives to life. A life well-lived involves work one loves. Work can have a negative connotation in our culture. He upends that view. Not all of us can live his life, but we can find "work" we love be it tending a garden, caring for our family, flying a plane, cooking or something else.

Donald Hall is a great inspiration to me, as a writer, editor, and poet. This is one of the most important books I've ever read. My husband and I just had to pack up our lives, leave behind/sell/donate most of our things, and move across country, but this book will always go with me. There are lots of squishy how-to books about life . . . and work. This one is about Hall's life and work, but it speaks to all of us.

When I went looking for my old copy of Life Work I couldn't find it. I spent two weeks searching everywhere I could think of and contacting anybody I might have loaned it to. No luck. There was nothing for it but to get another on. This book is like an old friend. Donald Hall's reflections on art, work and the creative life are deep and worth reading many times.

I had heard friends talk about Donald Hall, but I was not familiar with his work. This is an extended meditation on how work is defined, and how it defines us. Was gratified especially Hall contextualizes his literary work in his personal history.

A writer or anyone who wants to understand how one extraordinary heart and mind turns life into poetry, simply must read this book. It is superb.

It was interesting reading the authors family history and the way life was back in earlier days! The way he described his life, those important to him and his own thoughts and processes along the way. Very descriptive!

人生にワークがいかに大切かを作者の先祖から説き起こしているが、もっと作者本人のことを書くべきだ。