Esther Chilton

I was keen to read this book as soon as I saw it. Described as ‘Stories, memoirs and poems about the social dimensions of work’, it makes for fascinating reading. It features pieces from several writers and was put together by Yvette Prior (Priorhouse Blog). Here’s the blurb:

This anthology offers a thoughtful exploration of the social dimensions of work, bringing together a diverse collection of voices through memoir, fiction, and poetry. The contributors share their unique experiences of labor, identity, and motivation, revealing the complex social layers that shape how we work.

Beyond the practical concerns of pay and productivity, this volume looks at how work influences our sense of self and community. It invites readers to reflect on the deeper meaning of labor and to consider how personal history, values, and environment inform the way we approach our roles.

We share our work experiences to help one another grow in knowledge, wisdom, and self-awareness. This collection seeks to empower, entertain, and connect readers through honest expression and creative storytelling.

Perfect for anyone interested in unique stories related to work, the anthology offers rich perspectives that speak to people from many backgrounds. The memoirs reveal deeply personal journeys. The fiction invites the reader into imaginative explorations of working life. The poems express the emotional realities of purpose, perseverance, and transformation.

This book is designed as a tool for positive change. Its aim is to offer diverse perspectives that may shift attitudes, expand awareness, and inspire new ways of thinking about labor. Through personal narratives and creative expression, the authors encourage empathy, curiosity, and a more thoughtful engagement with the roles we inhabit.

Behind every job title, task, and form of labor, whether paid or unpaid, there is a human being striving to make sense of it all. A person balancing ambition with exhaustion, growth with uncertainty, and change with stability. Some of the themes that emerge throughout the collection include leadership, values, identity alignment, work–life balance, and burnout. A more detailed discussion of these thematic outcomes can be found in the Afterword.

Work is not only what we do to survive. It is a stage upon which much of life unfolds: identity, struggle, pride, absurdity, challenge, growth, and connection.

Each author hopes you find meaning in these stories, memoirs, and poems. Work is not just a task or a title. It is a reflection of our values and of who we believe we need to become.

My review

What I enjoyed most about this book was the variety of shared experiences, through true accounts, fictionalised stories and poetry. It made me look at the role of work at a much deeper level, rather than as a means to an end.

Particular favourites of mine are ‘Quiet Work of Love’ by Sherri Mathews, which looks at the role of becoming a carer for a parent; ‘Eighty-five Degrees for Me’ by Marsha Ingrao, which is a fiction story about a teacher struggling to teach in a school which fails the children and teachers; and ‘Behind the Glass and Steel’, a wonderful collection of poems by Robbie Cheadle, which looks at several aspects of work.

I also enjoyed the summaries at the end, where Yvette highlights the main takeaways from each chapter.

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