BLOG 6

Arthur C. Brooks wrote an article titled I Love My Work. Mr. Brooks article was about how important work is to our happiness. Mr. Brooks started his article by looking at a small town in an Austrian village, Marienthal. Marienthal village was supported by one textile factory which employed three quarters of the town’s residents. In 1929 the factory closed and majority of the families lost their income. The town had a very active community after the plant closed the villagers lost their ambition to participate in the social activities that were normal for the village.  Mr. Brooks goes to write how sociologists studied the village and that it was not the importance of the wages but the ability to earn them. Mr. Brooks states that Work is not just a means to an end. Work has enormous intrinsic value. Mr. Brooks uses statistics from the General Social Survey (GSS) to show that 89% of adult workers are very satisfied with their job and only 11% were not satisfied. Mr. Books also states that of the people who are very happy with their life 95% of them are satisfied with their job. Mr. Brooks article continues on by trying to show how important the work we do is to our own happiness and self worth, he’s says that it is not the money but the recognition and value of our work that gives us happiness.

 

 

Mr. Brooks article was very informative. I do not believe the statistics that he presented. In my opinion I think most people only go to work because they have to pay their bills. Work gives us a purpose, a reason to wake up and to socialize with other people but to say that 89% percent of the working adults are satisfied with their jobs is a tainted survey. The company that did the survey most likely asked questions that had no follow-up question. Most people probably are satisfied with were they work but how many would change if they were to get better pay, a more flexible schedule or it was a job they had more personal interest in. I think most people are content but not very happy with the work they due.        

 

 

 

Arthur C. Brooks

I Love My Work

The American 1 no6 20-4, 26, 28 s/o2007