LifeWork: Finding Your Purpose in Life [Paperback]

Ph.D. Rick Sarkisian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1997

LifeWork is a unique approach to discovering the presence of God in all that we do. A special emphasis is placed on the unique, personal vocation and mission to which all are called; of special interest to students and young adults.

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089870636X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898706369
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,140,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that belongs in every Catholic family, April 13, 2000

By 

Family Life Center "Book Lover" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LifeWork: Finding Your Purpose in Life (Paperback)

In the course of my work, I receive dozens of books and manuscripts for review. Most find their way to a dusty corner of my office. Not so with Life Work: Finding Your Purpose in Life by Rick Sarkisian. Being the father of three teens, I immediately recognized the value of this book to help my older children discover their life purpose. I took Life Work home and asked all of my teens to read it. I then used Life Work as a starting point in my discussions with my teenagers about calling, career, and college.

Some people expect a book of this type to be like a magic pill that once swallowed will instantly reveal God's will for their lives. Truly discovering God's will requires effort. This book will not replace the personal disciplines necessary to discover God's will, but it certainly provides the path to follow for the honest and diligent seeker.

It starts with the foundation of rooting ourselves in God himself as a prelude to finding his will. Rick Sarkisian then describes a truly Catholic and historic Christian understanding of a personal vocation. Clear descriptions and practical advice is given for each of the four states of life: marriage, the priesthood, consecrated life and the permanent diaconate.

Life Work challenges the reader to use one's God-given abilities to bring glory to God, no matter which state of life one is called to. The final section of the book includes an extremely useful guide in making plans and decisions regarding career, training, and educational opportunities. Rick Sarkisian's twenty years of experience in professional vocational and career development is condensed for easy understanding and application for the reader. I have had the opportunity of not only using Life Work in my own family, but I have also recommended it as the finest Catholic book of its kind to families throughout North America. This is a book that belongs in every Catholic family.

A final thought - many parents end up paying for five or six years of college before their children obtain an undergraduate degree. Just think - preventing one switch of a college major in an effort to "find oneself" will pay for this book a thousandfold. Using a tool like Life Work can help any concerned parent direct his child into the path he or she should follow.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lifework: Finding your purpose in life, April 14, 2000

By 

Robert V. Cobb (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LifeWork: Finding Your Purpose in Life (Paperback)

LifeWork is a unique book in that it combines information on vocation and mission with a built in "workbook" approach for planning, all from a Catholic perspective.

I appreciate the practical nature of LifeWork, which is geared to high school and college age youth. This book is ideal for older teens in catechetical programs, Catholic high school seniors, and youth ministry programs. Having read extensively, I can confidently assert that there is nothing like it on the market today.

The complementary LifeWork video is a great intro to the concepts detailed in the book. In combination, the book and video form a complete package, a program for "life work" discernment and planning.

If you are looking for a "handbook" on vocations, work, and decision-making from a Catholic perspective, this is the book for you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: LifeWork: Finding Your Purpose in Life (Paperback)

I found this book to be most valuable, and I think it will enlighten people of all ages who are actively seeking God's direction for their lives.

I love Dr. Sarkisian's plain-spoken style, and his step-by-step approach makes it easy to feel like you're making progress toward discovering God's purpose for your life. He's communicative without being preachy, which makes reading his book a most pleasurable experience.

This book was probably targeted at young people (high school or college level), but I think it's appropriate for all ages. Speaking as a 30-something adult, I can honestly say that I learned a great deal about my purpose in life, and rediscovered God's love for me.

I enthusiastically recommend this book, and suggest that it would make a wonderful gift!