March 26, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
NEW BOOKS
Practical Idealists: Changing the World and Getting Paid
by Ann Barham, John Hammock, and Alissa S. Wilson
Working toward a better world and earning a decent living are not mutually exclusive goals, say the authors of this work–Ann Barham, a writer and researcher; John Hammock, a professor at Tufts University and former president of Oxfam America; and Alissa S. Wilson, a researcher.
For their study, the three interviewed more than 40 people who have succeeded in achieving that balance by working at nonprofit groups, as well as in business and government.
In the chapter “Work and Jobs,” they outline some possible career options and supply questions to help readers judge whether the jobs would be a good fit. For example, following a section on working for a nonprofit group, the authors urge readers to ask themselves whether the charity they want to work for has a good reputation and is well managed, and whether the reader is comfortable with the group’s culture. The authors write about how readers can create their own organizations and jobs based on their interests.
The book also offers chapters on managing personal finances, exploring higher-education possibilities, and acquiring necessary skills.
Publisher: Harvard University Press, 79 Garden Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02138; (800) 405-1619; fax (800) 406-9145; contact_hup@harvard.edu; http://www.hup.harvard.edu; 228 pages; $15; ISBN 978-0-674-03207-1.
