In a world in which individuals will undergo multiple career changes, is it possible any longer to conceive of a job as a meaningful vocation? Against the background of fragmentation and rationalisation of work, this book explores the significance and meaning of work in contemporary life, raising the question of whether people continue to feel motivated to dedicate their lives to their work, or must now look to other areas of life for meaning. Based on rich, in-depth interviews conducted with workers of different ages and across a broad range of occupations in the city of Melbourne, Making a Living, Making a Life reveals that work continues to be a source of pride, passion and purpose.

Sara James is a Lecturer in the Department of Social Inquiry at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. She was born in the United Kingdom and grew up in Melbourne. Her main research interests are in the sociology of work and cultural sociology, with a particular focus on meaning and self-identity. Sara also undertakes research in higher education pedagogy, focusing on the first-year experience. She is co-author of Sociology in Today's World (3rd edition, 2014), an introductory text for sociology students.

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction: The Significance of Work in Liquid Modernity

2. The Fate of the Work Ethic

3. Work and Self-Identity: Vocation, Authenticity and Passion

4. Seeking Sensation and Meaningful Work

5. Conclusion

Appendix 1: Research Methodology

Appendix 2: List of Participants and their Occupations

Appendix 3: Profiles of Research Participants

Index