We are told to 'do what we love' in life and our careers. Is that a fallacy? | Open thread

A recent commentary in Jacobin raises the question of whether young people are being fed a lie about following their passionMany 20 and 30-somethings (if not those older and younger than that) grew up hearing the advice that all you need to do in life is "find your passion". The implication is that if you "do what you love" (in shorthand: DWYL), success – and presumably happiness and money – would follow. People like Apple's Steve Jobs and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg were held up as examples (if not gurus) of this "DWYL" trend, alongside people who quit investment banking jobs to become cheese farmers, plumbers or yoga entrepreneurs. But writer and art history scholar Miya Tokumitsu argues that this romanticized notion of the working world is a dangerous fallacy. It's the modern-day equivalent of the emperor's new clothes myth.In a much shared commentary for Jacobin magazine (later re-printed on Slate.com), Tokumitsu writes:DWYL is a secret handshake of the privileged and a worldview that disguises its elitism as noble self-betterment. According to this way of thinking, labor is not something one does for compensation but is an act of love. If profit doesn't happen to follow, presumably it is because the worker's passion and determination were insufficient. Its real achievement is making workers believe their labor serves the self and not the marketplace.She points out that the vast majority of jobs have no place in the DWYL world because they are "done out of motives or... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Registration for BookExpo Opens

Just before many publishers broke for the holidays, ReedPop announced that registration has opened for BookExpo 2017, taking place May 31–June 2 at the Javits Center in New York City. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Applications open for Scottish teen writers' programme

Scottish Book Trust has opened applications for next year’s What’s Your Story?, a writing programme for teenagers aged 14-17. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BrandPost: In the New Year, Use Tech to Live Life to the Fullest

It seems like every new year brings the same old batch of resolutions: lose weight, join a gym, organize that closet once and for all. But according to consumer research firm Nielsen, there’s another self-improvement pledge that’s nearly as popular as fitness: “Enjoy life to the fullest.”That... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pocket Shop opens in Liverpool Street Station

Bonnier-owned retail chain Pocket Shop has opened a second London branch in Liverpool Street underground station. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gramercy Books Opens in Columbus

Yesterday afternoon marked the soft opening of Gramercy Books, which was founded by writer Linda Kass, author of 'Tasa’s Song' and is co-owned with long-time bookseller John Gaylord, who has opened 24 stores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hot Books for the Holidays in Paris: Love Letters to a Mistress

Selling well in France, controversial François Mitterand books, love letters for the former president's mistress, are on offer to international publishers. The post Hot Books for the Holidays in Paris: Love Letters to a Mistress appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An open letter to Swindon Council

Author/illustrator and Swindon Libraries Patron Steve Antony pens an open letter in response to plans to close 10 of the borough's 15 libraries Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Emma Straub to Open a Bookstore in Brooklyn

After learning that her neighborhood bookstore in Brooklyn, BookCourt, will close December 31, bestselling author Emma Straub announced she and her husband plan to open Books Are Magic next spring in the same area. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Caitlyn Jenner's memoir 'The Secrets of My Life' will be published in April

Caitlyn Jenner, the Olympic legend turned reality television star who came out as transgender last year, has revealed the title of her upcoming memoir: “The Secrets of My Life.” In a Twitter post Monday, Jenner shared an image showing the title of the book and its publication date of April 25,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2016 Costa Short Story Award: public vote opens

The public vote for the 2016 Costa Short Story Award is now open and three shortlisted stories, selected from over 1,000 entires, are now available to read and listen to from the Costa Book Awards website.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spread the Word launches new Life Writing Prize

Writer development organisation Spread the Word is launching a new nationwide Life Writing Prize, thanks to a donation from writer Joanna Munro and partnership support from Goldsmiths Writers’ Centre, the Royal Society of Literature and Arvon. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Julian Barnes: opening up Man Booker to US authors is 'daft'

Julian Barnes has reignited the debate over the Man Booker Prize rule changes, calling the decision to allow American authors to compete "straightforwardly daft". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Little Toller Books opens gallery for Christmas

Independent Dorset-based publisher Little Toller Books is to open a gallery showcasing the work of its collaborators. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Plotting a career

David Walliams says writing children's books is "definitely the thing that gives me most pleasure". Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2016-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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B&N Concept Store Opens In Eastchester

Barnes & Noble's first concept store, originally slated to open in October in Eastchester, N.Y., opened on Tuesday morning. The official grand opening is set for December 2. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Life begins at thirty for Honno

One of the oldest women’s publishing ventures in the UK has big plans for its fourth decade in the trade, its founders tell Natasha Onwuemezi. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We Love You, Charlie Freeman optioned for film

Sovereign Films has acquired global film rights to We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge (Algonquin Books). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Anna Kendrick book: Her career and the rise of 'Pitch Perfect'

Anna Kendrick's new memoir, 'Scrappy Little Nobody,' was released on Nov. 15. One of the actress's most famous roles is as the protagonist in the 'Pitch' films, which became an unexpected hit. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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B&N Concept Store to Open Nov. 22

After several changes on when its new concept store in Eastchester, N.Y. will open, Barnes & Noble has now set November 22 as the new date. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Avon's Maze acquires 'Love Actually'-style romance novel

Maze, the digital-first imprint of Avon, HarperCollins, has acquired a "'Love Actually'-style interlinked romance novel" by debut author Tracy Corbett, as part of its programme to launch fresh talent. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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