MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your “Enough”

“Too many of us live our lives to optimize the soul-destroying equation of: self-worth = net worth,” according to this encouraging work manual. CFA Thakor (On My Own Two Feet) argues that readers should develop a healthier relationship with their career by placing less importance on keeping up with the Joneses and instead spending time and money on more fulfilling endeavors, which she suggests might take the form of hanging out with loved ones or starting a new hobby. She contends that workaholism is driven by a tendency to draw misleading comparisons between oneself and others (easy access to credit and well-manicured social media presences can create the false appearance that others are better off than they are, Thakor points out), as well as by the erroneous belief that “possessions, symbols, accomplishments, numbers, titles, experiences, or credentials” give life meaning. Her appraisal of the factors underlying America’s work obsession is perceptive, and her personal account of burning out from working multiple all-nighters per week and competing with coworkers to curry favor with superiors at a “Game of Thrones–like” global investment bank will resonate with overextended readers. It’s a potent call to get away from one’s desk. (Aug.)