Overview

In this humorous memoir, New York Times bestselling author Father James Martin tells the story of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, and corporate tool and, finally, a Jesuit priest. Work in Progress is a snapshot of several years--first as a boy, then as a teenager, and finally as a young adult--of being thrown into a series of jobs for which Martin had zero training. He had never set foot in a restaurant kitchen before working as a busboy and dishwasher; never stepped onto a golf course before working as a caddy; and had never seen a factory floor before working as an assembly-line worker. He almost always felt uncomfortable, unsettled, and uneasy. But, like many of us, he needed the money. This coming-of-age story is set in the 1960s and 1970s, a lighthearted tale for listeners who enjoy personal narratives, and it's unlike anything Father Martin has written before. As he puts it, ""This is a spiritual memoir from a different angle...told 'slant' as Emily Dickinson might say."" Each chapter features memories and milestones throughout Father Martin's young life. If you are an aficionado of snafus, you won't be disappointed. He's not the hero of these stories, more a hapless teenager who learns in each job, even the ones he loathes, something about the value of work, about what it means to be an adult, about people, and about life overall. Work in Progress teaches us small but important life lessons: work hard, be on time, don't be mean, apologize when you need to, forgive frequently, ask if you don't know something, don't misuse power, pay attention to those who are struggling, listen and, above all, be kind.

Full Product Details

9798228694453

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Reviews

""Funny, charming, inspiring, and wise--this is a memorable memoir."" -- ""Stephen Colbert, television host""

Author Information

Rev. James Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Learning to Pray, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything. Father Martin is a frequent commentator in the national and international media, having appeared on all the major networks and outlets, like The Colbert Report, NPR's Fresh Air, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Rev. James Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Learning to Pray, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything. Father Martin is a frequent commentator in the national and international media, having appeared on all the major networks and outlets, like The Colbert Report, NPR's Fresh Air, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.

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