A BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION

I have just finished reading, for the second time, The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling by Stephen Cope, who is the director of the Institute for Extraordinary Living at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts. Have you ever asked yourself: “Am I doing the work I am called to do?” “And what is my calling anyway?” “Will I know it when I see it?”

If you have ever wondered what your purpose or your calling is, this book is a great guide to help you on your path toward living the life you were born to live – and knowing that life when you see it. As Stephen says, “In order to have a fulfilling life, you must discover the deep purpose hidden at the very core of who you are.” This beautifully written book describes the process of discovering and unlocking the unique possibility in each human soul.

Stephen takes us on a step-by-step tour of the story of Krishna and Arjuna in the spiritual classic, the Bhagavad Gita. He makes the story relevant to contemporary readers by weaving in stories of well-known Western lives that illuminate its central principles – including Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, Susan B. Anthony and others. Each of these characters is an example of a principle regarding one’s calling and living it – and in doing so, keeps the reader spell-bound while becoming more knowledgeable and clear about this whole business of a calling in life. This essential guide also includes everyday stories about following the path of truth, illustrating the relevance and usefulness of this classic yogic tale.

If you’re feeling lost in your own life’s journey, The Great Work of Your Life may provide you, as it did me, with answers to the burning questions you most need addressed – and it may just help you to discover and to embrace your true calling.