More Than Money: How Work Shapes Our Identity

Reviews the book, Purpose and Meaning in the Workplace edited by Bryan J. Dik, Zinta S. Byrne, and Michael F. Steger (see record 2012-34174-000). The theme of this book follows this structure, and the contributors to the volume argue that a person’s work is more than a collection of tasks performed for money: It is an important part of how individuals create and explain their identity. As the title of the book suggests, work has the potential to give an individual a sense of purpose and meaning. The book addresses a range of theoretical issues for developing psychologically and professionally healthy workplaces. In addition, the 27 contributors provide a set of strategies for applying these ideas. The book is organized into 10 chapters addressing three major themes. These themes include career development, job structure/content, and organizational leadership. Although every main point is theoretically based, it is easy to see which of these concepts need more research or need additional work in practical applications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)