There's More to Life than Making a Living: Mastering Six Key Essentials on the Way to a Life of Significance

by Jack C. McDowell, Phil Needham (Contributor)

A significant life has positive meaning and value beyond individual success. It means contributing to the lives of others and showing compassion. In this book, Jack McDowell shares the six keys to a life of Find your calling, learn from your experiences, acquire habits that build character, discover the joy of generosity, build relationships for life, and don't retire. Each chapter contains specific actions that will help readers master the six essentials. These steps are the harvest of Jack's own experiences and they are, he says, "the gifts of a providential God to this seeker after a life with deeper and more lasting meaning."
Giving is man's God-ordained purpose. This book will provide encouragement and resources for the journey to a more significant life. It is a personal invitation to discover that there is far more to life than just making a living.

Genres: Religion

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 23, 2009

Reviews

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, someone on one of the message boards I frequent posed the question, "Why is the Salvation Army looked upon more favorably than other religious charities?" The overwhelming consensus was that they have a mission to help people without judging them or preaching to them, and people felt that that was rare among Christian organizations these days.

There's More to Life than Making a Living Mastering Six Key Essentials on the Way to a Life of Significance is a charming little book that's has something to offer everyone looking for more in life than the 9 to 5 rut. Without a doubt, it is a Christian book, but only because the author is Christian. His advice is sound whether one is Christian or not. Jack C. McDowell worked with the Salvation Army for 40 years planning and executing fundraising campaigns. Often, he would help other organizations such as the YMCA, United Way, churches and at least one synagogue raise funds for their projects. He found that once a community saw the benefits of giving generously to outstanding causes, all organizations benefited.

My favorite segment of this book was his discussion of tolerance. McDowell eloquently emphasizes the necessity of what he calls "active tolerance" with personal experience. In his opinion, you should not only "live and let live" but you should actively seek out the opinions and advice of people you don't agree with, who you may not like, or may think are real losers. (No, he doesn't call anyone a loser.) Through active tolerance, you can gain a perspective that you may not have gained otherwise. To me, this is a true Christian attitude. How much more effective is it to engage people in ways that make them feel validated than to take a holier-than-thou attitude and let them know you think they're going to hell.

I strongly recommend this book for all Christians. Mr. McDowell personifies Christianity the way Jesus taught it. His life is about feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and clothing the needy. His live is about loving your neighbor as yourself and remembering that everyone is your neighbor, not just the people who are like you.

This book came at a really good time as I was pretty down after reading Inheriting the Trade A Northern Family Confronts Its Legacy as the Largest Slave-Trading Dynasty in U.S. History. The world needs a lot more Jack McDowells.

Now, I am going to make a little plug. I have a sum of money set aside in my wallet for the next Salvation Army bell ringer I see. It's not loose change or whatever dollar bills I happen to have. This past week, the work the Salvation army does has really been brought to the forefront of my consciousness. I hope you'll take a look at what they do and drop something in the next kettle you see to.

(By the way, my next two book reviews should be on The Shining and The Hero of Ages, neither of which should lead to religious introspection.)

[Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading! I wasn't expecting to like this book, but the author's authentic voice as he relates his rags-to-riches via hard work story won me over. The author did become rich and successful, but that is not the emphasis of the book: as the title indicates, his emphasis is on finding a significant purpose in one's life, fulfilling one's destiny and achieving some level of wisdom and happiness.

I was afraid the religious aspect would overwhelm the message but this wasn't the case. I am not religious at all and yet I found it very personally relevant overall and most inspiring in places. Everyone, religious or not, wants to make a difference, live an interesting, significant life and find love, happiness and fulfillment, right?

Well, Jack McDowell certainly has done so and he provides some useful pointers for the rest of us.

(Note: I received this book for free via the Goodreads Book Giveaways.)

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could've been renamed "What I learned living on a farm" because there were a lot of references to when the author was growing up. It was an interesting perspective since most of us don't live that kind of life. And I also appreciated the very religious perspective that he provided. A good book for those that have strong faith in God.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly uplifting and encouraging book. I would put it in the category of "life changing". Masterfully written and straight from the heart, this book is a must read for anyone interested in finding lifes meaning. I highly recommend it. I learned so much from the principles in There's More to Life Than Making a Living.

[Alicia]

This book shows that you don't have to have money to have a good life.
I believe that many people would benefit from reading this book. I enjoyed reading it.