Brut McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness podcast.

We don't often think of work when we think of Henry David Thoreau.

We think of Thoreau living with his family or loafing around at a cabinet walled in,

and mostly spending his days walking and enjoying nature.

We know he did some writing, sure, but often think of him as being largely the abstract

thinker type.

Thoreau was a man of much practical skill who lived a life of both thought and action.

He did all kinds of work, from carpentry to surveying, to helping raise Ralph Waldo Emerson's

kids.

And thought a lot about the nature of work, but the paid variety and the kind that's necessary

for simply sustaining day to day life.

To end the show, John Cag, Professor Philosophy and the co-author of Henry at Work, Thoreau

and Making a Living, share some of Thoreau's insights on work with us.

We discuss what Thoreau can teach us about the value of resignation, the importance of

continuing to work with your hands to maintain what Thoreau called your vital heat, what

makes for meaningful work, and the trap of working in that faith.

We in our conversation, with a call to consider what you're really being paid for in your job,

and the true cost of the things you buy.

After shows over, check out our show notes at a-o-m.is-c-n-re-a-work.

Alright, John Cag, welcome back to the show.

Oh, thanks so much for having me.

I really appreciate it.

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