The Hungry Spirit - by Charles Handy (Paperback)

About the Book

From one of the world's most respected business and social philosophers, a groundbreaking book that challenges us to question our reliance on traditional definitions of "success" and inspires us to find meaning and fulfillment in our professional, personal and spiritual lives.

Book Synopsis

From one of the world's most respected business and social philosophers, a groundbreaking book that challenges us to question our reliance on traditional definitions of "success" and inspires us to find meaning and fulfillment in our professional, personal and spiritual lives.

Many of us, Charles Handy asserts, are confused and frustrated by the fast-paced, prosperous world we have created for ourselves. We are puzzled by the consequences of capitalism, whose material benefits and comforts we enjoy every day, but which also divides rich from poor, consumes so much of our energies, and does not always lead to a more contented life. In a world that is super-efficient, highly productive, and too often soulless, how do we quench our spiritual "hunger"?

In The Hungry Spirit, one of the most visionary business thinkers of our age offers a powerful argument for reexamining the role of work in our lives and discovering what we are truly meant to do and to be. Calling on individuals and organizations to find purpose in the journey we take rather than focusing on money and profits, which are simply the means to keep us going, Handy shows how we can all better ourselves and our companies while also contributing to a decent society.

As an oil executive, world-renowned economist, consultant, and professor at the London Business School, Handy himself was once no stranger to the trappings and fortunes of capitalism. But several years ago, Handy realized that he, like many of us, had placed too much significance on job titles and career success to the exclusion of his family, friends, and, especially, the fulfillment of his need to become a complete person, not just a worker slaving away in corporate machinery. He set about looking for what he calls his "white stone"--a symbol of the higher self that represents our true destiny, what you can become when you don't let titles and money and societal pressures get in the way.

Just as Handy urges all of us to seek our "white stone" and take greater responsibility for shaping our lives, he also entreats companies and organizations to push themselves to new heights by sticking to a clear-cut purpose. Companies, like individuals, can only grow if they embrace risk and break rules and attract people looking to turn dreams and new ideas into businesses that consumers and investors are excited about. Rather than trying to rally coworkers around a quarterly profit goal, companies must treat employees as citizens, as well as behaving as corporate citizens within the wider community. Handy calls for corporations to take a greater role in upholding the moral structure of society and to use their power to distribute knowledge and wealth to those who need the opportunity to develop--which will one day benefit us all.

A rare combination of engaging storytelling, philosophical exploration, and down-to-earth wisdom, The Hungry Spirit offers readers a powerful tonic for the profit-driven lives we've prescribed for ourselves and an inspiring message of hope.

From the Back Cover

In The Hungry Spirit, one of the most visionary business thinkers of our age offers a powerful argument for reexamining the role of work in our lives and discovering what we are truly meant to do and to be. Calling on individuals and organizations to find purpose in the journey we take rather than focusing on money and profits, which are simply the means to keep us going, Handy shows how we can all better ourselves and our companies while also contributing to a decent society. As an oil executive, world-renowned economist, consultant, and professor at the London Business School, Handy himself was once no stranger to the trappings and fortunes of capitalism. But several years ago, Handy realized that he, like many of us, had placed too much significance on job titles and career success to the exclusion of his family, friends, and, especially, the fulfillment of his need to become a complete person, not just a worker slaving away in corporate machinery. He set about looking for what he calls his "white stone" - a symbol of the higher self that represents our true destiny, what you can become when you don't let titles and money and societal pressures get in the way. Just as Handy urges all of us to seek our "white stone" and take greater responsibility for shaping our lives, he also entreats companies and organizations to push themselves to new heights by sticking to a clear-cut purpose. Companies, like individuals, can only grow if they embrace risk and break rules and attract people looking to turn dreams and new ideas into businesses that consumers and investors are excited about. Rather than trying to rally coworkers around a quarterly profit goal, companies must treat employees ascitizens, as well as behaving as corporate citizens within the wider community. Handy calls for corporations to take a greater role in upholding the moral structure of society and to use their power to distribute knowledge and wealth to those who need the opportunity to develop - which will one day benefit us all.

Review Quotes

Praise for Charles Handy and The Hungry Spirit:

"The Hungry Spirit is particularly timely."
--Times Literary Supplement

"[Handy's] jargon-free observations pack more power because of their clarity and prescriptive nature...his writings don't just affect companies; they often hit individuals in a powerful way, like the advice of a trusted friend or relative."
--Fortune

"Handy excels at stirring controversy--and thought."
--Business Week

"Anyone exposed to long-term, pick-of-the-month guru rumblings or mind-boggling businessbabble will think they have wandered into a clear spot in the forest when they encounter Handy for the first time...His writing is crisp and lucid, and his grasp on the human dilemma is remarkably encompassing."
--Chicago Tribune

"Handy is...a stimulating thinker who offers a warm sense of hope for the future...He has the persuasiveness of a preacher and the literariness of the anecdotal Irish storyteller...The Hungry Spirit will...be an uplifting experience for anyone seeking a philosophy in a world short of well-expressed humanist creeds."
--Independent

"Charles Handy [is] arguably Britain's most respected management writer."
--Financial Times

About the Author

Widely recognized as one of Britain's top-tier management writers, Charles Handy is the author of six highly acclaimed business books, including The Age of Unreason, The Age of Paradox, and Beyond Certainty. Educated at Oxford and MIT, he has been an executive of the Shell Oil Company and a professor at the London Business School, where he was one of the early faculty. He and his wife divide their time among London and Norfolk, England, and Tuscany, Italy.