I read the article that Michael linked and George's as well and I thought they both were damn interesting. So I went to the public library website to put a hold on Crawford's book. I'd have been 28th in line!
So thanks to you both for putting these out there. I expect I'll just buy the book, rather than wait, and I expect to forward it to my college senior daughter when I'm done. I think the message is, despite the value of educating yourself, you don't need to be locked onto a course for life that makes you miserable, and he argues convincingly that the very constrained "knowledge based" careers can do that. My daughter is artistic and extremely creative and imaginative. I can see how a bureaucratic career in the corporate world or any level of government could be soul-crushing for her. So much of what I got out of those articles rang true for me in my own life--and thank God my state government career is finally over! It would be a very good thing for her to consider his viewpoint before she heads down a similar path.
I admire anyone who has had the courage to follow a dream and make a dramatic career switch in midstream--even if it involves an investment of significant time and money. And even if the resulting, more fulfilling career ends up being much less well-paid. Hardly "money grubbing." I'd say that's what Crawford did, and it worked for him. And good for him for it.
