Tom’s Note: I was reading the Philadelphia Inquirer and noticed a full-page advertisement for a one-day class by Barry Schwartz, on Why We Work, which is also the title of his book. The advertisement’s copy was rooted in layman’s language and not the patois of academia. I was intrigued enough that I thought about signing up for the course, even though it cost $125. Then, voila, I realized the obvious. Might not the good professor’s observation shed some light on this topic for our readers. After all, this entire year, we’re focusing on workforce issues. I bought the book (not on my expense account) to determine whether it withstood the smell test. The book, which is both readable and modest in length, passed the test easily. Then I called Professor Schwartz and chatted about work and why the heck we do it.