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Work Pray Code
Book

Work Pray Code

When Work Becomes Religion in Silicon Valley

Carolyn Chen
Princeton UP, 2022

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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Eye Opening
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Has work replaced religion in Silicon Valley? Sociologist Carolyn Chen asks if the Valley’s long days, free cafeterias and mindfulness workshops have replaced church and community. She explores why organized religion can’t seem to take root there and how tech firms use spiritual movements to feed profits. Within this overview, she offers a particularly strong case of watered-down religion in the trivialization of sacred Buddhist practices. Of course, as Robert Putnam reported in Bowling Alone in 2009, Silicon Valley isn’t the only cause of declining community and religious observance – even in Silicon Valley. And Chen herself would need a crystal ball to know if techies will keep worshipping work as big tech lays off staff and quits serving free lunches.

Take-Aways

  • For many Silicon Valley employees, “work is replacing religion.”
  • When people crave a spiritual life but barely have time for it, they may find religion in their work.
  • Young tech workers from faraway places often find identity in their work; their colleagues become like family.

About the Author

Carolyn Chen, an associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley,​​ also wrote Getting Saved in America: Taiwanese Immigration and Religious Experience.

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    H. C. 11 months ago
    The author is contradicting herself<br><br>// Loyalty is a badge of honor in Silicon Valley, and everyone must buy in wholeheartedly<br><br>// Today, a tech worker typically changes jobs every few years, as soon as the work grows stale
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    S. D. 11 months ago
    Work, Pray, Code: A Guide to Finding Meaningful Work in the Age of Technology" is a book that explores how individuals can navigate their careers in the tech industry while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life. The book delves into the challenges of finding purpose in a digital world, offering insights and strategies for achieving success, personal growth, and well-being. It emphasizes the importance of integrating work, personal reflection, and mindfulness into one's daily routine to create a more meaningful and satisfying career.