Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation

This is one of my primary books in a Leadership Formation class (div school). It is wonderful! The conversations that spring from it are lively and each author’s writings are full of character. Working through it will both reveal and shape your perspective on vocation (among many other topics).

Placher did what he set out to do: provide a brief historical sketch of calling and vocation across Christian history. I use the book as a text for a freshman undergraduate introduction to ministry course that focuses on calling and vocation. The diversity of voices within provides them with some Christian history and a diverse set of calling narratives at the same time.

This is a very good book to became acquainted and review the concepts of vocation, calling and service throughout Christian history

Placher has done scholars and readers a tremendous service by compiling this history of philosophical thought about calling. There is no other work of its kind and it is a great gift to anyone who is interested in researching this topic. In addition to history, it is also a great introduction to some important voices of the 20th century such as Dorothy Sayers and Howard Thurman. It is fascinating to see how thinking has evolved and just how enduring the idea has been -- despite some contemporary attempts to dilute it. This book is a classic!

This book offers insights about vocation far beyond the usual catch phrases. Filled with excerpts from the writings of a wide variety of people, It stirs the mind and the heart. I would recommend it to anyone interested in changing views of vocation.

As someone who is researching this topic from a social sciences perspective this book was an invaluable compilation of the historical humanities based approaches to making sense of what a calling is and how it operates, particularly from a Christian perspective. Great resource.

Just bought this for a class I was taking. Some of the stories are brilliant and others just blah.

A good book used but it's worth it.