For some of us, work is a pleasure; it's more recreation than labor. If anything, it's a labor of love.

For most of us, however, work is a drag. It's a place to earn enough money to sustain our lifestyle, while trying to avoid the sharks in the business world---the micro-managers, the backstabbers, and the bosses from hell who undermine your efforts on a daily basis. For those people, Bob Clyatt has some great advice for escaping the rat race, before the rats take over.

The advice is solid, especially if you're trying to get by with less material possessions; don't waste money on a bunch of stuff that really doesn't add value to your life. Enjoy the simple pleasures, because "free" is the best bargain available.

Another great book to help you prioritize what's important in your life is Richard Koch's The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less. Together, they can help you get the most out of life; especially if you're looking to reduce the number of hours spent on that thing called "work".