Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher… by James Martin

A New York Times Bestseller — and one of the most charming, laugh-out-loud memoirs you’ll find on our shelves.

Before he became one of America’s most beloved Jesuit priests, Father James Martin was just a kid who needed a paycheck. This wonderfully warm coming-of-age memoir traces his bumbling, endearing journey through a string of jobs he was wildly unprepared for — bussing tables, washing dishes, caddying on golf courses he’d never walked, standing on factory floors he’d never imagined. He was almost always uncomfortable. He was often a disaster. And somehow, that’s exactly what makes this book so irresistible.

Set against the backdrop of the 1960s and ’70s, this is a spiritual memoir told sideways — “slant,” as Emily Dickinson might say. Each chapter is peppered with photographs and small, hard-won truths: show up on time, be kind, forgive often, and pay attention to the people around you who are quietly struggling.

Stephen Colbert called it “funny, charming, inspiring and wise — a memorable memoir,” and we couldn’t agree more. It’s the kind of book that feels like a long conversation with a good friend — honest, funny, and quietly profound.

Perfect for fans of personal narratives, spiritual reflection, or anyone who has ever fumbled their way through a job they had no business doing. (So, most of us.)

• Includes personal photographs throughout
• A New York Times Bestseller
• Ideal for readers of memoir, spirituality, and coming-of-age stories

Pick it up, settle in, and let it remind you that the messy parts of life are often the ones that shape us most.

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