The 100-word book round-up #01

Title: Bullshit Jobs — A Theory
Author: David Graeber
Book in one sentence: Not cynical but questions the broken capitalistic workforce

The 100-word round-up:
Graeber says, ‘a bullshit job is a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence…’ A minority may find joy in pointless jobs. Those in higher positions earn more, fear more and prefer status quo. That leads to proliferation of such jobs. People in bullshit jobs can be classified
as flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers and taskmasters. The concept of selling one’s time to another stumps Graeber. He bats for a ‘genuine free society’ as opposed to the Orwellian idea of a population kept busy working.

Read it or miss it? Read it for the articulation of ideas and the many employee stories.

P.S. David Graeber passed away on 2nd September. Author Nassim Nicholas Taleb of the Black Swan fame says of Graber — ‘not one fake cell in his brain, not one fake bone in his body….monstrously original…’

About: A series from Hardly Working featuring synopsis of books of interest in 100-words or less. If you enjoyed this, check out some of our other articles, or tune in to our podcast.