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Bullshit Jobs

A Theory

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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber, read by Christopher Ragland.

Be honest: if your job didn't exist, would anybody miss it? Have you ever wondered why not? Up to 40% of us secretly believe our jobs probably aren't necessary. In other words: they are bullshit jobs. This book shows why, and what we can do about it.
In the early twentieth century, people prophesied that technology would see us all working fifteen-hour weeks and driving flying cars. Instead, something curious happened. Not only have the flying cars not materialised, but average working hours have increased rather than decreased. And now, across the developed world, three-quarters of all jobs are in services, finance or admin: jobs that don't seem to contribute anything to society. In Bullshit Jobs, David Graeber explores how this phenomenon - one more associated with the Soviet Union, but which capitalism was supposed to eliminate - has happened. In doing so, he looks at how, rather than producing anything, work has become an end in itself; the way such work maintains the current broken system of finance capital; and, finally, how we can get out of it.
This book is for anyone whose heart has sunk at the sight of a whiteboard, who believes 'workshops' should only be for making things, or who just suspects that there might be a better way to run our world.


'Spectacular and terrifyingly true' Owen Jones
'Explosive' John McDonnell, New Statesman, Books of the Year
'Thought-provoking and funny' The Times

Anthropology Labour & Industrial Relations Politics & Government Sociology Workplace & Organisational Behavior Workplace Culture Capitalism Socialism Thought-Provoking Inspiring Taxation

Critic reviews

Praise for The Democracy Project: 'Clear, pungent and right ... a compact and incisive account of why capitalism has run with such a smash into the buffers'
Graeber's talent is to take big concepts and unpack them, forcing us to examine their implications for society ... the book is a cool drink of water after so much dry, academic writing on the "revolutions" of 2011'
Captures the joys and fears of a movement
The most influential radical political thinker of the moment
All stars
Most relevant
This was a really interesting book, but there is a lot of repetition. The author seems to assume his point requires extensive backing up and anecdotes. Whilst his explanation is important, I feel I was often hearing the same discussion again. and again in slightly different words. I also found it a little odd to have an American narrator when 70-80% of the author's examples were UK specific.

Good, but the argument is simple

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Fascinating idea that the author has clearly well researched. Worth the read and adds a new dimension to the UBI discussion. If you've never worked in a large corporate office environment you may be in for an eye opener and if you have worked in such environments you'll likely feel a sense of relief to know you are not alone in having a bullshit job.

The last great taboo?

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An eye opener. I am listening to it for the second time. Both very funny, intellectually honest and courageous, this essay / book is a must-read for anyone with a job or having had one that led you to observe things around you and wonder if the world is not an absurd theatre where the most mediocre beings are the most successful.

the most important book of the last 30 years

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Really amazing. Delves into so many different fields. While still managing to remain grounded in the human experience.

First few chapters can be a little slow at times. While Graeber lays down the framework of bullshit jobs. But overall the whole book is really riveting. The last few chapters especially are mind blowing.

Entertaining, Insightful, and a damn good read

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As always, Graeber cuts through the paradigm, exposing the game we are made to play.

Brilliant

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