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A review by aksmith92
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I will stand by the fact that I am not an Audiobook girlie. At my core, I am the worst auditory learner of all time. I started this book on Audio on May 10. It is October 11!!! It took me five freaking months to finish it. Ugh. I wish I loved Audiobooks as much as the next person, but they are a bit of my nemesis. Regardless, I somehow got through this, and overall, I liked what Graeber had to say.
The Setup: Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber is a provocative exploration of modern labor, examining the rise of meaningless or unfulfilling jobs in contemporary society. Graeber, an anthropologist, activist, AND self-proclaimed anarchist, argues that many jobs in today's economy serve no real purpose and exist only to maintain the appearance of productivity. These "bullshit jobs" are characterized by their lack of social value, where even the people performing them often feel that their work is unnecessary or even harmful.
The book draws from interviews and anecdotal evidence to categorize different types of bullshit jobs, such as flunkies (those who exist solely to make others feel important), box tickers (who engage in pointless bureaucratic tasks), and goons (whose work exists to undermine others, like lobbyists). Graeber delves into the psychological and societal impacts of these jobs, showing how they lead to widespread dissatisfaction, depression, and a sense of alienation.
One of the book's key arguments is that the proliferation of bullshit jobs is a product of capitalism, consumerism, and the desire to maintain power structures. Graeber critiques the assumption that more work always leads to a more productive and prosperous society, arguing that these meaningless jobs often mask the fundamental problems of inequality and exploitation.
What I Liked: Graeber didn't hold back, and his beliefs, views, and opinions were nuanced. Undoubtedly, this book leaned a certain way politically, but Graeber threw in quips at both the US conservatives and liberal elites. I learned so much because Graeber talked about labor from a multifaceted perspective, including going back to European feudalism and Christianity. I also couldn't get over the fact that the US could try and solve some of the complicated insurance systems that we have, particularly regarding healthcare, but if we streamline it and make it more efficient and productive, that would mean the loss of TONS of jobs in the insurance industry. It was truly phenomenal to learn how complicated our systems are and why they are that way (because, in reality, it's a choice).
What I Didn't Like: It's hard for me to pinpoint what I didn't like. Mostly, it was simply an Audiobook, and I didn't like that. Additionally, there were times when it was a little dull and boring, but I find that with the majority of nonfiction books, particularly about the economy or system structures. It also seemed to be a lot of opinion without many references, but that's because it was an Audiobook - I bet there was a massive list of references in the back of this book in physical copy.
Regardless, I thought this thought-provoking and interesting. I loved the premise that why do we have to be so strict on labels regarding systems? Graeber is adamant about universal income, but he also recognized that it would mean shrinking and eliminating some governmental jobs because he vehemently thought that there were too many jobs in the government. Those opinions are counterintuitive to one another politically and ideologically, but he nuanced views to help you understand the different perspectives.
The Setup: Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber is a provocative exploration of modern labor, examining the rise of meaningless or unfulfilling jobs in contemporary society. Graeber, an anthropologist, activist, AND self-proclaimed anarchist, argues that many jobs in today's economy serve no real purpose and exist only to maintain the appearance of productivity. These "bullshit jobs" are characterized by their lack of social value, where even the people performing them often feel that their work is unnecessary or even harmful.
The book draws from interviews and anecdotal evidence to categorize different types of bullshit jobs, such as flunkies (those who exist solely to make others feel important), box tickers (who engage in pointless bureaucratic tasks), and goons (whose work exists to undermine others, like lobbyists). Graeber delves into the psychological and societal impacts of these jobs, showing how they lead to widespread dissatisfaction, depression, and a sense of alienation.
One of the book's key arguments is that the proliferation of bullshit jobs is a product of capitalism, consumerism, and the desire to maintain power structures. Graeber critiques the assumption that more work always leads to a more productive and prosperous society, arguing that these meaningless jobs often mask the fundamental problems of inequality and exploitation.
What I Liked: Graeber didn't hold back, and his beliefs, views, and opinions were nuanced. Undoubtedly, this book leaned a certain way politically, but Graeber threw in quips at both the US conservatives and liberal elites. I learned so much because Graeber talked about labor from a multifaceted perspective, including going back to European feudalism and Christianity. I also couldn't get over the fact that the US could try and solve some of the complicated insurance systems that we have, particularly regarding healthcare, but if we streamline it and make it more efficient and productive, that would mean the loss of TONS of jobs in the insurance industry. It was truly phenomenal to learn how complicated our systems are and why they are that way (because, in reality, it's a choice).
What I Didn't Like: It's hard for me to pinpoint what I didn't like. Mostly, it was simply an Audiobook, and I didn't like that. Additionally, there were times when it was a little dull and boring, but I find that with the majority of nonfiction books, particularly about the economy or system structures. It also seemed to be a lot of opinion without many references, but that's because it was an Audiobook - I bet there was a massive list of references in the back of this book in physical copy.
Regardless, I thought this thought-provoking and interesting. I loved the premise that why do we have to be so strict on labels regarding systems? Graeber is adamant about universal income, but he also recognized that it would mean shrinking and eliminating some governmental jobs because he vehemently thought that there were too many jobs in the government. Those opinions are counterintuitive to one another politically and ideologically, but he nuanced views to help you understand the different perspectives.
"Humans were not made to work. So, to me, this is all greed propped up by inflated prices of necessities."
"Never underestimate the power of institutions to try and preserve themselves."