Bullshit Jobs

A Theory

By: David Graeber

Narrated by: Christopher Ragland

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

From best-selling writer David Graeber, a powerful argument against the rise of meaningless, unfulfilling jobs and their consequences.

Does your job make a meaningful contribution to the world? In the spring of 2013, David Graeber asked this question in a playful, provocative essay titled “On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs”. It went viral. After a million online views in 17 different languages, people all over the world are still debating the answer.

There are millions of people - HR consultants, communication coordinators, telemarketing researchers, corporate lawyers - whose jobs are useless, and, tragically, they know it. These people are caught in bullshit jobs. Graeber explores one of society’s most vexing and deeply felt concerns, indicting among other villains a particular strain of finance capitalism that betrays ideals shared by thinkers ranging from Keynes to Lincoln.

Bullshit Jobs gives individuals, corporations, and societies permission to undergo a shift in values, placing creative and caring work at the center of our culture. This book is for everyone who wants to turn their vocation back into an avocation.

©2018 David Graeber (P)2018 Simon & Schuster Audio

The book was great but I didn’t like the reader

The reader changed his voice when reading quotes, which would normally be a good thing because it signals to the listener when the quotes begin and end, but he didn’t change his tone, he literally changed his voice. He made his voice higher than his own when quoting women, and strangely, lower than his own when quoting men. The result is that quotes from women were read in a childish voice and sounded simpering, while quotes from men sounded authoritative. The voices were annoying, but the gender bias they introduce is pernicious, and this should not have gone unnoticed by whomever makes the decisions.

If I hadn't known better...

....I would have thought somebody within my very workgroup had written this book. it's so spot-on...I actually accepted a severance package (after having been offered 4 over the past 12 years).

I was making great money 83k salary w/ well over 100k in total comp...but knew my job was utterly devoid of social value.

I brought no actual value to the customer due to the red-tape above me that prevented my actions from doing so.

This needs to be read by everyone and purchased for them to read.

Hurt my head

I've got a BullShit job and have five more years until retirement.
This book did damage to my psyche. Thanks!
Book and narration were good, but author went a little too far on the whole fuedal times comparisons.
And he stretched a few other points as well trying to convert a short essay into a book.

wonderful

I quit my job and I've never felt better about it. this book is shockingly relevant to so many aspects of work

Give it a listen

The book itself (though I’m not qualified to say) seems to be lacking a certain power. The writing maybe? I was expecting- there in lies my problem. I thought a person that studies people would provide some kind of left field mind altering solution to bullshitization. And while the “solution” given is rather simplistic and known to many, it felt worth the listen. Also Seems like for a significant portion of the book’s points are simply being reconfirmed with the addition of a few more than perhaps necessary testimonials. I like the book overall despite that.

wake up call and an absolute must

I had lots and lots of new insights about today's employment system. the book is unbelievable and amazing!

I wish I could have...

I wish I could have read this before college, might have focused me more on a career that would make me happy, and saved me a lot of time.

Cathartic & Validating, Frustrating & Refreshing

Surprisingly cathartic and validating for anyone who's had a BS job. Also, frustrating to realize how widespread it is but also refreshingly useful to finally have a way to articulate this issue.

Think again?

Book is lengthy for so little substance. I think that writer didn't really think this idea through. You should maybe consider chapters 2 and 3.. As an essay it would be good

Interesting concept

Overall a decent listen. Some of the basic reasons for bs aspects of many jobs is not really teased out, ie there’s usually some essential function in there somewhere, however small. So t love the universal basic income idea…nobody can ever say where the money will come from. The author claims to be a libertarian-socialist and an anarchist, but I’m not really sure how those three can coexist. Well written and well read. And it seems based on some good research. So I’m glad I read it and I did learn a lot. And enjoyed it, although it goes on maybe a few chapters too long, and doesn’t really address and feasible solutions. Still a valuable read though to get the conversation going.