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Bullshit Jobs

Bullshit Jobs

By David Graeber

A Theory. Simon & Schuster, 2018.

0.0 / 0

22 mins read

17 Key insights

A brief summary of Bullshit Jobs

A provocative, clever argument about the uselessness of scores of jobs, where they came from and why they still exist, and how the people who hold them feel a sense of emptiness and despair when they contemplate their working lives.

Key insights in Bullshit Jobs

1
What do you get from this book? A timely discussion of the way modern work reflects society’s values and impacts our wellbeing
2
David Graeber’s essay about bullshit jobs created a stir and sparked a conversation that many people were desperate to have
3
BS jobs are defined by the impact they have on the world and the subjective experiences of the people working them
4
BS jobs fall into five categories, including flunkies who inflate their boss’ status and goons who manipulate people
5
Duct tapers fix issues that shouldn’t have been a problem in the first place and box tickers, well, tick boxes
6
Some taskmasters delegate work to people who already know what to do, while others create more BS tasks and jobs
7
BS jobs often make people miserable because we all want to make a difference—despite what economic theories say
8
Modern ideas of work and time have led to a conflict between the perspective of employers and employees
9
Having a BS job involves forms of spiritual and psychological violence, often manifesting as stress and anxiety
10
BS jobs are proliferating at an increasing rate despite the supposed efficiency of capitalism, supported by “managerial feudalism”
11
Most people accept the explosion of BS jobs because of deep-seated ideas we have about social and economic value
12
The idea of work as a virtue has roots in Northern Europe and was revived by American-style corporate capitalism
13
BS jobs have clear political consequences, creating feelings of resentment that pit groups of people against each other
14
There are things that could be done—like Universal Basic Income—to improve the effects of multiplying BS jobs
15
Summary of the key insights
16
Selected critiques in brief
17
Final word

Who should read Bullshit Jobs

Employees • managers and CEOs • anthropology students • social scientists • anyone who hates their job

About the author of Bullshit Jobs

David Graeber (1961–2020) was a leading American anthropologist and activist known for his eminent contributions to the field of economic anthropology and incisive writing about politics. He was an active member of the Global Justice Movement in the 1990s, and later a leader during the Occupy Wall Street movement. Graeber passed away unexpectedly at the age of fifty-nine.

author avatar

David Graeber

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