130,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Human Resources

Poems
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Human Resources by Ryann Stevenson offers a sobering and perceptive portrait of technology's impact on human connection and power dynamics. The speaker wrestles with feelings of unease and isolation while attempting to manage these challenges through practices like clean eating and yoga. Through sharp, lyrical intelligence, Stevenson envisions alternate realities where women assert their own power, becoming towering figures above a world unappreciative of them. The collection challenges readers to reconsider what better, more thoughtful, and humane futures might look like.
Read More
Format: Hardback
$4499
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This collection will resonate with readers interested in contemporary poetry that examines technology, feminism, and the complexities of human connection. It is suitable for those drawn to lyrical explorations of societal issues and fans of thoughtful, modern poetry.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

"Winner of the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, this debut collection of poetry follows a woman who designs women who don't exist"--

  • Galleys available for sales force by request, poetry media, select tech/AI media, regional (CA) media, academic media, booksellers and librarians; digital galleys available for download on Edelweiss
  • Major media outreach, with special focus on major/national media to build author's platform nationally, as well as poetry and regional media, with targeted outreach to writers covering how robotic technology and AI is changing our culture
  • Cover reveal and preorder social media and newsletter campaign in collaboration with Oakland/SF-based bookstore
  • Major virtual launch event in collaboration with the Academy of American Poets to elevate author's platform
  • Advertising with the Academy of American Poets, Poets.org and PNBA
  • Newsletter promotion via the publisher to poetry and academic lists of more than 20K contacts
  • Events and touring in CA and NY

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Winner of the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, Ryann Stevenson's Human Resources offers a sobering and perceptive portrait of technology's impact on connection and power.

Human Resources features a speaker who grapples with uneasiness and isolation, even as she attempts to solve these problems in her daily work. She seeks control by eating clean, doing yoga, and searching for age-defying skincare, though she dreams "about the department / that women get reassigned to after they file / harassment complaints." With sharp, lyrical intelligence, she imagines alternative realities where women exist not for the whims of men but for their ownβ€”where they become literal skyscrapers, towering over a world that never appreciated them.

Chilling and lucid, Human Resources challenges the minds programming our present and future to consider what serves the collective good. Stevenson writes with a thoughtful and human approach: "I want to say better."

Series: Max Ritvo Poetry Prize Winner ($10,000 purse)

View all
  • Human Resources
    Winner of the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, Ryann Stevenson's Human Resources offers a sobering and perceptive portrait of technology's impact on connection and power. Human Resources features a speaker who grapples with uneasiness and isolation, even as she attempts to solve these problems in her daily work. She seeks control by eating clean, doing yoga, and searching for age-defying skincare,...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praise for Human Resources

Elisa Gabbert of the New York Times commends Stevenson's debut for capturing an eerie, 'Black Mirror' atmosphere where A.I. blurs reality, combining nightmare and fantasy. Gabbert highlights the poet's skill in portraying isolation within technology-driven connection, noting that these poems echo Kafkaesque hopefulness tempered by resignation. The work is celebrated for its intense emotional insight and exploration of gender within a male-dominated tech environment.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781571315182

Publisher: Milkweed Editions

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 28 July 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Milkweed Editions

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 6.0mm

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 215.0mm

Weight: 250g

About the Author

Ryann Stevenson is the author of Human ResourcesHer poems have appeared inthe Adroit Journal,American Letters & Commentary,Bennington Review,Columbia Poetry Review,Cortland Review,Denver Quarterly, andLinebreak, among others.She lives in Oakland, California.

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    I’ll Believe in Anything
    From Jacob Tierney, the creator ofΒ Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and AccentΒ Aigu, comesΒ I’llΒ Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Based on Rachel Reid’s blockbuster Game Changers book series,Β Heated RivalryΒ premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 andΒ immediatelyΒ took the world by storm.Β I’ll...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoirΒ Home Again.This is more than a rock story.Β Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it.Β From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017β€”revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)β€”critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Birdlands Birdlands
    New Release
    Birdlands
    A rare, intimate journey into the wild islands where Aotearoa's birds live beyond the reach of most human lives. In the most remote outposts of Aotearoa, our islands are populated not with people, but with birds. From the storm-lashed Subantarctic Islands in the deep south to the scattered volcanic islands of Tikapa Moana/Hauraki Gulf in the north, Birdlands offers a...
    Hardback
    $4199
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Split Enz
    New Release
    Split Enz
    'My favourite band. Ever! And certainly the best dressed.' Sam Neill Split Enz were never designed to fit. Emerging from art school mischief in early-1970s New Zealand, they turned pop into surreal theatre: costume, character and melody colliding in a rock band that refused to behave like one. At the centre of that vision was Noel Crombieβ€”percussionist, performer and the...
    Hardback
    $5199
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Artist's Way
    The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guidebook that has captivated millions, including luminaries such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferriss. With its profound ability to inspire and elevate, this book invites readers to embark on an enriching creative journey, fostering a deeper connection to one's artistic process and sense of purpose. The heart of Cameron's groundbreaking programme...
    Paperback
    $3700
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Starside
    Enter the enchanting and deadly world of Starside, where swords have magic and power isn’t inherited – it’s claimed, from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Alex Aster.Hundreds of years ago, a brutal war split a land in two. Starside is the realm of magic and immortals – the descendants of the gods, living in a power-rich paradise. Stormside...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3899
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.