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Work
A History of How We Spend Our Time
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,977 ratings, 372 reviews)
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Work
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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?
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
_______________
‘A fascinating exploration that challenges our basic assumptions of what work means’ - Yuval Noah Harari
'There is eminently underlinable stuff on most pages ... Fascinating' - The Times
'One of those few books that will turn your customary ways of thinking upside down' - Susan Cain
'Illuminating' - New Statesman
_______________
A revolutionary new history of humankind through the prism of work, from the origins of life on Earth to our ever more automated present
In Work, anthropologist James Suzman offers a groundbreaking examination of the evolution of work and its profound impact on human civilisation. Spanning from the origins of life on Earth to our present age of automation, Suzman delves into how work has shaped our societies, influenced our cultures, and moulded our values.
The work we engage in today gives us purpose, defines our social standing, and governs how we spend the majority of our lives. However, this was not always the case. For 95% of human history, work played a vastly different role within communities. Suzman explores this transformation in an era marked by a quest for survival to our current period of unparalleled material abundance.
He questions how work became the central organising principle of our societies. How did it impact our physical and social development, the way we perceive equality, and our understanding of time? Why, in an age where technological advancements promise to ease our workload, do we find ourselves more consumed by work than ever before?
Drawing on research from a variety of disciplines including biology, anthropology, and economics, Suzman weaves together a comprehensive narrative that challenges our basic assumptions about work. Work not only scrutinises the past but also offers insightful perspectives on the future of work and its possible implications for humanity.
This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the intricate relationship between work and human progress. It provides a thought-provoking analysis that is both enlightening and transformative, encouraging readers to rethink their perceptions of what work means in the modern world.
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?
Work by James Suzman is a compelling exploration of the history and concept of work. Reviews highlight its examination of work through the lens of anthropology and how current economic assumptions are challenged. The book offers insights into how much hunter-gatherer societies differed from modern work life, suggesting that our contemporary work culture is not as natural or inevitable as it seems. Reviewers commend the book’s depth, originality, and thought-provoking nature, indicating it provokes readers to reconsider their understanding of work and its future in an automated world.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781526605023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 02 September 2021
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 376g
Pages: 464
About the Author
James Suzman is an anthropologist specialising in the Khoisan peoples of southern Africa. A recipient of the Smuts Commonwealth Fellowship in African Studies at Cambridge University, he is now the director of Anthropos Ltd, a think tank that applies anthropological methods to solving contemporary social and economic problems. He has written for publications including the New York Times, the Observer, the Guardian, the New Statesman and the Independent, and has advised organisations including the Foreign Office, the World Bank and the European Commission. He lives in Cambridge.
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