#5 in Psychology
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory
- 368
- Pages
- about 7 h
- Reading time
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About the book
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory is a 2018 book by the American anthropologist David Graeber that postulates the existence of meaningless jobs which cause psychological harm. He contends that over half of societal work is pointless and becomes psychologically destructive because workers are required to pretend their role is not as pointless or harmful as they know it to be. Graeber classifies a job as bullshit if society would be no worse off if such job(s) disappeared, and names five classes of meaningless jobs: flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers, and taskmasters. He argues that the association of labor with virtuous suffering is recent in human history and proposes universal basic income as a potential solution which would allow individuals to choose how they would like to contribute to humanity.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.1 across 272 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 60% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Psychology average of 8.4. That is how 8.2 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.6 | 35 | 13% |
| Hardcover | 8.0 | 237 | 87% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“I did not expect this book to be so profound. Graeber analyzes a practically unrecognized phenomenon in society that most people are aware of: the bullshit job. A BS job is a job that pretty much shouldn't exist. Graeber describes 5 types of such jobs and explains how they come about as well as their dynamic. But more than that, Graeber makes an honest assessment of the philosophy of labor itself. He questions many of our assumptions about labor and its value as well as how we see things in relation to work. He does so by speaking to hundreds of people that work a “bullshit job” as well as loo…”
Frequently asked
What is Bullshit Jobs: A Theory rated?
8.2 out of 10, from 272 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is Bullshit Jobs: A Theory worth reading?
Readers give it 8.2/10 from 272 ratings, which puts it ahead of 83 % of the Psychology shelf.
How long does it take to read Bullshit Jobs: A Theory?
About 7 hours at an average reading pace — 368 pages.
Where does Bullshit Jobs: A Theory rank?
#5 in Psychology on the current snapshot.
How long is Bullshit Jobs: A Theory?
It has 368 pages — longer than 61% of the ranked books in Psychology.
If you liked this
Same shelf — Psychology — with scores between 8.2 and 8.3, closest to this book.
