2 ms·
David Graeber's BB Jobs is the second most important book I've read this last year. Truly ejected me out of my worldview. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshi
by specialist 6y ago
David Graeber's BB Jobs is the second most important book I've read this last year. Truly ejected me out of my worldview.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs
Previously, a HN commentator shared the distinction between "doing" and "justifying" work (IIRC). I really like this framing, dichotomy. And would like to synthesize with Graeber's thesis.
Another interesting contemporary view is Scott Adams' "confusopoly". I have a few other issues with Adams; I wouldn't be able to get out of bed every day if I shared his bleak view of humanity. But I can't deny that he does have some very penetrating insights
BS Jobs and confusopoly are complimentary. Young idealistic me always equated capitalism with producing stuff efficiently for profit, and the sharing of that surplus. The kids today use terms like "late stage capitalism". Graeber examines financialization leading to managerialism, aka rent seeking. My rephrasing is the point is to maximize inefficiency to better transfer wealth to the management.
Apologies for this stream of conscious ideation. I'm still chewing on these concepts, insights.
Meanwhile, I sympathize with your situation and hope things improve, for everyone.