David Graeber asks: Do you have a BS job? (pre-read)

David Graeber's argument on bullshit jobs revolves around the idea that a significant portion of modern work is pointless, unnecessary, or even harmful. He contends that despite technological advancements, many jobs lack meaning or contribute little to society. Graeber explores how this phenomenon affects individuals, organizations, and society as a whole, calling for a reassessment of the value and purpose of work.

Graeber (1961–2020) was an American anthropologist, anarchist, and influential social theorist. Renowned for his work on economic anthropology and activism, he authored numerous books including The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity (2021) (we did a big series on this book in 2022-2023), Debt: The First 5000 Years (2011) and Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology (2004).

Please read in advance Chapter 2 (What Sorts of Bullshit Jobs Are There?) from Bullshit Jobs: A Theory (2018) for the discussion. A pdf of the book is here.

(We previously discussed Chapters 1 and 7 and the short article that inspired the book.)

Other meetups:

• Ted Kaczynski against Wokeism — Thursday August 8

• The Price of Redemption: Why Catholicism Viewed Profit as A Sin — Wednesday July 31

• The Theft of a Decade: How the Baby Boomers Stole the Millennials' Economic Future — Thursday August 1