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The cover of Work: A History of How We Spend Our Time

Work: A History of How We Spend Our Time

James Suzman

Why do we work as we do, how did that start, and what might it mean if machines take more of our jobs?

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At a glance

Author
James Suzman

Why read it

  • You will see that our attitudes to work were shaped by the move to farming and to cities
  • You will understand why living well may depend on wanting less and on reducing inequality
  • You will be able to imagine what life could look like if machines took on more work

Who it is for

  • A professional who works long hours and wonders why
  • Someone worried that automation will take their job
  • A parent asking what work will be left for their children

Contents

  1. Introduction: The Economic Problem
  2. Part One In the Beginning
  3. 1 To Live is to Work
  4. 2 Idle Hands and Busy Beaks
  5. 3 Tools and Skills
  6. 4 Fire’s Other Gifts
  7. Part Two The Provident Environment
  8. 5 ‘The Original Affluent Society’
  9. 6 Ghosts in the Forest
  10. Part Three Toiling in the Fields
  11. 7 Leaping off the Edge
  12. 8 Feasts and Famines
  13. 9 Time is Money
  14. 10 The First Machines
  15. Part Four Creatures of the City
  16. 11 The Bright Lights
  17. 12 The Malady of Infinite Aspiration
  18. 13 Top Talent
  19. 14 The Death of a Salaryman
  20. 15 The New Disease
  21. Conclusion

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