floofymoose's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Very thought provoking
A timely read as I recently got promoted to a middle manager position and I want to ensure I don't contribute to the bullshitization!
A timely read as I recently got promoted to a middle manager position and I want to ensure I don't contribute to the bullshitization!
ippym's review against another edition
4.0
A depressing read because of the truth it portrays. Agree that it is a bit repetitive at times and could have been shortened with more of an emphasis on what we can do. As someone with a postgrad qualification, I struggle with the disconnect between academia and the workplace when it comes to identifying a realistic way forward aka something that people can commit to and implement.
Interestingly, this book had 13 reserves at the time of writing this review at my local library, which goes to show there are people actively wanting to engage with the idea. So how do we do that within the constraints Graeber identifies? A universal basic income is put forward but not wholly explored - Graeber explicitly notes he won't for particular reasons, but this is perhaps the book's downfall. Many of us will read this, agree, and want to know how we can combat the phenomenon, but without practical next steps, we are left wanting. I need to go and engage in some consumerism to get over the empty feeling this book has left in me.
Interestingly, this book had 13 reserves at the time of writing this review at my local library, which goes to show there are people actively wanting to engage with the idea. So how do we do that within the constraints Graeber identifies? A universal basic income is put forward but not wholly explored - Graeber explicitly notes he won't for particular reasons, but this is perhaps the book's downfall. Many of us will read this, agree, and want to know how we can combat the phenomenon, but without practical next steps, we are left wanting. I need to go and engage in some consumerism to get over the empty feeling this book has left in me.
ottoema's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
nferraro90's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to give this a 5 because I do agree with the central thesis, in that capitalism and the financialization of everything has created a whole sector of bullshit jobs (jobs that if they were to disappear tomorrow, nobody would notice). I have felt for some time that most of the jobs in finance, banking, and administration are largely worthless or in some cases outright harmful, and this book articulated my thoughts in a much more thought out manner. However, I found some of the arguments a bit too reliant on the YouGov poll cited earlier I the chapter, and a bit light on empirical data overall. Granted, the the subtitle of this book is “a theory”, and this isn’t an academic article, so Perhaps I’m being harsh. 4 or 5, this is worth reading, unless you already know your job is bullshit and don’t want to be reminded of that.