Bullshit Jobs: A Theory

If the merit of a good non-fiction novel is ‘to tell you what you already know', then this work of art by the self-proclaimed anarchist David Graeber is one of the finest in its genre.

Expounding on his breakout 2013 essay (On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs), Mr. Graeber makes a compelling case on the phenomenon of ‘bullshit jobs' - that is, jobs held by people who feel that their jobs (and by extension, them) do not add anything of value to the world - in fact, they are mighty sure of the fact that if the jobs didn't exist, the world would be better off.

In a world where work is supreme, and the unemployed are made to feel less than dirt, you can see how that might psychologically impact people who think that their jobs should be eradicated. Mr. Graeber takes us through a safari of history, culture, politics and economics to make us see and understand how this toxic and demeaning mentality seeped into the popular narrative, and how it can be rectified.

This should be essential reading for everyone.