,PREFACE 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,DAVID ,GRAEB] 

,TEXT 3 

,TO ANYONE :O W\LD RA!R BE DO+ SOME?+ USEFUL ) !MSELVES4 

,PREFACE3 ,ON ! ,PH5OM5ON ( ,BULL%IT ,JOBS 

  

,9 ! SPR+ ( #b#a#c1 ,I UNWITT+LY SET (F A V]Y M9OR 9T]NATIONAL S5SATION4 

,IT ALL BEGAN :5 ,I WAS ASK$ TO WRITE AN ESSAY = A NEW RADICAL MAGAZ9E CALL$ ,/RIKE6 ,! $ITOR ASK$ IF ,I HAD ANY?+ PROVOCATIVE ?AT NO ONE ELSE W\LD BE LIKELY TO PUBLI%4 ,I USUALLY HAVE ONE OR TWO ESSAY IDEAS LIKE ?AT /EW+ >\ND1 SO ,I DRAFT$ ONE UP & PRES5T$ HIM ) A BRIEF PIECE 5TITL$ 0,ON ! ,PH5OM5ON ( ,BULL%IT ,JOBS40 

,! ESSAY WAS BAS$ ON A HUN*4 ,EV]YONE IS FAMILI> ) ?OSE SORT ( JOBS ?AT DON'T SEEM1 TO ! \TSID]1 TO REALLY DO MU* ( ANY?+3 ,H,R CONSULTANTS1 COMMUNICATIONS COORD9ATORS1 ,P,R RESE>*]S1 F9ANCIAL /RATEGI/S1 CORPORATE LAWY]S1 OR ! SORT ( PEOPLE 7V]Y FAMILI> 9 ACADEMIC CONTEXTS7 :O SP5D !IR TIME /AFF+ COMMITTEES ?AT DISCUSS ! PROBLEM ( UNNECESS>Y COMMITTEES4 ,! LI/ WAS SEEM+LY 5DLESS4 ,:AT1 ,I WOND]$1 IF !SE JOBS REALLY >E USELESS1 & ?OSE :O HOLD !M >E AW>E ( IT8 ,C]TA9LY Y\ MEET PEOPLE N[ & !N :O SEEM TO FEEL !IR JOBS >E PO9TLESS & UNNECESS>Y4 ,C\LD !RE BE ANY?+ MORE DEMORALIZ+ ?AN HAV+ TO WAKE UP 9 ! MORN+ FIVE \T ( SEV5 DAYS ( ONE'S ADULT LIFE TO P]=M A TASK ?AT ONE SECRETLY BELIEV$ DID NOT NE$ TO BE P]=M$--?AT WAS SIMPLY A WA/E ( TIME OR RES\RCES1 OR ?AT EV5 MADE ! WORLD WORSE8 ,W\LD ?IS NOT BE A T]RIBLE PSY*IC W\ND RUNN+ ACROSS \R SOCIETY8 ,YET IF SO1 IT WAS ONE ?AT NO ONE EV] SEEM$ TO TALK AB\T4 ,!RE W]E PL5TY ( SURVEYS OV] :E!R PEOPLE W]E HAPPY AT WORK4 ,!RE W]E NONE1 AS F> AS ,I KNEW1 AB\T :E!R OR NOT !Y FELT !IR JOBS HAD ANY GOOD REASON TO EXI/4 

,?IS POSSIBILITY ?AT \R SOCIETY IS RIDDL$ ) USELESS JOBS ?AT NO ONE WANTS TO TALK AB\T DID NOT SEEM 9H]5TLY IMPLAUSIBLE4 ,! SUBJECT ( WORK IS RIDDL$ ) TABOOS4 ,EV5 ! FACT ?AT MO/ PEOPLE DON'T LIKE !IR JOBS & W\LD RELI% AN EXCUSE NOT TO GO TO WORK IS CONSID]$ SOME?+ ?AT CAN'T REALLY BE ADMITT$ ON ,T,V--C]TA9LY NOT ON ! ,T,V NEWS1 EV5 IF IT MI<T OCCASIONALLY BE ALLUD$ TO 9 DOCUM5T>IES & /&UP COM$Y4 ,I HAD EXP]I5C$ !SE TABOOS MYSELF3 ,I HAD ONCE ACT$ AS ! M$IA LIAISON = AN ACTIVI/ GR\P ?AT1 RUMOR HAD IT1 WAS PLANN+ A CIVIL DISOB$I5CE CAMPAIGN TO %UT D[N ! ,WA%+TON1 ,D,C1 TRANSPORT SY/EM AS P>T ( A PROTE/ AGA9/ A GLOBAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT4 ,9 ! DAYS LEAD+ UP TO IT1 Y\ C\LD H>DLY GO ANY:]E LOOK+ LIKE AN AN>*I/ )\T SOME *E]FUL CIVIL S]VANT WALK+ UP TO Y\ & ASK+ :E!R IT WAS REALLY TRUE HE OR %E W\LDN'T HAVE TO GO TO WORK ON ,MONDAY4 ,YET AT ! SAME TIME1 ,T,V CREWS MANAG$ DUTIFULLY TO 9T]VIEW CITY EMPLOYES--& ,I W\LDN'T BE SURPRIS$ IF SOME ( !M W]E ! SAME CITY EMPLOYES--COMM5T+ ON H[ T]RIBLY TRAGIC IT W\LD BE IF !Y W\LDN'T BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK1 S9CE !Y KNEW ?AT'S :AT IT W\LD TAKE TO GET !M ON ,T,V4 ,NO ONE SEEMS TO FEEL FREE TO SAY :AT !Y REALLY FEEL AB\T SU* MATT]S--AT LEA/ 9 PUBLIC4 

,IT WAS PLAUSIBLE1 BUT ,I DIDN'T REALLY KN[4 ,9 A WAY1 ,I WROTE ! PIECE AS A K9D ( EXP]IM5T4 ,I WAS 9T]E/$ TO SEE :AT SORT ( RESPONSE IT W\LD ELICIT4 

,?IS IS :AT ,I WROTE = ! ,AUGU/ #bac ISSUE3  
  

,ON ! ,PH5OM5ON ( ,BULL%IT ,JOBS 

,9 ! YE> #a#i#c1 ,JOHN ,MAYN>D ,KEYNES PR$ICT$ ?AT1 BY C5TURY'S 5D1 TE*NOLOGY W\LD HAVE ADVANC$ SUFFICI5TLY ?AT C\NTRIES LIKE ,GREAT ,BRITA9 OR ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES W\LD HAVE A*IEV$ A FIFTE5-H\R WORK WEEK4 ,!RE'S EV]Y REASON TO BELIEVE HE WAS RI<T4 ,9 TE*NOLOGICAL T]MS1 WE >E QUITE CAPABLE ( ?IS4 ,& YET IT DIDN'T HAPP54 ,9/EAD1 TE*NOLOGY HAS BE5 M>%AL$1 IF ANY?+1 TO FIGURE \T WAYS TO MAKE US ALL WORK MORE4 ,9 ORD] TO A*IEVE ?IS1 JOBS HAVE HAD TO BE CREAT$ ?AT >E1 EFFECTIVELY1 PO9TLESS4 ,HUGE SWA!S ( PEOPLE1 9 ,EUROPE & ,NOR? ,AM]ICA 9 P>TICUL>1 SP5D !IR 5TIRE WORK+ LIVES P]=M+ TASKS !Y SECRETLY BELIEVE DO NOT REALLY NE$ TO BE P]=M$4 ,! MORAL & SPIRITUAL DAMAGE ?AT COMES FROM ?IS SITUATION IS PR(\ND4 ,IT IS A SC> ACROSS \R COLLECTIVE S\L4 ,YET VIRTUALLY NO ONE TALKS AB\T IT4 

,:Y DID ,KEYNES'S PROMIS$ UTOPIA--/ILL BE+ EAG]LY AWAIT$ 9 ! SIXTIES--NEV] MAT]IALIZE8 ,! /&>D L9E TODAY IS ?AT HE DIDN'T FIGURE 9 ! MASSIVE 9CREASE 9 CONSUM]ISM4 ,GIV5 ! *OICE BETWE5 LESS H\RS & MORE TOYS & PLEASURES1 WE'VE COLLECTIVELY *OS5 ! LATT]4 ,?IS PRES5TS A NICE MORALITY TALE1 BUT EV5 A MOM5T'S REFLECTION %[S IT CAN'T REALLY BE TRUE4 ,YES1 WE HAVE WITNESS$ ! CREATION ( AN 5DLESS V>IETY ( NEW JOBS & 9DU/RIES S9CE ! TW5TIES1 BUT V]Y FEW HAVE ANY?+ TO DO ) ! PRODUCTION & DI/RIBUTION ( SU%I1 I,PHONES1 OR FANCY SNEAK]S4 

,SO :AT >E !SE NEW JOBS1 PRECISELY8 ,A REC5T REPORT COMP>+ EMPLOYM5T 9 ! ,U,S BETWE5 #aia & #b GIVES US A CLE> PICTURE 7& ,I NOTE1 ONE PRETTY MU* EXACTLY E*O$ 9 ! ,U,K74 ,OV] ! C\RSE ( ! LA/ C5TURY1 ! NUMB] ( WORK]S EMPLOY$ AS DOME/IC S]VANTS1 9 9DU/RY1 & 9 ! F>M SECTOR HAS COLLAPS$ DRAMATICALLY4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 0PR(ESSIONAL1 MANAG]IAL1 CL]ICAL1 SALES1 & S]VICE WORK]S0 TRIPL$1 GR[+ 0FROM ONE-QU>T] TO ?REE-QU>T]S ( TOTAL EMPLOYM5T40 ,9 O!R WORDS1 PRODUCTIVE JOBS HAVE1 JU/ AS PR$ICT$1 BE5 L>GELY AUTOMAT$ AWAY4 7,EV5 IF Y\ C\NT 9DU/RIAL WORK]S GLOBALLY1 9CLUD+ ! TOIL+ MASSES 9 ,9DIA & ,*9A1 SU* WORK]S >E /ILL NOT NE>LY SO L>GE A P]C5TAGE ( ! WORLD POPULATION AS !Y US$ TO BE47 

,BUT RA!R ?AN ALL[+ A MASSIVE R$UCTION ( WORK+ H\RS TO FREE ! WORLD'S POPULATION TO PURSUE !IR [N PROJECTS1 PLEASURES1 VISIONS1 & IDEAS1 WE HAVE SE5 ! BALLOON+ NOT EV5 SO MU* ( ! 0S]VICE0 SECTOR AS ( ! ADM9I/RATIVE SECTOR1 UP TO & 9CLUD+ ! CREATION ( :OLE NEW 9DU/RIES LIKE F9ANCIAL S]VICES OR TELEM>KET+1 OR ! UNPREC$5T$ EXPANSION ( SECTORS LIKE CORPORATE LAW1 ACADEMIC & HEAL? ADM9I/RATION1 HUMAN RES\RCES1 & PUBLIC RELATIONS4 ,& !SE NUMB]S DO NOT EV5 REFLECT ALL ?OSE PEOPLE :OSE JOB IS TO PROVIDE ADM9I/RATIVE1 TE*NICAL1 OR SECURITY SUPPORT = !SE 9DU/RIES1 OR1 = ?AT MATT]1 ! :OLE HO/ ( ANCILL>Y 9DU/RIES 7DOG WA%]S1 ALL-NI<T PIZZA DELIV]YM57 ?AT ONLY EXI/ BECAUSE EV]YONE ELSE IS SP5D+ SO MU* ( !IR TIME WORK+ 9 ALL ! O!R ONES4 

,!SE >E :AT ,I PROPOSE TO CALL 0BULL%IT JOBS40 

,IT'S AS IF SOMEONE W]E \T !RE MAK+ UP PO9TLESS JOBS JU/ = ! SAKE ( KEEP+ US ALL WORK+4 ,& H]E1 PRECISELY1 LIES ! MY/]Y4 ,9 CAPITALISM1 ?IS IS PRECISELY :AT IS NOT SUPPOS$ TO HAPP54 ,SURE1 9 ! OLD 9EFFICI5T ,SOCIALI/ /ATES LIKE ! ,SOVIET ,UNION1 :]E EMPLOYM5T WAS CONSID]$ BO? A RI<T & A SACR$ DUTY1 ! SY/EM MADE UP AS MANY JOBS AS IT HAD TO4 7,?IS IS :Y 9 ,SOVIET DEP>TM5T /ORES IT TOOK ?REE CL]KS TO SELL A PIECE ( MEAT47 ,BUT1 ( C\RSE1 ?IS IS ! V]Y SORT ( PROBLEM M>KET COMPETITION IS SUPPOS$ TO FIX4 ,ACCORD+ TO ECONOMIC !ORY1 AT LEA/1 ! LA/ ?+ A PR(IT-SEEK+ FIRM IS GO+ TO DO IS %ELL \T MONEY TO WORK]S !Y DON'T REALLY NE$ TO EMPLOY4 ,/ILL1 SOMEH[1 IT HAPP5S4 

,:ILE CORPORATIONS MAY 5GAGE 9 RU?LESS D[NSIZ+1 ! LAY(FS & SPE$-UPS 9V>IABLY FALL ON ?AT CLASS ( PEOPLE :O >E ACTUALLY MAK+1 MOV+1 FIX+1 & MA9TA9+ ?+S4 ,?R\< SOME /RANGE AL*EMY NO ONE CAN QUITE EXPLA91 ! NUMB] ( SAL>I$ PAP] PU%]S ULTIMATELY SEEMS TO EXP&1 & MORE & MORE EMPLOYES F9D !MSELVES--NOT UNLIKE ,SOVIET WORK]S1 ACTUALLY--WORK+ =TY- OR EV5 FIFTY-H\R WEEKS ON PAP] BUT EFFECTIVELY WORK+ FIFTE5 H\RS JU/ AS ,KEYNES PR$ICT$1 S9CE ! RE/ ( !IR TIME IS SP5T ORGANIZ+ OR ATT5D+ MOTIVATIONAL SEM9>S1 UPDAT+ !IR ,FACEBOOK PR(ILES1 OR D[NLOAD+ ,T,V BOX SETS4 

,! ANSW] CLE>LY ISN'T ECONOMIC3 IT'S MORAL & POLITICAL4 ,! RUL+ CLASS HAS FIGUR$ \T ?AT A HAPPY & PRODUCTIVE POPULATION ) FREE TIME ON !IR H&S IS A MORTAL DANG]4 7,?9K ( :AT />T$ TO HAPP5 :5 ?IS EV5 BEGAN TO BE APPROXIMAT$ 9 ! SIXTIES47 ,&1 ON ! O!R H&1 ! FEEL+ ?AT WORK IS A MORAL VALUE 9 ITSELF1 & ?AT ANYONE NOT WILL+ TO SUBMIT !MSELVES TO SOME K9D ( 9T5SE WORK DISCIPL9E = MO/ ( !IR WAK+ H\RS DES]VES NO?+1 IS EXTRAORD9>ILY CONV5I5T = !M4 

,ONCE1 :5 CONTEMPLAT+ ! APP>5TLY 5DLESS GR[? ( ADM9I/RATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES 9 ,BRITI% ACADEMIC DEP>TM5TS1 ,I CAME UP ) ONE POSSIBLE VISION ( HELL4 ,HELL IS A COLLECTION ( 9DIVIDUALS :O >E SP5D+ ! BULK ( !IR TIME WORK+ ON A TASK !Y DON'T LIKE & >E NOT ESPECIALLY GOOD AT4 ,SAY !Y W]E HIR$ BECAUSE !Y W]E EXCELL5T CAB9ETMAK]S1 & !N DISCOV] !Y >E EXPECT$ TO SP5D A GREAT DEAL ( !IR TIME FRY+ FI%4 ,NOR DOES ! TASK REALLY NE$ TO BE DONE--AT LEA/1 !RE'S ONLY A V]Y LIMIT$ NUMB] ( FI% ?AT NE$ TO BE FRI$4 ,YET SOMEH[ !Y ALL BECOME SO OBSESS$ ) RES5TM5T AT ! ?\<T ?AT SOME ( !IR C[ORK]S MI<T BE SP5D+ MORE TIME MAK+ CAB9ETS & NOT DO+ !IR FAIR %>E ( ! FI%-FRY+ RESPONSIBILITIES ?AT BE=E LONG1 !RE'S 5DLESS PILES ( USELESS1 BADLY COOK$ FI% PIL+ UP ALL OV] ! WORK%OP1 & IT'S ALL ?AT ANYONE REALLY DOES4 

,I ?9K ?IS IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY ACCURATE DESCRIPTION ( ! MORAL DYNAMICS ( \R [N ECONOMY4 

,N[1 ,I REALIZE ANY SU* >GUM5T IS GO+ TO RUN 9TO IMM$IATE OBJECTIONS3 0,:O >E Y\ TO SAY :AT JOBS >E REALLY 'NECESS>Y'8 ,:AT'S 'NECESS>Y1' ANYWAY8 ,Y\'RE AN AN?ROPOLOGY PR(ESSOR--:AT'S ! 'NE$' = ?AT80 7,&1 9DE$1 A LOT ( TABLOID READ]S W\LD TAKE ! EXI/5CE ( MY JOB AS ! V]Y DEF9ITION ( WA/EFUL SOCIAL EXP5DITURE47 ,& ON ONE LEVEL1 ?IS IS OBVI\SLY TRUE4 ,!RE CAN BE NO OBJECTIVE MEASURE ( SOCIAL VALUE4 

,I W\LD NOT PRESUME TO TELL SOMEONE :O IS CONV9C$ !Y >E MAK+ A MEAN+FUL CONTRIBUTION TO ! WORLD ?AT1 REALLY1 !Y >E NOT4 ,BUT :AT AB\T ?OSE PEOPLE :O >E !MSELVES CONV9C$ !IR JOBS >E MEAN+LESS8 ,NOT LONG AGO1 ,I GOT BACK 9 T\* ) A S*OOL FRI5D :OM ,I HADN'T SE5 S9CE ,I WAS FIFTE54 ,I WAS AMAZ$ TO DISCOV] ?AT 9 ! 9T]IM1 HE HAD BECOME FIR/ A POET1 !N ! FRONT MAN 9 AN 9DIE ROCK B&4 ,I'D HE>D SOME ( HIS SONGS ON ! RADIO1 HAV+ NO IDEA ! S+] WAS SOMEONE ,I ACTUALLY KNEW4 ,HE WAS OBVI\SLY BRILLIANT1 9NOVATIVE1 & HIS WORK HAD UNQUE/IONABLY BRI<T5$ & IMPROV$ ! LIVES ( PEOPLE ALL OV] ! WORLD4 ,YET1 AFT] A C\PLE ( UNSUCCESSFUL ALBUMS1 HE'D LO/ HIS CONTRACT1 &1 PLAGU$ ) DEBTS & A NEWBORN DAU<T]1 5D$ UP1 AS HE PUT IT1 0TAK+ ! DEFAULT *OICE ( SO MANY DIRECTIONLESS FOLK3 LAW S*OOL40 ,N[ HE'S A CORPORATE LAWY] WORK+ 9 A PROM95T ,NEW ,YORK FIRM4 ,HE WAS ! FIR/ TO ADMIT ?AT HIS JOB WAS UTT]LY MEAN+LESS1 CONTRIBUT$ NO?+ TO ! WORLD1 &1 9 HIS [N E/IMATION1 %\LD NOT REALLY EXI/4 

,!RE'S A LOT ( QUE/IONS ONE C\LD ASK H]E1 />T+ )1 ,:AT DOES IT SAY AB\T \R SOCIETY ?AT IT SEEMS TO G5]ATE AN EXTREMELY LIMIT$ DEM& = TAL5T$ POET-MUSICIANS BUT AN APP>5TLY 9F9ITE DEM& = SPECIALI/S 9 CORPORATE LAW8 7,ANSW]3 ,IF #a P]C5T ( ! POPULATION CONTROLS MO/ ( ! DISPOSABLE WEAL?1 :AT WE CALL 0! M>KET0 REFLECTS :AT !Y ?9K IS USEFUL OR IMPORTANT1 NOT ANYBODY ELSE47 ,BUT EV5 MORE1 IT %[S ?AT MO/ PEOPLE 9 PO9TLESS JOBS >E ULTIMATELY AW>E ( IT4 ,9 FACT1 ,I'M NOT SURE ,I'VE EV] MET A CORPORATE LAWY] :O DIDN'T ?9K !IR JOB WAS BULL%IT4 ,! SAME GOES = ALMO/ ALL ! NEW 9DU/RIES \TL9$ ABOVE4 ,!RE IS A :OLE CLASS ( SAL>I$ PR(ESSIONALS ?AT1 %\LD Y\ MEET !M AT P>TIES & ADMIT ?AT Y\ DO SOME?+ ?AT MI<T BE CONSID]$ 9T]E/+ 7AN AN?ROPOLOGI/1 = EXAMPLE71 WILL WANT TO AVOID EV5 DISCUSS+ !IR L9E ( WORK 5TIRELY4 ,GIVE !M A FEW DR9KS1 & !Y WILL LAUN* 9TO TIRADES AB\T H[ PO9TLESS & /UPID !IR JOB REALLY IS4 

,?IS IS A PR(\ND PSY*OLOGICAL VIOL5CE H]E4 ,H[ CAN ONE EV5 BEG9 TO SPEAK ( DIGNITY 9 LABOR :5 ONE SECRETLY FEELS ONE'S JOB %\LD NOT EXI/8 ,H[ CAN IT NOT CREATE A S5SE ( DEEP RAGE & RES5TM5T8 ,YET IT IS ! PECULI> G5IUS ( \R SOCIETY ?AT ITS RUL]S HAVE FIGUR$ \T A WAY1 AS 9 ! CASE ( ! FI% FRY]S1 TO 5SURE ?AT RAGE IS DIRECT$ PRECISELY AGA9/ ?OSE :O ACTUALLY DO GET TO DO MEAN+FUL WORK4 ,= 9/ANCE3 9 \R SOCIETY1 !RE SEEMS TO BE A G5]AL RULE ?AT1 ! MORE OBVI\SLY ONE'S WORK B5EFITS O!R PEOPLE1 ! LESS ONE IS LIKELY TO BE PAID = IT4 ,AGA91 AN OBJECTIVE MEASURE IS H>D TO F9D1 BUT ONE EASY WAY TO GET A S5SE IS TO ASK3 ,:AT W\LD HAPP5 W]E ?IS 5TIRE CLASS ( PEOPLE TO SIMPLY DISAPPE>8 ,SAY :AT Y\ LIKE AB\T NURSES1 G>BAGE COLLECTORS1 OR ME*ANICS1 IT'S OBVI\S ?AT W]E !Y TO VANI% 9 A PUFF ( SMOKE1 ! RESULTS W\LD BE IMM$IATE & CATA/ROPHIC4 ,A WORLD )\T TEA*]S OR DOCKWORK]S W\LD SOON BE 9 TR\BLE1 & EV5 ONE )\T SCI5CE-FICTION WRIT]S OR SKA MUSICIANS W\LD CLE>LY BE A LESS] PLACE4 ,IT'S NOT 5TIRELY CLE> H[ HUMANITY W\LD SUFF] W]E ALL PRIVATE EQUITY ,C,E,OS1 LOBBYI/S1 ,P,R RESE>*]S1 ACTU>IES1 TELEM>KET]S1 BAILIFFS1 OR LEGAL CONSULTANTS TO SIMIL>LY VANI%4.<#a.> 7,MANY SUSPECT IT MI<T IMPROVE M>K$LY47 ,YET AP>T FROM A H&FUL ( WELL-T\T$ EXCEPTIONS 7DOCTORS71 ! RULE HOLDS SURPRIS+LY WELL4 

,EV5 MORE P]V]SE1 !RE SEEMS TO BE A BROAD S5SE ?AT ?IS IS ! WAY ?+S %\LD BE4 ,?IS IS ONE ( ! SECRET /R5G?S ( RI<T-W+ POPULISM4 ,Y\ CAN SEE IT :5 TABLOIDS :IP UP RES5TM5T AGA9/ TUBE WORK]S = P>ALYZ+ ,LONDON DUR+ CONTRACT DISPUTES3 ! V]Y FACT ?AT TUBE WORK]S CAN P>ALYZE ,LONDON %[S ?AT !IR WORK IS ACTUALLY NECESS>Y1 BUT ?IS SEEMS TO BE PRECISELY :AT ANNOYS PEOPLE4 ,IT'S EV5 CLE>] 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 :]E ,REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD REM>KABLE SUCCESS MOBILIZ+ RES5TM5T AGA9/ S*OOLTEA*]S & AUT[ORK]S 7& NOT1 SIGNIFICANTLY1 AGA9/ ! S*OOL ADM9I/RATORS OR AUTO 9DU/RY EXECUTIVES :O ACTUALLY CAUSE ! PROBLEMS7 = !IR SUPPOS$LY BLOAT$ WAGES & B5EFITS4 ,IT'S AS IF !Y >E BE+ TOLD 0,BUT Y\ GET TO TEA* *ILDR56 ,OR MAKE C>S6 ,Y\ GET TO HAVE REAL JOBS6 ,& ON TOP ( ?AT1 Y\ HAVE ! N]VE TO ALSO EXPECT MIDDLE-CLASS P5SIONS & HEAL? C>E80 

,IF SOMEONE HAD DESIGN$ A WORK REGIME P]FECTLY SUIT$ TO MA9TA9+ ! P[] ( F9ANCE CAPITAL1 IT'S H>D TO SEE H[ HE OR %E C\LD HAVE DONE A BETT] JOB4 ,REAL1 PRODUCTIVE WORK]S >E REL5TLESSLY SQUEEZ$ & EXPLOIT$4 ,! REMA9D] >E DIVID$ BETWE5 A T]RORIZ$ /RATUM ( ! UNIV]SALLY REVIL$ UNEMPLOY$ & A L>G] /RATUM :O >E BASICALLY PAID TO DO NO?+1 9 POSITIONS DESIGN$ TO MAKE !M ID5TIFY ) ! P]SPECTIVES & S5SIBILITIES ( ! RUL+ CLASS 7MANAG]S1 ADM9I/RATORS1 ETC47--& P>TICUL>LY ITS F9ANCIAL AVAT>S--BUT1 AT ! SAME TIME1 FO/] A SIMM]+ RES5TM5T AGA9/ ANYONE :OSE WORK HAS CLE> & UND5IABLE SOCIAL VALUE4 ,CLE>LY1 ! SY/EM WAS NEV] CONSCI\SLY DESIGN$4 ,IT EM]G$ FROM ALMO/ A C5TURY ( TRIAL & ]ROR4 ,BUT IT IS ! ONLY EXPLANATION = :Y1 DESPITE \R TE*NOLOGICAL CAPACITIES1 WE >E NOT ALL WORK+ ?REE- TO F\R-H\R DAYS4  
  

,IF EV] AN ESSAY'S HYPO!SIS WAS CONFIRM$ BY ITS RECEPTION1 ?IS WAS IT4 0,ON ! ,PH5OM5ON ( ,BULL%IT ,JOBS0 PRODUC$ AN EXPLOSION4 

,! IRONY WAS ?AT ! TWO WEEKS AFT] ! PIECE CAME \T W]E ! SAME TWO WEEKS ?AT MY P>TN] & ,I HAD DECID$ TO SP5D ) A BASKET ( BOOKS1 & EA* O!R1 9 A CAB9 9 RURAL ,QUEBEC4 ,WE'D MADE A PO9T ( F9D+ A LOCATION ) NO WIRELESS4 ,?IS LEFT ME 9 ! AWKW>D POSITION ( HAV+ TO OBS]VE ! RESULTS ONLY ON MY MOBILE PHONE4 ,! ESSAY W5T VIRAL ALMO/ IMM$IATELY4 ,)9 WEEKS1 IT HAD BE5 TRANSLAT$ 9TO AT LEA/ A DOZ5 LANGUAGES1 9CLUD+ ,G]MAN1 ,NORWEGIAN1 ,SW$I%1 ,FR5*1 ,CZE*1 ,ROMANIAN1 ,RUSSIAN1 ,TURKI%1 ,LATVIAN1 ,POLI%1 ,GREEK1 ,E/ONIAN1 ,CATALAN1 & ,KOREAN1 & WAS REPR9T$ 9 NEWSPAP]S FROM ,SWITZ]L& TO ,AU/RALIA4 ,! ORIG9AL ,/RIKE6 PAGE RECEIV$ MORE ?AN A MILLION HITS & CRA%$ REPEAT$LY FROM TOO MU* TRAFFIC4 ,BLOGS SPR\T$4 ,COMM5TS SECTIONS FILL$ UP ) CONFESSIONS FROM :ITE-COLL> PR(ESSIONALS2 PEOPLE WROTE ME ASK+ = GUIDANCE OR TO TELL ME ,I HAD 9SPIR$ !M TO QUIT !IR JOBS TO F9D SOME?+ MORE MEAN+FUL4 ,H]E IS ONE 5?USIA/IC RESPONSE 7,I'VE COLLECT$ HUNDR$S7 FROM ! COMM5TS SECTION ( ,AU/RALIA'S ,CANB]RA ,TIMES3 

,W[6 ,NAIL ON ! HEAD6 ,I AM A CORPORATE LAWY] 7TAX LITIGATOR1 TO BE SPECIFIC74 ,I CONTRIBUTE NO?+ TO ?IS WORLD & AM UTT]LY MIS]ABLE ALL ( ! TIME4 ,I DON'T LIKE IT :5 PEOPLE HAVE ! N]VE TO SAY 0,:Y DO IT1 !N80 BECAUSE IT IS SO CLE>LY NOT ?AT SIMPLE4 ,IT SO HAPP5S TO BE ! ONLY WAY RI<T N[ = ME TO CONTRIBUTE TO ! #a P]C5T 9 SU* A SIGNIFICANT WAY SO AS TO REW>D ME ) A H\SE 9 ,SYDNEY TO RAISE MY FUTURE KIDS444 ,?ANKS TO TE*NOLOGY1 WE >E PROBABLY AS PRODUCTIVE 9 TWO DAYS AS WE PREVI\SLY W]E 9 FIVE4 ,BUT ?ANKS TO GRE$ & SOME BUSY-BEE SYNDROME ( PRODUCTIVITY1 WE >E /ILL ASK$ TO SLAVE AWAY = ! PR(IT ( O!RS AHEAD ( \R [N NONREMUN]AT$ AMBITIONS4 ,:E!R Y\ BELIEVE 9 9TELLIG5T DESIGN OR EVOLUTION1 HUMANS W]E NOT MADE TO WORK--SO TO ME1 ?IS IS ALL JU/ GRE$ PROPP$ UP BY 9FLAT$ PRICES ( NECESSITIES4.<#b.> 

,AT ONE PO9T1 ,I GOT A MESSAGE FROM ONE ANONYM\S FAN :O SAID ?AT HE WAS P>T ( AN IMPROMPTU GR\P CIRCULAT+ ! PIECE )9 ! F9ANCIAL S]VICES COMMUNITY2 HE'D RECEIV$ FIVE EMAILS CONTA9+ ! ESSAY JU/ ?AT DAY 7C]TA9LY ONE SIGN ?AT MANY 9 F9ANCIAL S]VICES DON'T HAVE MU* TO DO74 ,NONE ( ?IS ANSW]$ ! QUE/ION ( H[ MANY PEOPLE REALLY FELT ?AT WAY AB\T !IR JOBS--AS OPPOS$ TO1 SAY1 PASS+ ON ! PIECE AS A WAY TO DROP SUBTLE H9TS TO O!RS--BUT BE=E LONG1 /ATI/ICAL EVID5CE DID 9DE$ SURFACE4 

,ON ,JANU>Y #e1 #b#a#e1 A LITTLE MORE ?AN A YE> AFT] ! >TICLE CAME \T1 ON ! FIR/ ,MONDAY ( ! NEW YE>--?AT IS1 ! DAY MO/ ,LONDON]S W]E RETURN+ TO WORK FROM !IR W9T] HOLIDAYS--SOMEONE TOOK SEV]AL HUNDR$ ADS 9 ,LONDON ,UND]GR\ND C>S & REPLAC$ !M ) A S]IES ( GU]RILLA PO/]S CONSI/+ ( QUOTES FROM ! ORIG9AL ESSAY4 ,!SE W]E ! ONES !Y *OSE3  

,HUGE SWA!S ( PEOPLE SP5D !IR DAYS P]=M+ TASKS !Y SECRETLY BELIEVE DO NOT REALLY NE$ TO BE P]=M$4  

,IT'S AS IF SOMEONE W]E \T !RE MAK+ UP PO9TLESS JOBS = ! SAKE ( KEEP+ US ALL WORK+4  

,! MORAL & SPIRITUAL DAMAGE ?AT COMES FROM ?IS SITUATION IS PR(\ND4 ,IT IS A SC> ACROSS \R COLLECTIVE S\L4 ,YET VIRTUALLY NO ONE TALKS AB\T IT4  

,H[ CAN ONE EV5 BEG9 TO SPEAK ( DIGNITY 9 LABOR :5 ONE SECRETLY FEELS ONE'S JOB %\LD NOT EXI/8  
  

,! RESPONSE TO ! PO/] CAMPAIGN WAS ANO!R SPATE ( DISCUSSION 9 ! M$IA 7,I APPE>$ BRIEFLY ON ,RUSSIA ,TODAY71 AS A RESULT ( :I* ! POLL+ AG5CY ,Y\,GOV TOOK IT UPON ITSELF TO TE/ ! HYPO!SIS & CONDUCT$ A POLL ( ,BRITONS US+ LANGUAGE TAK5 DIRECTLY FROM ! ESSAY3 = EXAMPLE1 ,DOES Y\R JOB 0MAKE A MEAN+FUL CONTRIBUTION TO ! WORLD08 ,A/ONI%+LY1 MORE ?AN A ?IRD--#c#g P]C5T--SAID !Y BELIEV$ ?AT IT DID NOT 7:]EAS #e P]C5T SAID IT DID1 & #ac P]C5T W]E UNC]TA974 

,?IS WAS ALMO/ TWICE :AT ,I HAD ANTICIPAT$--,I'D IMAG9$ ! P]C5TAGE ( BULL%IT JOBS WAS PROBABLY >\ND #b P]C5T4 ,:AT'S MORE1 A LAT] POLL 9 ,HOLL& CAME UP ) ALMO/ EXACTLY ! SAME RESULTS3 9 FACT1 A LITTLE HI<]1 AS #d P]C5T ( ,DUT* WORK]S REPORT$ ?AT !IR JOBS HAD NO GOOD REASON TO EXI/4 

,SO NOT ONLY HAS ! HYPO!SIS BE5 CONFIRM$ BY PUBLIC REACTION1 IT HAS N[ BE5 OV]:ELM+LY CONFIRM$ BY /ATI/ICAL RESE>*4 

,CLE>LY1 !N1 WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL PH5OM5ON ?AT HAS RECEIV$ ALMO/ NO SY/EMATIC ATT5TION4.<#c.> ,SIMPLY OP5+ UP A WAY TO TALK AB\T IT BECAME1 = MANY1 CA?>TIC4 ,IT WAS OBVI\S ?AT A L>G] EXPLORATION WAS 9 ORD]4 

,:AT ,I WANT TO DO H]E IS A BIT MORE SY/EMATIC ?AN ! ORIG9AL ESSAY4 ,! #bac PIECE WAS = A MAGAZ9E AB\T REVOLUTION>Y POLITICS1 & IT EMPHASIZ$ ! POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS ( ! PROBLEM4 ,9 FACT1 ! ESSAY WAS JU/ ONE ( A S]IES ( >GUM5TS ,I WAS DEVELOP+ AT ! TIME ?AT ! NEOLIB]AL 70FREE M>KET07 IDEOLOGY ?AT HAD DOM9AT$ ! WORLD S9CE ! DAYS ( ,?AT*] & ,REAGAN WAS REALLY ! OPPOSITE ( :AT IT CLAIM$ TO BE2 IT WAS REALLY A POLITICAL PROJECT DRESS$ UP AS AN ECONOMIC ONE4 

,I HAD COME TO ?IS CONCLUSION BECAUSE IT SEEM$ TO BE ! ONLY WAY TO EXPLA9 H[ ?OSE 9 P[] ACTUALLY BEHAV$4 ,:ILE NEOLIB]AL RHETORIC WAS ALWAYS ALL AB\T UNLEA%+ ! MAGIC ( ! M>KETPLACE & PLAC+ ECONOMIC EFFICI5CY OV] ALL O!R VALUES1 ! OV]ALL EFFECT ( FREE M>KET POLICIES HAS BE5 ?AT RATES ( ECONOMIC GR[? HAVE SL[$ PRETTY MU* EV]Y:]E EXCEPT ,9DIA & ,*9A2 SCI5TIFIC & TE*NOLOGICAL ADVANCE HAS /AGNAT$2 & 9 MO/ WEAL?Y C\NTRIES1 ! Y\NG] G5]ATIONS CAN1 = ! FIR/ TIME 9 C5TURIES1 EXPECT TO LEAD LESS PROSP]\S LIVES ?AN !IR P>5TS DID4 ,YET ON OBS]V+ !SE EFFECTS1 PROPON5TS ( M>KET IDEOLOGY ALWAYS REPLY ) CALLS = EV5 /RONG] DOSES ( ! SAME M$IC9E1 & POLITICIANS DULY 5ACT !M4 ,?IS /RUCK ME AS ODD4 ,IF A PRIVATE COMPANY HIR$ A CONSULTANT TO COME UP ) A BUS9ESS PLAN1 & IT RESULT$ 9 A %>P DECL9E 9 PR(ITS1 ?AT CONSULTANT W\LD BE FIR$4 ,AT ! V]Y LEA/1 HE'D BE ASK$ TO COME UP ) A DIFF]5T PLAN4 ,) FREE M>KET RE=MS1 ?IS NEV] SEEM$ TO HAPP54 ,! MORE !Y FAIL$1 ! MORE !Y W]E 5ACT$4 ,! ONLY LOGICAL CONCLUSION WAS ?AT ECONOMIC IMP]ATIVES W]5'T REALLY DRIV+ ! PROJECT4 

,:AT WAS8 ,IT SEEM$ TO ME ! ANSW] HAD TO LIE 9 ! M9D-SET ( ! POLITICAL CLASS4 ,ALMO/ ALL ( ?OSE MAK+ ! KEY DECISIONS HAD ATT5D$ COLLEGE 9 ! #a#i#fS1 :5 CAMPUSES W]E AT ! V]Y EPIC5T] ( POLITICAL F]M5T1 & !Y FELT /RONGLY ?AT SU* ?+S MU/ NEV] HAPP5 AGA94 ,AS A RESULT1 :ILE !Y MI<T HAVE BE5 CONC]N$ ) DECL9+ ECONOMIC 9DICATORS1 !Y W]E ALSO QUITE DELI<T$ TO NOTE ?AT ! COMB9ATION ( GLOBALIZATION1 GUTT+ ! P[] ( UNIONS1 & CREAT+ AN 9SECURE & OV]WORK$ WORK=CE--ALONG ) AGGRESSIVELY PAY+ LIP S]VICE TO SIXTIES CALLS TO H$ONI/IC P]SONAL LIB]ATION 7:AT CAME TO BE KN[N AS 0LIFE/YLE LIB]ALISM1 FISCAL CONS]VATIVISM07--HAD ! EFFECT ( SIMULTANE\SLY %IFT+ MORE & MORE WEAL? & P[] TO ! WEAL?Y & ALMO/ COMPLETELY DE/ROY+ ! BASIS = ORGANIZ$ *ALL5GES TO !IR P[]4 ,IT MI<T NOT HAVE WORK$ V]Y WELL ECONOMICALLY1 BUT POLITICALLY IT WORK$ LIKE A DREAM4 ,IF NO?+ ELSE1 !Y HAD LITTLE 9C5TIVE TO AB&ON SU* POLICIES4 ,ALL ,I DID 9 ! ESSAY WAS TO PURSUE ?IS 9SI<T3 :5EV] Y\ F9D SOMEONE DO+ SOME?+ 9 ! NAME ( ECONOMIC EFFICI5CY ?AT SEEMS COMPLETELY ECONOMICALLY IRRATIONAL 7LIKE1 SAY1 PAY+ PEOPLE GOOD MONEY TO DO NO?+ ALL DAY71 ONE HAD BE/ />T BY ASK+1 AS ! ANCI5T ,ROMANS DID1 0,QUI BONO80--0,:O B5EFITS80--& H[4 

,?IS IS LESS A CONSPIRACY !ORY APPROA* ?AN IT IS AN ANTICONSPIRACY !ORY4 ,I WAS ASK+ :Y ACTION WASN'T TAK54 ,ECONOMIC TR5DS HAPP5 = ALL SORTS ( REASONS1 BUT IF !Y CAUSE PROBLEMS = ! RI* & P[]FUL1 ?OSE RI* & P[]FUL PEOPLE WILL PRESSURE 9/ITUTIONS TO /EP 9 & DO SOME?+ AB\T ! MATT]4 ,?IS IS :Y AFT] ! F9ANCIAL CRISIS ( #b#h-#i1 L>GE 9VE/M5T BANKS W]E BAIL$ \T BUT ORD9>Y MORTGAGE HOLD]S W]5'T4 ,! PROLIF]ATION ( BULL%IT JOBS1 AS WE'LL SEE1 HAPP5$ = A V>IETY ( REASONS4 ,! REAL QUE/ION ,I WAS ASK+ IS :Y NO ONE 9T]V5$ 70CONSPIR$10 IF Y\ LIKE7 TO DO SOME?+ AB\T ! MATT]4 

,9 ?IS BOOK ,I WANT TO DO CONSID]ABLY MORE ?AN ?AT4 

,I BELIEVE ?AT ! PH5OM5ON ( BULL%IT EMPLOYM5T CAN PROVIDE US ) A W9D[ ON MU* DEEP] SOCIAL PROBLEMS4 ,WE NE$ TO ASK \RSELVES1 NOT JU/ H[ DID SU* A L>GE PROPORTION ( \R WORK=CE F9D !MSELVES LABOR+ AT TASKS ?AT !Y !MSELVES CONSID] PO9TLESS1 BUT ALSO :Y DO SO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE ?IS /ATE ( AFFAIRS TO BE NORMAL1 9EVITABLE--EV5 DESIRABLE8 ,MORE ODDLY /ILL1 :Y1 DESPITE ! FACT ?AT !Y HOLD !SE OP9IONS 9 ! AB/RACT1 & EV5 BELIEVE ?AT IT IS 5TIRELY APPROPRIATE ?AT ?OSE :O LABOR AT PO9TLESS JOBS %\LD BE PAID MORE & RECEIVE MORE HONOR & RECOGNITION ?AN ?OSE :O DO SOME?+ !Y CONSID] TO BE USEFUL1 DO !Y NONE!LESS F9D !MSELVES DEPRESS$ & MIS]ABLE IF !Y !MSELVES 5D UP 9 POSITIONS :]E !Y >E BE+ PAID TO DO NO?+1 OR NO?+ ?AT !Y FEEL B5EFITS O!RS 9 ANY WAY8 ,!RE IS CLE>LY A JUMBLE ( CONTRADICTORY IDEAS & IMPULSES AT PLAY H]E4 ,ONE ?+ ,I WANT TO DO 9 ?IS BOOK IS BEG9 TO SORT !M \T4 ,?IS WILL MEAN ASK+ PRACTICAL QUE/IONS SU* AS3 ,H[ DO BULL%IT JOBS ACTUALLY HAPP58 ,IT WILL ALSO MEAN ASK+ DEEP HI/ORICAL QUE/IONS1 LIKE1 ,:5 & H[ DID WE COME TO BELIEVE ?AT CREATIVITY WAS SUPPOS$ TO BE PA9FUL1 OR1 H[ DID WE EV] COME UP ) ! NOTION ?AT IT W\LD BE POSSIBLE TO SELL ONE'S TIME8 ,& F9ALLY1 IT WILL MEAN ASK+ FUNDAM5TAL QUE/IONS AB\T HUMAN NATURE4 

,WRIT+ ?IS BOOK ALSO S]VES A POLITICAL PURPOSE4 

,I W\LD LIKE ?IS BOOK TO BE AN >R[ AIM$ AT ! HE>T ( \R CIVILIZATION4 ,!RE IS SOME?+ V]Y WRONG ) :AT WE HAVE MADE \RSELVES4 ,WE HAVE BECOME A CIVILIZATION BAS$ ON WORK--NOT EV5 0PRODUCTIVE WORK0 BUT WORK AS AN 5D & MEAN+ 9 ITSELF4 ,WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE ?AT M5 & WOM5 :O DO NOT WORK H>D] ?AN !Y WI% AT JOBS !Y DO NOT P>TICUL>LY 5JOY >E BAD PEOPLE UNWOR?Y ( LOVE1 C>E1 OR ASSI/ANCE FROM !IR COMMUNITIES4 ,IT IS AS IF WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY ACQUIESC$ TO \R [N 5SLAVEM5T4 ,! MA9 POLITICAL REACTION TO \R AW>5ESS ?AT HALF ! TIME WE >E 5GAG$ 9 UTT]LY MEAN+LESS OR EV5 C\NT]PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES--USUALLY UND] ! ORD]S ( A P]SON WE DISLIKE--IS TO RANKLE ) RES5TM5T OV] ! FACT !RE MI<T BE O!RS \T !RE :O >E NOT 9 ! SAME TRAP4 ,AS A RESULT1 HATR$1 RES5TM5T1 & SUSPICION HAVE BECOME ! GLUE ?AT HOLDS SOCIETY TOGE!R4 ,?IS IS A DISA/R\S /ATE ( AFFAIRS4 ,I WI% IT TO 5D4 

,IF ?IS BOOK CAN 9 ANY WAY CONTRIBUTE TO ?AT 5D1 IT WILL HAVE BE5 WOR? WRIT+4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bba 3 ,PREFACE -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,PREFACE -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/