Work

A Deep History, from the Stone Age to the Age of Robots

By: James Suzman

Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith

"This book is a tour de force." (Adam Grant, New York Times best-selling author of Give and Take)

A revolutionary new history of humankind through the prism of work by leading anthropologist James Suzman.

Work defines who we are. It determines our status and dictates how, where, and with whom we spend most of our time. It mediates our self-worth and molds our values. But are we hardwired to work as hard as we do? Did our Stone Age ancestors also live to work and work to live? And what might a world where work plays a far less important role look like?

To answer these questions, James Suzman charts a grand history of "work" from the origins of life on Earth to our ever more automated present, challenging some of our deepest assumptions about who we are. Drawing insights from anthropology, archaeology, evolutionary biology, zoology, physics, and economics, he shows that while we have evolved to find joy meaning and purpose in work, for most of human history our ancestors worked far less and thought very differently about work than we do now. He demonstrates how our contemporary culture of work has its roots in the agricultural revolution 10,000 years ago. Our sense of what it is to be human was transformed by the transition from foraging to food production, and, later, our migration to cities. Since then, our relationships with one another and with our environments, and even our sense of the passage of time, have not been the same.

Arguing that we are in the midst of a similarly transformative point in history, Suzman shows how automation might revolutionize our relationship with work and in doing so usher in a more sustainable and equitable future for our world and ourselves.

©2021 James Suzman (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"His book meticulously charts the evolution of labor over 300,000 years, a strategy that brings welcome perspective to our current economic woes. While ostensibly a science book, it is also a devastating critique of consumer capitalism and a kind of self-help guide, underlying just how abnormal our lives are by our ancestors’ standards." (The Irish Times)

"A fascinating exploration that challenges our basic assumptions on what work means. As automation threatens to completely disrupt the global job market, it is urgent to rethink the economic, psychological and even spiritual importance of work. By examining the lives of hunter-gatherers, apes and even birds, Suzman highlights that what we consider ‘natural’ is often just the questionable legacy of industrial gurus and agricultural religions. Knowing the history of how we have spent our time in the past will hopefully enable us to make more sensible choices in the future.” (Yuval Noah Harari, New York Times best-selling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind)

“Here is one of those few books that will turn your customary ways of thinking upside down. An incisive and original new history that invites us to rethink our relationship with work - and to reimagine what it means to be human in an ever-more automated future.” (Susan Cain, New York Times best-selling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking)

Wow

Really makes you rethink the priorities and mechanisms of our modern economic systems.
Great book!

its not what you think it is, and thats ok

This book has a lot more to do with anthropology and how humans have evolved our purpose throughout time. It also talks about how changing circumstances effect us as a human race, and therefore how that affects our work/life. I enjoyed this book regardless, just be aware it doesn't really dig in to the "why we work" the way one might think.

Great description of origins of work

Excellent description of origins, different phases of work and how we got here. Could be different as well as fairer and better for everyone. Coming challenge is making AI cooperate

Required reading for modern humans.

This one goes right next to other similarly great books such as Guns, Germs &Steel and Sapiens.

Didn't think I'd like it so much.

A brief history of our worst curse, work. We see how we impede our own progress by refusing to give up a 40 hour work week which was established when agriculture was our main source of work. We get a peek into how other cultures that do not live to work and hoard experience a deeper level of humanity

interesting, but heavy emphasis on ancient history

I did enjoy the book, but expected it to focus more on work in the modern Era. It covered societal forces over time that shaped work, but had a heavy emphasis on ancient history.

Long but interesting

Narration excellent. Helped me sleep, but is also a great listen while doing work. I would listen to it again despite it being quite long.

Compelling anthropology and perspectives

First, the narrator is excellent.

And is the content. Suzman has a compelling perspective on anthropological subjects from his field work in Namibia, and covers a lot of historical ground in what is clearly a well-researched way leveraging an academic background. The implications for modernity and the reader are compelling throughout. If anything the book loses a bit of steam at the end, just because modernity is better known to most readers. So you learn a lot about how and why work is as it is, but it’s less revelatory and compelling than the hunter-gatherer insights from the first half.

That said, I was sad when it ended. I recommend this book as essential reading for anyone who spends more time with their co-workers than their family.

A must read for anyone open minded enough to listen and learn

I only started listening because my brother had read the book. I had no preconceived ideas on it, but I am so glad I listened to it on Audible! It is completely relevant and interesting. I love the history it provided and then used that history to open a dialogue in your own mind to seeing the world differently than we have been taught by those of closed minds and panicky egos who are scared to possibly lose their idea of success for reality and the greater good.

I know that not everyone is ready to hear what this book has to say, but I hope that someday we will all be inspired to collectively discuss and implement change based on the history and critical thinking opportunity that this book provides.

A complete work on the souls of work and it’s relation with the future of humanity

An engaging book that will broaden you view of the past of work that needs to be brought back if we want to prevent that the world from becoming a complete distopia.