Description A collection of articles–ranging from the practical to the theoretical to the poetic–on doing without work. These pieces postulate scenarios of this society without work (including the use of robots to do what humans are currently needed for), describe the desirability of no-work for each of us individually, explore how work is a bad thing both personally and culturally, and offer suggestions on how to do less of it while holding down a job, as well as how to keep an appropriate relationship to it when necessary. While the editor is an anarchist, many of these essays have been lifted from the internet (with some very light editing), including authors who are not anarchists (notably multiple entries by John Danaher). This text is a departure for LBC, as it is staunchly not-green, and tends toward a soft market-anarchist perspective. The editor considers it a challenge to LBC’s readership, and it certainly counts as an interesting exercise. The charming introduction is written by David D’Amato. the table of contents: 1. Anti-Work 101 Preface Should We Abolish Work? Does Work Really Work? 8 Hours Too Many? On The Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs Antiwork–A Radical Shift in How we View Jobs From the Realm of Necessity to the Realm of FreedomDivesting from the System: Spotlight on Jobs 2. Anti-Work CommentariesPreface Thoughts on Employment: “So What Do You Do?” To My Potential New Employer Why I Don’t Care About You: an open letter to my employer I Quit, Because CapitalismPutting Work on Ice Should We Have a Right to Not Work? Does Work Undermine Our Freedom? Inclined Labor Stress, Labor, & PlayThe Ecology of Play 3. Anti-Work and Technological Unemployment Preface Are We Heading for Technological Unemployment? An Argument Capitalism, Not Technological Unemployment, is the Problem The David Autor Series Why Haven’t Robots Taken Our Jobs? The Complementarity Effect Automation and Income Inequality: understanding the polarization effect Polanyi’s Paradox: Will Humans Maintain Any Advantage over Machines? When Jobs Become Obsolete The Nicholas Carr Responses, part 3 4. Anti-Work and Individualist Anarchism Preface The Individualist Anarchist and Work The Libertarian Virtue of Slack “WORK!” Outlining a Story for the Anti-Work Position On Your Last Day of Work Conclusion: An Anti-Work World Further Readings and Resources
