Bullshit Jobs: A Theory explores the prevalence of meaningless work in modern society. Graeber argues that many jobs are unnecessary and even harmful, proposing that 37-40% of jobs are "bullshit." The book categorizes these jobs and examines their psychological impact on workers. While some readers found the book insightful and thought-provoking, others criticized its reliance on anecdotal evidence and lack of robust analysis. The concept resonated with many readers who have experienced unfulfilling work, though some felt the book could have been more concise and offered clearer solutions.
Bullshit jobs are prevalent and defined by their pointlessness
Five types of bullshit jobs: flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers, and taskmasters
Bullshit jobs cause psychological harm and moral confusion
The paradox: People hate having bullshit jobs but believe in work as a virtue
Managerial feudalism and the proliferation of bullshit jobs
The inverse relationship between social value and compensation
Universal Basic Income as a potential solution to bullshit jobs
A bullshit job is a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence even though, as part of the conditions of employment, the employee feels obliged to pretend that this is not the case.
Widespread phenomenon: Bullshit jobs have become increasingly common in modern economies, with surveys suggesting that up to 37-40% of workers in rich countries feel their jobs are pointless. These jobs often exist in:
Corporate bureaucracies
Financial services
Administrative roles
Middle management positions
Characteristics of bullshit jobs:
No discernible positive impact on society
Could be eliminated without any negative consequences
Often involve pretending to work or creating unnecessary tasks
Tend to be well-compensated compared to socially valuable jobs
The proliferation of bullshit jobs contradicts economic theory, which suggests that market competition should eliminate unnecessary positions. This paradox points to deeper structural issues in our economic and social systems.
I would say the average development team gets one show commissioned every three to four months. It's bullshit through and through.
Flunkies: Exist to make someone else look or feel important
Receptionists with no actual work
Unnecessary administrative assistants
Doormen in buildings with intercoms
Goons: Jobs that involve aggression or manipulation
Telemarketers
Corporate lawyers
Lobbyists
Duct tapers: Solve problems that shouldn't exist
IT professionals fixing poorly designed systems
Employees correcting errors made by superiors
Box tickers: Create the appearance of doing something
Risk management professionals in banks
Corporate compliance officers
Some forms of middle management
Taskmasters: Assign or create work for others
Unnecessary supervisors
Managers who invent pointless tasks for subordinates
These categories often overlap, and many bullshit jobs combine elements of multiple types. The common thread is that they all involve work that is ultimately unnecessary or counterproductive.
I get anxiety because I think that at any moment someone is actually going to realize that nothing would change if I were not here and they could save themselves the money.
Psychological impact: Holding a bullshit job can lead to:
Depression and anxiety
Loss of self-esteem
Feelings of worthlessness
Stress from pretending to work
Moral confusion: Workers in bullshit jobs often experience:
Cognitive dissonance between their values and actions
Guilt over receiving payment for meaningless work
Resentment towards those in socially valuable jobs
Confusion about the purpose of their role in society
The psychological toll of bullshit jobs extends beyond the workplace, affecting personal relationships and overall life satisfaction. Many workers report feeling trapped, unable to leave their well-paid but meaningless positions due to financial obligations or societal expectations.
If you're not destroying your mind and body via paid work, you're not living right.
Work ethic contradiction: Society values hard work and employment, even when the work itself is pointless. This leads to:
People feeling guilty for not working, even in bullshit jobs
A belief that any job is better than no job
Resistance to ideas like shortened work weeks or universal basic income
Historical context:
Protestant work ethic: Work as a moral and religious duty
Industrial revolution: Emphasis on productivity and time discipline
Post-industrial economy: Shift towards service and information jobs
This paradox creates a situation where people are miserable in their bullshit jobs but feel morally obligated to continue working. It also contributes to political resistance against policies that might reduce the prevalence of bullshit jobs.
The ruling class has figured out that a happy and productive population with free time on their hands is a mortal danger.
Managerial feudalism: A system where:
Power and status are derived from controlling subordinates
Corporations create unnecessary layers of management
Efficiency is less important than maintaining hierarchies
Causes of bullshit job proliferation:
Financialization of the economy
Growth of administrative and regulatory bureaucracies
Corporate culture valuing appearance over substance
Political pressure to maintain full employment
This system perpetuates itself by creating new layers of bullshit jobs to justify the existence of higher-level positions. It also serves to keep the workforce occupied and less likely to challenge existing power structures.
The more obviously one's work benefits other people, the less one is likely to be paid for it.
Value paradox: Jobs with the most direct positive impact on society often receive the lowest compensation:
Teachers
Nurses
Social workers
Sanitation workers
Highly compensated, low social value jobs:
Financial traders
Corporate lawyers
Marketing executives
Many forms of middle management
This inverse relationship creates resentment and moral confusion. It also contributes to the difficulty in eliminating bullshit jobs, as those in well-paid but socially useless positions have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
If Universal Basic Income was instituted, it's very hard to imagine jobs like Annie's long continue to exist.
Benefits of UBI:
Eliminates the need to work purely for survival
Allows people to pursue meaningful work or education
Reduces the power imbalance between employers and employees
Potentially eliminates many bullshit jobs
Challenges to implementing UBI:
Political resistance from those benefiting from the current system
Concerns about financing and inflation
Cultural attachment to the idea of work as virtue
Universal Basic Income could fundamentally reshape the labor market by allowing people to refuse bullshit jobs without risking poverty. This could lead to a revaluation of work based on its actual social utility rather than its ability to occupy time or maintain hierarchies.