Bullshit Jobs

A Theory

By: David Graeber

Narrated by: Christopher Ragland

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber, read by Christopher Ragland.

Be honest: if your job didn't exist, would anybody miss it? Have you ever wondered why not? Up to 40% of us secretly believe our jobs probably aren't necessary. In other words: they are bullshit jobs. This book shows why, and what we can do about it.
In the early twentieth century, people prophesied that technology would see us all working fifteen-hour weeks and driving flying cars. Instead, something curious happened. Not only have the flying cars not materialised, but average working hours have increased rather than decreased. And now, across the developed world, three-quarters of all jobs are in services, finance or admin: jobs that don't seem to contribute anything to society. In Bullshit Jobs, David Graeber explores how this phenomenon - one more associated with the Soviet Union, but which capitalism was supposed to eliminate - has happened. In doing so, he looks at how, rather than producing anything, work has become an end in itself; the way such work maintains the current broken system of finance capital; and, finally, how we can get out of it.
This book is for anyone whose heart has sunk at the sight of a whiteboard, who believes 'workshops' should only be for making things, or who just suspects that there might be a better way to run our world.


'Spectacular and terrifyingly true' Owen Jones
'Explosive' John McDonnell, New Statesman, Books of the Year
'Thought-provoking and funny' The Times

Critic reviews

Praise for The Democracy Project: 'Clear, pungent and right ... a compact and incisive account of why capitalism has run with such a smash into the buffers'

Graeber's talent is to take big concepts and unpack them, forcing us to examine their implications for society ... the book is a cool drink of water after so much dry, academic writing on the "revolutions" of 2011'

Captures the joys and fears of a movement

The most influential radical political thinker of the moment

Start thinking

This is a really good explanation of our society and surprisingly accurate for far too many people in the workforce.
We should really think more about this. And absolutely do things differently.

typical Graber disruption & brilliance

Towards the end of the book, the collection of testimonials and commentary on them converge into a sociopolitical argument that os far more reaching than the title of the book may suggest.. worth every hour of listening.

When will wagies learn?

Wagie wagie get in cagie.
All day long you sweat and ragie.
NEET is comfy. NEET is cool.
NEET is free from work and school.
Wagie trapped and wagie died.
NEET eats tendies, sauce, and fries

What a book!

This book is fantastic. well written and concisely explained. entertaining style as well as a well thought out topic. coming from a conservative background favouring the free market and libertarian ideals, this has really opened up my thinking but if you are like me then listen with an open mind

Very thought provoking. It makes you look at all jobs in a different way.

We often just accept some jobs and organisations reluctantly after secretly questioning their validity. This book is a deep dive into work/labour, the market, historical references right up to modern examples.