Bullshit Jobs
A Theory
by David Graeber
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“I read @davidgraeber's essay on bullshit jobs a couple of years ago, and it felt relevant. I just got his book BULLSHIT JOBS on @librofm and I cannot say this loudly enough: GET THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. I'm going to get an actual paper copy, just to highlight it. | fav books i read this year”
Source →Recommended by 3 notable people, including Heinemeier Hansson and Darcie Wilder
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Reading Profile
Should I read this?
Graeber expands his viral essay into a pointed, anecdote-heavy polemic that names kinds of pointless modern jobs and why they feel empty. The book's most useful material is the vivid examples and glossary-like language readers can borrow when discussing workplace malaise. Midbook stretches slow as similar outrages and historical detours recur, and the tone sometimes privileges moral argument over calm, methodical analysis. Best read as a stimulant for conversation and personal inventory rather than a blueprint for policy or reform.
Read this if...
- •a mid-level corporate manager re-evaluating a career inside a large bureaucracy — helps name what feels empty and gives phrases to explain that feeling to bosses or mentors
- •a sociology or labor-studies grad student prepping a seminar on contemporary work — provides readable, anecdote-rich material to prompt class discussion and critique
- •a workplace organizer or union rep planning short talks or leaflets to spark coworker conversation — supplies vivid examples and moral language likely to provoke debate
Skip this if...
- •you'll likely put it down when anecdotes pile up and the central claim is restated in different forms—midbook repetition is the common drop-off point
- •annoying if you prefer calm, methodical argument, careful causation, or dense statistical evidence—the tone favors moral outrage and narrative
- •not for readers looking for step-by-step policy fixes or hands-on exercises—the book diagnoses dissatisfaction more than it maps practical reforms
From bestselling writer David Graeber, a powerful argument against the rise of meaningless, unfulfilling jobs, and their consequences.Does your job make a meaningful contribution to the world In the spring of 2013, David Graeber asked this question in a playful, provocative essay titled ?On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs.? It went viral. After a ...
Before You Buy
Reading Specifications
Difficulty:hard
Audience Fit
- a mid-level corporate manager re-evaluating a career inside a large bureaucracy — helps name what feels empty and gives phrases to explain that feeling to bosses or mentors
- a sociology or labor-studies grad student prepping a seminar on contemporary work — provides readable, anecdote-rich material to prompt class discussion and critique
- a workplace organizer or union rep planning short talks or leaflets to spark coworker conversation — supplies vivid examples and moral language likely to provoke debate
- you'll likely put it down when anecdotes pile up and the central claim is restated in different forms—midbook repetition is the common drop-off point
- annoying if you prefer calm, methodical argument, careful causation, or dense statistical evidence—the tone favors moral outrage and narrative
- not for readers looking for step-by-step policy fixes or hands-on exercises—the book diagnoses dissatisfaction more than it maps practical reforms
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View available editions on AmazonKey themes
Why recommended
Recommended by 3 sources and appears in Capitalism, Most Recommended Books, and Finance.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Darcie Wilder
“I read @davidgraeber's essay on bullshit jobs a couple of years ago, and it felt relevant. I just got his book BULLSHIT JOBS on @librofm and I cannot say this loudly enough: GET THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. I'm going to get an actual paper copy, just to highlight it. | fav books i read this year”
View sources (2) ▾80%
Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Recommended by 31 sources.
“Outliers reads like a series of captivating magazine profiles, each unpacking a hidden factor behind extraordinary success. Gladwell’s storytelling makes complex social science accessible, but the book relies on memorable anecdotes rather than offering systematic analysis. The book explores the idea that individual brilliance rarely stands alone; success often hinges on birth dates, cultural legacies, and the 10,000-hour rule. While the narratives are strong, the book overgeneralizes from handpicked examples, leaving skeptical readers questioning the conclusions. It’s most useful as a conversation starter about luck and timing—annoying if you want a rigorous academic treatise or a how-to guide for your own life.”
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Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.