Thinking about work

I'm fascinated by the idea that work should be this all encompassing thing that defines us. It is always a treat to read anything that challenges this outlook on life, which appears to be a default mindset for most people I know (myself included). Here are some resources to get you thinking about it too.  I will update this post as and when I come across more good reads on our relationship with work.

Note: This section is getting a bit challenging to navigate owing to the growing list of articles - might do a revamp.

1. Start here

These 3 long form articles are a good place to jolt you into thinking about the underlying concept of 'work', particularly the corporate kind.

• The Gervais Principle, Venkatesh Rao (A series of articles that are available for free. Access the consolidated articles as a Kindle book here)

A thought-provoking framework of the typical 'players' in a workplace, along with their incentives and likely career trajectory. Particularly enjoyable if you have watched The Office. Summary by Nat Eliason here.

• On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs: A Work Rant, David Graeber

An essay (later expanded into a book) on "bullshit jobs", his term for unproductive work that is "meaningless, contributed nothing to the world... and should not really exist". A particularly amusing quote:

"Hell is a collection of individuals who are spending the bulk of their time working on a task they don't like and are not especially good at."

• 4-Hour Life, Paul Skallas

Makes you feel like he's letting you in on an open secret about our real relationship with work.

Note: He was recently (Nov 2021) accused of plagiarism in his newsletters, and his Substack articles are no longer accessible. Makes me curious to what the original source was for this article.

2. Implications of a work centered life & thinking about alternatives

How do we define work in relation to the rest of our life? What is a life revolving around work costing us? The typical office worker's waking hours are predominantly structured around their job; when they wake up, when they relax, when they get to 'live'.

• Do You Live to Work or Work to Live? Jody Michael

A fascinating article both for its excellent points on the perils of being wrapped up in your job, and the fact that it is published on a website that advertises executive, career, and resume writing coaching.

• What if People Don't Want a Career?, Charlie Warzel

This article explores the trend of career skeptics challenging the assumption that we must endure and submit to "non-trivial amounts of sacrifice" for work. Includes a discussion on the expectation of having to show deference and enthusiasm as well as getting a bad rap for enforcing boundaries.

• The Case For Sabbaticals, Paul Millerd

An exploration on what it could be like to take extended (read: months and years, not hours and days) time off work.

• The Tail End, Tim Urban

Not explicitly about work, but hits right in the gut. Easy to make the connection between a work-centered life and this piece. My guilt precludes me from revisiting this as often as I should.

• Why the worst parts of work can't easily change, Josie Cox

When office workers were forced to adapt to remote work almost overnight because of the pandemic, many hailed this as an opportunity to redefine working norms. However, presenteeism, trust deficits, and other undesirable elements of workplace culture may not be easily dislodged.

• Time millionaires: meet the people pursuing the pleasure of leisure, Sirin Kale

On people reassessing their relationship with work. The pandemic is framed as a "massive controlled experiment" that forced workers to adapt to a different way of working, leading many to re-assess their priorities, particularly how time is spent. Also discusses challenges in adopting this attitude, including struggles to separate self-worth from economic value, a perception that leisure must be 'productive', and the privilege to even consider scaling back on work hours in favour of leisure.

• If You Have Writer's Block, Maybe You Should Stop Lying, Sasha Chapin

Distinguishes between work that is consistent with who we are vs work that is forced/trying to emulate something else:

"...people often believe they have a writing technique problem, when, actually, what they have is a sincerity problem. They think that writing is onerous, when, actually, they mean that writing as if they’re someone else is onerous"

Provides an interesting definition of what sincere work can look like:

"Work can be challenging, surprising, effortful, emotional, but it isn’t something that requires intense coercion, although may require a little coercion, sometimes, in the form of a deadline or a structured work environment of some kind. Most tellingly, it feels rewarding, in a deeper way than the “thank fuck that’s over” swell of relief you feel at the end of a day of laboring."

• The Path, Chris Wong

He articulates the way I feel about my current role (Dec 2021). A good narration of his journey away from "the default path". Favourite lines:

"There was a slow grind of discomfort that finally led to a realization. The work wasn't stressful, it wasn't even hard. It was just pointless."

"There was the job where management didn't even use the analysis that my group created. Decisions were made and then we would come up with analysis that justified a preconceived decision. I could have done nothing and there would have been the same result. I know it's true because I tested it."

"There was the job where we consistently stayed until 2 in the morning in order for our manager to give feedback the next day. Of course, that feedback didn't come until the afternoon the next day, necessitating us to stay until 2 in the morning again in an absurd time loop."