Bullshit Jobs

Bullshit Jobs examines the proliferation of seemingly pointless administrative, corporate, and bureaucratic roles in modern economies. Graeber argues that many jobs—from middle management to compliance roles—produce no tangible social value while consuming workers' time and energy, creating psychological harm and societal waste. The book draws on interviews with workers across sectors and combines anthropological analysis with economic critique, suggesting that technological advancement should have reduced work hours rather than creating make-work positions.

Graeber traces the historical and economic roots of bullshit jobs, linking them to neoliberal capitalism's expansion of service sectors and corporate bloat. He distinguishes between genuinely useful work and roles that exist primarily to justify hierarchies or extract value. The work became influential in labor discourse, sparking widespread debate about job meaningfulness, automation, and post-work futures. It resonated particularly with younger workers questioning career paths and contributed to broader conversations about universal basic income and work's role in human flourishing.