Work

In this book, James Suzman charts a grand history of 'work' from the origins of life on Earth to the ever more automated present.

Drawing insights from anthropology, archaeology, evolutionary biology, zoology, physics, and economics, Suzman shows that while humans have evolved to find joy, meaning, and purpose in work, for most of human history, our ancestors worked far less and thought very differently about work than we do now.

He demonstrates how our contemporary culture of work has its roots in the agricultural revolution ten thousand years ago and how the transition from foraging to food production and later migration to cities transformed our relationships, environments, and sense of time.

The book also explores the impact of technological advancements, such as the Industrial Revolution and modern automation, on human work and society.