Bullshit Jobs
In 2013, David Graeber's essay “On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs” asked if our jobs make a meaningful contribution to the world. It went viral, sparking global debate. In Bullshit Jobs, David examines how many roles—HR consultants, corporate lawyers, and more—are meaningless, highlighting how finance capitalism perpetuates this issue. The book calls for a cultural shift, valuing creative and caring work over empty tasks.
First published 2018
Translations: Catalan, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Dutch, English, English (UK), Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovene, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity
For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlike - either free and equal, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or, alternatively, by taming our baser instincts. David Graeber and David Wengrow show how such theories first emerged in the eighteenth century as a reaction to indigenous critiques of European society, and why they are wrong. In doing so, they overturn our view of human history, including the origins of farming, property, cities, democracy, slavery and civilization itself.
First published 2021
Translations: Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish
The Utopia of Rules
Where does the desire for endless rules, regulations, and bureaucracy come from? Why do we spend so much time filling out forms, and is it really a cipher for state violence? David Graeber explores these questions in The Utopia of Rules, revealing how bureaucracy shapes our lives in ways we might not notice. Combining social theory with popular culture, Graeber offers a powerful and entertaining analysis, challenging us to rethink the institutions that rule us and imagine a freer world.
First published 2015
Translations: Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, English, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
