Work：A Very Short Introduction

Theimageofajobcapturesourimaginationfromanearlyage,usuallypromptedbythequestion'Whatdoyouwanttobewhenyougrowup?'.Work--paid,unpaid,voluntary,orobligatory--iswovenintothefabricofallhumansocieties.Formanyofus,itbecomespartofouridentity.Forothersitisatediousnecessity.Livingisproblematicwithoutpaidwork,andformanyitiscatastrophic.SteveFinemantellsthefascinatingstoryofwork-howwestriveforsecurity,reward,andoften,meaning.Lookingathowweclassify'work';theculturalandsocialfactorsthatinfluencethewaywework;theethicsofcertaintypesofwork;andthefactorsthatwillaffectthefutureofwork,fromglobalizationtotechnology,thisVeryShortIntroductionconsidersworkasaconceptandasapracticalexperience,drawinguponideasfrompsychology,sociology,management,andsocialhistory.