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Over Work

Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life

ebook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 8 weeks
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 8 weeks

"Brigid Schulte is a vital voice on the future of work, and her carefully researched book lights the way to fewer hours, less stress, and more meaning."
―Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the podcast WorkLife

From the New York Times bestselling author of Overwhelmed, a deeply reported exploration of why American work isn't working and how our lives can be made more meaningful
Following Overwhelmed, Brigid Schulte's groundbreaking examination of time management and stress, the prizewinning journalist now turns her attention to the greatest culprit in America's quality-of-life crisis: the way our economy and culture conceive of work. Americans across all demographics, industries, and socioeconomic levels report exhaustion, burnout, and the wish for more meaningful lives. This full-system failure in our structure of work affects everything from gender inequality to domestic stability, and it even shortens our lifespans.
Drawing on years of research, Schulte traces the arc of our discontent from a time before the 1980s, when work was compatible with well-being and allowed a single earner to support a family, until today, with millions of people working multiple hourly jobs or in white-collar positions where no hours are ever off duty.
She casts a wide net in search of solutions, exploring the movement to institute a four-day workweek, introducing Japan's Housewives Brigade—which demands legal protection for family time—and embedding with CEOs who are making the business case for humane conditions. And she demonstrates the power of a collective and creative demand for change, showing that work can be organized in an infinite number of ways that are good for humans and for business.
Fiercely argued and vividly told, rich with stories and informed by deep investigation, Over Work lays out a clear vision for ending our punishing grind and reclaiming leisure, joy, and meaning.

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    • Kirkus

      June 15, 2024
      An alarming study of how work pressures are making us sick, exhausted, and miserable. There was a time when work stayed in the workplace, but that era is over, writes Schulte, whose previous book, Overwhelmed, investigated the social dynamics of work. In this follow-up, she paints a grim picture, showing how office work has followed employees home, where they are expected to continue answering emails and solving problems into the night and on weekends. The situation is equally dire for those employed in the service industry or manufacturing, where hours and duties have increased but wages have remained stagnant for years. The pressure is even greater for those who are juggling family responsibilities, caring for young children or elderly parents. Schulte provides statistical data to back up the anecdotal evidence, noting that the result of all these interrelated factors are an array of physical and mental health problems, especially depression and chronic anxiety. There are, however, companies that have brought in better arrangements, including greater performance flexibility and shorter workweeks. In some cases, these policies have led to a better bottom line, although many variables are in the mix. Schulte believes there are policy lessons to be learned from other countries around the world, including legal protection for family time and acknowledgment of the value of (unpaid) domestic work. Some of her proposals would be difficult to implement, but her overall view that work is not working is valid. Even though the author does not answer all the questions she raises, she presents a solid contribution to a crucial debate. Two epilogues address "How To Change" and "The Problem With Work Stress and How To Solve It." Writing with energy and passion, Schulte shows how work has come to dominate our lives and outlines options for change.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  • English

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