An eye-opening, groundbreaking tour of the purpose of work in our
lives, showing how work operates in our culture and how you can find
your own path to happiness in the workplace.
Why do we work? The question seems so simple. But Professor Barry
Schwartz proves that the answer is surprising, complex, and urgent.
We've long been taught that the reason we work is primarily for a
paycheck. In fact, we've shaped much of the infrastructure of our
society to accommodate this belief. Then why are so many people
dissatisfied with their work, despite healthy compensation? And why do
so many people find immense fulfillment and satisfaction through
"menial" jobs? Schwartz explores why so many believe that the goal for
working should be to earn money, how we arrived to believe that paying
workers more leads to better work, and why this has made our society
confused, unhappy, and has established a dangerously misguided system.
Through fascinating studies and compelling anecdotes, this book dispels
this myth. Schwartz takes us through hospitals and hair salons, auto
plants and boardrooms, showing workers in all walks of life, showcasing
the trends and patterns that lead to happiness in the workplace.
Ultimately, Schwartz proves that the root of what drives us to do good
work can rarely be incentivized, and that the cause of bad work is often
an attempt to do just that.
How did we get to this tangled place? How do we change the way we work?
With great insight and wisdom, Schwartz shows us how to take our first
steps toward understanding, and empowering us all to find great work.
