The Labor of Hope

Rezensionen / Stimmen

"There is no doubt that Harry Pettit has the gift of ethnographic presentation. The Labor of Hope is an important, original, and truly laudable addition to the emerging literature on contemporary labor in Egypt."-Nefissa Naguib, University of Oslo, author of Nurturing Masculinities "The Labor of Hope is an amazing ethnography of capitalist dreams that motivate Egyptians of modest means to strive for success-a success largely denied by inequalities that push people towards precarious service work. Harry Pettit reveals what happens when you're inspired to be the next Steve Jobs, but the labor market wants you for the call center."-Samuli Schielke, Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient,author ofMigrant Dreams "The Labor of Hope brings into sharp focus the emotive work undertaken by slipping middle classes as they endure the many indignities and compromised life-trajectories of a polarized labor market. Harry Pettit offers a penetrating analysis of the affective labor that underpins contemporary capitalism marked by steepening inequalities."-Bruce O'Neill, Saint Louis University, author of The Space of Boredom "Recommended."-A. Rassam, CHOICE "In his book The Labor of Hope: Meritocracy and Precarity in Egypt, Harry Pettit invites us to think differently about youth in Egypt and the Middle East. To Pettit, how these young people maintain hope is the more interesting question, not the banal description of their hardships, limited opportunities, and frustrations."-Ghada Barsoum, American Journal of Sociology