
Dead Man Working
John Hunt Publishing
Will be published approx. on 25. May 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
84 pages
978-1-78099-156-6 (ISBN)
Description
Capitalism has become strange. Ironically, while the 'age of work' seems to have come to an end, working has assumed a total presence - a 'worker's society' in the worst sense of the term - where everyone finds themselves obsessed with it. So what does the worker tell us today? "I feel drained, empty - dead." This book tells the story of the dead man working. It follows this figure through the daily tedium of the office, to the humiliating mandatory team building exercise, to awkward encounters with the funky boss who pretends to hate capitalism and tells you to be authentic. In this society, the experience of work is not of dying...but neither of living. It is one of a living death. And yet, the dead man working is nevertheless compelled to wear the exterior signs of life, to throw a pretty smile, feign enthusiasm and make a half-baked joke. When the corporation has colonized life itself, even our dreams, the question of escape becomes ever more pressing, ever more desperate.
Reviews / Votes
Cederstrom and Fleming, like a present day Virgil, bravely venture into an underworld full of shades whose entire lives have been put to work, who throw themselves heart and soul into the job, and who are constantly implored by management gurus to 'be themselves,' 'feel free,' and 'have fun' in the office. This fascinating and dark little book is an excellent and disturbing introduction to what increasingly large realms of the world of work have become. (Michael Hardt, Co-author of Empire, Multitude, and Commonwealth) What has work done to us? Cederstrom and Fleming's brilliant dark and witty book tells us the truth. Working in our sleep? Dressing up as infants? Deprivation tank addiction? Fitness centrers? Suicide? Email? If you didn't already know what work has made you become then this book might have a devastating effect on your life. Read it! (Simon Critchley, Hans Jonas Professor, New School for Social Research)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Collective Ink
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 168 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Weight
114 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78099-156-6 (9781780991566)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Carl Cederstrom | Peter Fleming
Dead Man Working
E-Book
05/2012
Zero Books
€11.86
Available for download
Persons
Carl Cederstrom is Lecturer in Human Resource Management at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. Peter Fleming is Professor of Work and Organisation at Queen Mary College, University of London.