Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone [B0271]

2022 PB. A deeply-reported examination of why "doing what you love" is a recipe for exploitation, creating a new tyranny of work in which we cheerily acquiesce to doing jobs that take over our lives. You're told that if you "do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life." Whether it's working for "exposure" and "experience," or enduring poor treatment in the name of "being part of the family," all employees are pushed to make sacrifices for the privilege of being able to do what we love. In Work Won't Love You Back, Sarah Jaffe, a preeminent voice on labor, inequality, and social movements, examines this "labor of love" myth--the idea that certain work is not really work, and therefore should be done out of passion instead of pay. Told through the lives and experiences of workers in various industries--from the unpaid intern, to the overworked teacher, to the nonprofit worker and even the professional athlete--Jaffe reveals how all of us have been tricked into buying into a new tyranny of work. As Jaffe argues, understanding the trap of the labor of love will empower us to work less and demand what our work is worth. And once freed from those binds, we can finally figure out what actually gives us joy, pleasure, and satisfaction.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "In the well-being and happiness space, we often focus on creating environments where people feel valued, but this book reminded me of an essential truth-we must also empower individuals to value themselves beyond their productivity. For me, this is about moving from hustle culture to building sustainable, purpose-driven work that aligns with our values while protecting our energy. So, here's my takeaway: Work can be meaningful, but it's not the source of your worth. If you're experiencing burnout or questioning the relationship between your career and your happiness, I highly recommend this book. It will shift your perspective and help you reimagine how you approach work and self-care."; "This book is for anyone who is struggling to make sense of the isolation and burnt out feeling they have even if they care about the work that they do."