[A Sip of a Book] "There Are No More Good Jobs"

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly resonate with readers, creating a connection with the book. We excerpt and introduce such meaningful sentences from books.

This book thoroughly investigates the issue of labor exploitation observed throughout modern society. The author argues that the implicit formula "If you work hard and save money, you can succeed" is actually a trick by vested interests that keeps the vast capitalist system running and is an illusory concept without substance. Pointing out that there have often been more situations where we need work more than work needs us, the author emphasizes, "There are no longer good jobs, lifelong employment, or increasing salaries and welfare benefits."

The COVID-19 crisis revealed that the risk of losing health at the workplace is not the same for everyone. While there was rightful criticism of National Health Service (NHS) workers suffering from a lack of personal protective equipment, long working hours, and insultingly low wages, the crisis faced by low-paid workers in the less protected service sector received less attention. - p.016

The problem of work under capitalism is not merely that access to terrible jobs and better jobs is unfairly distributed. Even in more stable, permanent, and higher-paying jobs, workers suffer from various problems. This is because, generally, we cannot choose the way we work. - p.025

Creating consumer demand requires an almost unimaginable total effort. To make people feel the need to buy new clothes requires that much effort. Although an influencer’s post may seem casual yet sincere, behind it lies a massive operation that creates the emotional and logistical prerequisites to sell products produced somewhere else. - p.039-040

Loss of Labor | Written by Amelia Hogan | Translated by Park Dasom | Econ | 224 pages | 17,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.