The Work We Need: 'An act of radical hope, radical listening and radical humility . . . I loved it' RORY STEWART

by Hilary Cottam

Drawing from a fascinating range of sources, from Richard Scarry to Siri Hustvedt, from historians to trade unionists, philosophers and crucially, to hours of original research through workshops, Hilary Cottam writes of the history of work and new ways of looking at work.

She `We live in revolutionary a technology revolution, an ecological crisis and the challenges of deep injustice are threatening to tear the established order apart.' Work has been for decades, narrowly thought of as an economic category. She shows this to be a category work is culture. She writes of work as a cultural revolution which will alter the meaning and the place of work in all our lives. Crucially, she is an optimist who believes we can work better and therefore live better too.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2025

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is entirely designed for that nearly-retired, Surrey-based boomer who’s just beginning to feel guilty about their one-million-pound home (bought for £17.90) and a lifetime of utilising leaded petrol.

It is not a book for the young, the powerless or those renting.

With words like “down-to-earth” and “practical” littered in the reviews, I thought this would be a timely read while I chase a heady mix of toddler-stress, burn-out and Reform despair. But, nope, Cottam provides simplistic ideas which I previously reviewed in my GCSE geography coursework (make it community-based, source it locally, go back to the old ways – cheers). Her solutions come with more than a whisper of “kum-bye-ya”.

I should have listened to my gut when she had an opening chapter called “Study by Pilgrimage”. Or a plug from Rory Stewart for that matter.

It isn’t all bad; Cottam does, briefly fill you with hope, blaming populism and the “nothing works” negativity on digital capitalism. But all too soon you’re wading through a section on the brilliance of fermented vegetables or job-by-age communism (in your twenties you do manual labour, then drive a bus in your thirties, and do community outreach from a chair when you hit your forties).

In short, I read this looking for hope and came away wanting to join a Totnes commune. I can picture it now - I’d wear sandals and braid my beard into a resource-sustainable macintosh. They’d call me Otter hands.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say about this one, unfortunately. I picked it up because I absolutely loved Hillary Cottam's last book Radical Help and was excited to see how her work had progressed, especially in the work/employment space, but unfortunately this one left me a little bit dissapointed. Where Radical Help felt like it had a clear vision for 21st century welfare reform and something really unique and well-fleshed out to say, The Work We Need felt more like a collection of anecdotes stitched together with a brief history of industrial work reform and a sprinkle of heterodox economics at the end to propose the key thinkers who are imagining a new system. (Loved the Marianna Mazzucato, Carlota Perez, Doughnut Economics triple reference all on the same page, very IIPP-core).

[Manan Majithia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Radical, thought provoking, this book has redefined the idea of work in the new age post pandemic era of globalisation, AI and Gen Z. Hilary explores how the idea of work has increasingly started meaning different things for different people but how certain commonalities can help policymakers, community organizations and social enterprises define the meaning of work for its employees. Hilary defines six key principles to shape the future of work as securing the basics; work with meaning; tending to what sustains us; rethinking our use of time; enabling play; and organising in place with a roadmap of how to get there. Would have been even more exciting had the book explored the meaning of work in developing nations like India and models which could be contextualised as per geography, demography, economic and environmental lens too. Overall a great read.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way this book challenges us to think creatively and imaginatively about work, what it for and how it could be revolutionised.The things that struck me in particular were:
The failure of management structures to hear the ideas of their workforce
The need for everyone to be engaged in work that is meaningful
A reimagining of when work should take place and how work places should also be centres of learning
The importance of place and how the label ‘left behind’ is problematic and unhelpful
How important social connections are in generating aspiration
An inspiring read and lots of ideas that are possible to implement if we just all had the courage to step outside of e siting systems and structures.

[Isobel Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richly researched and full of interesting ideas, many of which echoes of local workers. Particularly interested in idea of ‘staying behind’ in place as ‘an art, invention and practice’. Aswell as how many workers across Hilary’s pilgrimage talked about transitions, relearning and second chances/opportunities. Oft talk about trainings for yp but interesting call for transition support from state for all ages!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Cottam's work provides a refreshing push to think beyond the usual standards. The book is spirited and sensible, and provides useful food for thought. However, there is nothing truly new. The concrete applications remain relatively theoretical and limited in scope. We are not there yet in reimagining work.

[Anna Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and imaginative, the way we work needs to change and this book is an important read in understanding why and potentially how.