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The Human Relief Project: When The World Stops Working
What would you miss in a world without work?
In 2038, the Human Relief Project is using AI to eradicate labor, freeing people from jobs, one relief facility at a time. Bert, after years of struggle, finally believes he’s found purpose as a Project Conductor. But every profession he helps relieve leaves new fractures: a new partner who keeps pressing him with hard questions, a mother unmoored after her own relief, and friends and family split over what progress should look like.
Meanwhile Alex, the Project's new leader, faces fierce opposition as she pushes toward a workless future most can’t yet imagine. With Hive, the Project’s central AI, she removes one obstacle after another — stubborn politicians, greedy governments, a wary public — believing a world without work is worth the painful discomfort of change.
As global relief nears completion, events on the world stage and in Bert’s childhood home converge, pulling Alex and Bert into a shared crisis that forces a reckoning with purpose, dignity, and what we owe one another when work is no longer the measure of a life.
Set in a plausible near future shaped by AI, The Human Relief Project is a tense, human story about identity, meaning, and the costs — and promise — of progress. It ultimately asks: If work ends, what remains of us? And who gets to decide?
You’ll enjoy this if you like near-future realism and big ethical questions with heart — for readers of Doctorow’s Walkaway, Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun, Eggers’ The Circle, and Mandel’s Station Eleven.
What Readers Are Saying
“Thought provoking. Makes you ponder what gives us purpose.” — Charmaine Chua, Singapore
“A relatable yet futuristic book about what it means to be human - through work, technology, and love.” — Amanda Siegel, US
„The societal and personal conflicts of this scarily realistic future pulled me in immediately. Not just entertaining, but this book provokes highly relevant thoughts about our future with AI." — Daniel Baumann, Germany
“Tackles the deeply human struggles that we are confronted with in our brave new AI world. An absorbing mix of utopia and dystopia.” — Rosalee Edwards, UK
“A story of a world without work worth diving into. With a fine eye for individual implications and the time ahead.” — Johannes Schneider, Germany
In 2038, the Human Relief Project is using AI to eradicate labor, freeing people from jobs, one relief facility at a time. Bert, after years of struggle, finally believes he’s found purpose as a Project Conductor. But every profession he helps relieve leaves new fractures: a new partner who keeps pressing him with hard questions, a mother unmoored after her own relief, and friends and family split over what progress should look like.
Meanwhile Alex, the Project's new leader, faces fierce opposition as she pushes toward a workless future most can’t yet imagine. With Hive, the Project’s central AI, she removes one obstacle after another — stubborn politicians, greedy governments, a wary public — believing a world without work is worth the painful discomfort of change.
As global relief nears completion, events on the world stage and in Bert’s childhood home converge, pulling Alex and Bert into a shared crisis that forces a reckoning with purpose, dignity, and what we owe one another when work is no longer the measure of a life.
Set in a plausible near future shaped by AI, The Human Relief Project is a tense, human story about identity, meaning, and the costs — and promise — of progress. It ultimately asks: If work ends, what remains of us? And who gets to decide?
You’ll enjoy this if you like near-future realism and big ethical questions with heart — for readers of Doctorow’s Walkaway, Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun, Eggers’ The Circle, and Mandel’s Station Eleven.
What Readers Are Saying
“Thought provoking. Makes you ponder what gives us purpose.” — Charmaine Chua, Singapore
“A relatable yet futuristic book about what it means to be human - through work, technology, and love.” — Amanda Siegel, US
„The societal and personal conflicts of this scarily realistic future pulled me in immediately. Not just entertaining, but this book provokes highly relevant thoughts about our future with AI." — Daniel Baumann, Germany
“Tackles the deeply human struggles that we are confronted with in our brave new AI world. An absorbing mix of utopia and dystopia.” — Rosalee Edwards, UK
“A story of a world without work worth diving into. With a fine eye for individual implications and the time ahead.” — Johannes Schneider, Germany
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2024
22 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Max Malterer
1 book8 followersI write near-future novels that feel close enough to touch — stories where intimate lives collide with plausible technologies and the hardest choices are human.
My debut, The Human Relief Project, follows a society being “freed” from work and the people deciding what remains of purpose and dignity when jobs fall away.
Before fiction, I spent years building systems in non-profit, tech, and strategy roles — experiences that taught me how incentives and policies ripple through lives. Those lessons now shape my storytelling.
I call my approach Speculative Realism: realistic what-ifs, character first; ideas carried by lived moments. Fiction that marries heart and mind, entertainment and depth.
My stories aren’t predictions. They’re invitations to step into near futures, to feel deeply, think differently, and leave with at least one “I’ve never looked at it that way” moment.
I live in Berlin with my wife and write most mornings, strong coffee in hand.
Subscribe to my newsletter to get occasional behind-the-scenes insights, near-future flash fiction, book updates and early looks.
My debut, The Human Relief Project, follows a society being “freed” from work and the people deciding what remains of purpose and dignity when jobs fall away.
Before fiction, I spent years building systems in non-profit, tech, and strategy roles — experiences that taught me how incentives and policies ripple through lives. Those lessons now shape my storytelling.
I call my approach Speculative Realism: realistic what-ifs, character first; ideas carried by lived moments. Fiction that marries heart and mind, entertainment and depth.
My stories aren’t predictions. They’re invitations to step into near futures, to feel deeply, think differently, and leave with at least one “I’ve never looked at it that way” moment.
I live in Berlin with my wife and write most mornings, strong coffee in hand.
Subscribe to my newsletter to get occasional behind-the-scenes insights, near-future flash fiction, book updates and early looks.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 5, 2024
If you appreciate hand-made goods, and enjoy aspects of life with a human story behind, this novel will hit a core for you. And if you enjoy contemporary Sci-Fi, add this one to your queue. I enjoyed reading and exploring what a near future could *feel* like. I am sure many of us have wondered ‘what will happen to me if this Artificial Intelligence revolution makes my profession obsolete?’. I loved how the novel guided me through a journey of exploration of those heavy ‘what ifs’ in a light hearted and deeply human way.
There are many leitmotifs of relevant interest for me: AI ethics, Labor, Work-Life balance, Biopolitics, Post-humanism, Climate Change, among others. My favorite by far, is the trope of critical thinking. You can connect with different characters through this basic life skill. This book will allow you to exercise your critical thinking muscle at a time when it is such a scarce and heavily necessity skill for humans as we enter the late Anthropocene.
There are many leitmotifs of relevant interest for me: AI ethics, Labor, Work-Life balance, Biopolitics, Post-humanism, Climate Change, among others. My favorite by far, is the trope of critical thinking. You can connect with different characters through this basic life skill. This book will allow you to exercise your critical thinking muscle at a time when it is such a scarce and heavily necessity skill for humans as we enter the late Anthropocene.
October 17, 2024
it's honestly amazing the sort of stuff people can think of? i mean, i guess we all sort of have imagined a life if AI took over. but in this detail? hats of to Max, seriously. i still can't decide if this world that he envisioned is actually something that could be good or would be devastating. which i guess is the point. :)
if you're really into AI or tech, i think this book might open up some very interesting questions to you.
if you're really into AI or tech, i think this book might open up some very interesting questions to you.
January 4, 2025
What a fun read! The book offers a very holistic perspective on what the world might look like if AI took over all jobs, in a Fahrenheit 451 style.
What I liked most is how the author explores this “what-if” scenario in a way that’s both creative and surprisingly realistic. It had me reflecting—and even debating—about AI and education, politics, power, and fulfillment.
I think it’s a perfect pick for a book club since it can spark so many interesting conversations.
Highly recommend it!
What I liked most is how the author explores this “what-if” scenario in a way that’s both creative and surprisingly realistic. It had me reflecting—and even debating—about AI and education, politics, power, and fulfillment.
I think it’s a perfect pick for a book club since it can spark so many interesting conversations.
Highly recommend it!
October 6, 2024
I read The Human Relief Project in one sitting, astonished by a world meticulously constructed to feel eerily close to our own. This novel does more than just explore the implications of a work-free society—it delves into the deeply human struggles that come with radical change. I also loved how the author masterfully blended utopian ideals with dystopian consequences, offering a thought-provoking read for anyone curious about the future of AI, work, and human purpose. While I wasn't always a fan of the main characters' choices, their journeys are both personal and philosophical, making their stories all the more compelling.
If you're drawn to "what-if" scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and the chaos of human dynamics, I highly recommend this book!
If you're drawn to "what-if" scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and the chaos of human dynamics, I highly recommend this book!
October 5, 2024
This book is for you if:
- you're interested in the future of work.
- you'd like to explore this future less from a business perspective, but more on a personal level.
- you enjoy a story developing through its protagonists' eyes.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Human Relief Project as an early reader. It picks up on the idea of what would happen to us if work were no longer necessary and AI could do anything for us. Not just the impact on us as individuals, but also on society as a whole.
This ides is presented through the perspectives of Bert, possibly the project's biggest fan, and Alex, its leader, which makes for an interesting duality. The book includes emotionally intense scenes where the protagonists confront the reality of a world without work. Some of these really left me thinking on how I would deal with them.
I put the book down with a sense of discomfort about what the future may hold, but also hope for the potential opportunities it may bring. Max Malterer writes about these aspects with easy going language and through close-to-home characters in a believable world.
All in all, I really liked it.
- you're interested in the future of work.
- you'd like to explore this future less from a business perspective, but more on a personal level.
- you enjoy a story developing through its protagonists' eyes.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Human Relief Project as an early reader. It picks up on the idea of what would happen to us if work were no longer necessary and AI could do anything for us. Not just the impact on us as individuals, but also on society as a whole.
This ides is presented through the perspectives of Bert, possibly the project's biggest fan, and Alex, its leader, which makes for an interesting duality. The book includes emotionally intense scenes where the protagonists confront the reality of a world without work. Some of these really left me thinking on how I would deal with them.
I put the book down with a sense of discomfort about what the future may hold, but also hope for the potential opportunities it may bring. Max Malterer writes about these aspects with easy going language and through close-to-home characters in a believable world.
All in all, I really liked it.
October 3, 2024
The societal and personal conflicts of this scarily realistic future pulled me in immediately. Not just entertaining, but this book provokes highly relevant thoughts and questions about our future with AI, which is not longer a question of if, but when.
How will people and societies react when AI is taking over their jobs and there is no need to work anymore? Are there any limits and if, who is defining them? Will people be able to disconnect their life purpose and ego from their jobs? How are we dealing with personal and societal conflicts arising?
Interesting and deep conversations based on this book are guaranteed, I can’t recommend it highly enough!
How will people and societies react when AI is taking over their jobs and there is no need to work anymore? Are there any limits and if, who is defining them? Will people be able to disconnect their life purpose and ego from their jobs? How are we dealing with personal and societal conflicts arising?
Interesting and deep conversations based on this book are guaranteed, I can’t recommend it highly enough!
June 8, 2025
Thrilling and thought-provoking read at a time when we're just starting to wrap our heads around how AI may shape our future and how it could reshape the world of work. Reads like a retrospective on a future that lies just ahead of us. Exciting first piece by a promising new author.
October 1, 2024
A book that explores the intersection of technology and humanity and explores it with nuance and neutrality. A must read for anyone who revers but also fears what AI can and cannot do.
This is a work of fiction that feels all too real. If you enjoyed watching ‘Black Mirror’, this book is a must read.
This first time author does not disappoint.
This is a work of fiction that feels all too real. If you enjoyed watching ‘Black Mirror’, this book is a must read.
This first time author does not disappoint.
October 3, 2024
A beautiful blend of technology, community in an exploration of what it means to be human. The Human Relief Project feels relatable to our modern life snd existence even set in a futuristic world.
October 8, 2024
This debut novel is a game-changer in the futuristic genre! The author's unique approach to AI and a work-free society is refreshingly thought-provoking. The attention to detail is impressive, with well-crafted characters that may evoke both love and hate at the same time.
The author masterfully explores the human condition, making you ponder how you would react in the characters' shoes.
The emotional resonance is palpable, keeping you invested in the story. And just when you think you know where it's headed, the unexpected finale blows everything wide open!
I loved how Max skillfully weaved together the characters' connections, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end. A stunning first novel that will leave you eager for more.
The author masterfully explores the human condition, making you ponder how you would react in the characters' shoes.
The emotional resonance is palpable, keeping you invested in the story. And just when you think you know where it's headed, the unexpected finale blows everything wide open!
I loved how Max skillfully weaved together the characters' connections, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end. A stunning first novel that will leave you eager for more.
November 12, 2024
Exceptional and intriguing book if you feel exploring the future of AI and its implications on human life, purpose, societal and interpersonal dynamics. How will life look like it, if we don’t need to work anymore and are getting replaced by AI?
The story dives into several layers of consequences, conflicts and opportunities, through the eyes of the protagonist Bert who works for the Human Relief project (HRP).
The story evolves with the HRP‘s progression to fully relieve humanity from labour and puts you in the shoes of global leadership as much as individual levels.
Without spoiling much of book, I can say that it’s really thought provoking and you stay hooked through out the whole story.
Definitely highly recommended!
The story dives into several layers of consequences, conflicts and opportunities, through the eyes of the protagonist Bert who works for the Human Relief project (HRP).
The story evolves with the HRP‘s progression to fully relieve humanity from labour and puts you in the shoes of global leadership as much as individual levels.
Without spoiling much of book, I can say that it’s really thought provoking and you stay hooked through out the whole story.
Definitely highly recommended!
November 25, 2024
It is not rare for a book to keep me up at night. But it is rare for a book to make me relive scenes in my dreams—for so many reasons. The obvious one: what truly gives us meaning? How big of a role does our job play? The personal one: the book reminded me so much of my mother and her story when she was forced into early retirement—her depression and constant struggle with feeling meaningless and useless. The scary one: what happens if and when AI replaces us? What would the world look like for me, and most importantly, for my 5-year-old?
This book is engaging and fun to read, yet it addresses many of the questions we find ourselves asking. If you are a fan of “what if” scenarios, I highly recommend it.
This book is engaging and fun to read, yet it addresses many of the questions we find ourselves asking. If you are a fan of “what if” scenarios, I highly recommend it.
October 26, 2024
This book offers a compelling and thought-provoking glimpse into a world where artificial intelligence has transformed society and taken over all jobs. The story is both thrilling and unsettling, sparking deep reflection on our technological future. The characters feel real, and the author brilliantly simplifies complex tech and ethical issues. A must-read for anyone interested in the future of work and AI’s role in it!
October 26, 2024
The book follows Bert and Alex as they navigate a world where AI is in the process of taking over all human jobs, making work obsolete.
What stood out to me was how detailed the characters were. The book explores their past and how it impacts their beliefs and the choices they make. The personal journeys of Bert and Alex (as well as the side characters) definitely made me reflect on how my own identity is connected to my work and what gives me joy and purpose.
I also appreciated how thoroughly the author built this future world. From the daily lives of people involved in the Human Relief Project (and those impacted by it) to the ripple effects on policy and how governments got involved, the level of detail was immersive. The story spans over two decades, offering insights and excerpts from different points in time and different perspectives, so I felt that as a reader I was connecting the dots as I was understanding the context the characters are in, which is a very fun experience.
In the last third of the book, the pace picks up with many events unfolding quickly, which kept me turning pages. After I finished the book, I kept thinking about how our world might look in 30 years, and it got my own thoughts and imagination running. If you're interested in exploring the human side of technological change and enjoy stories that make you think about the future, I'd definitely recommend this book.
What stood out to me was how detailed the characters were. The book explores their past and how it impacts their beliefs and the choices they make. The personal journeys of Bert and Alex (as well as the side characters) definitely made me reflect on how my own identity is connected to my work and what gives me joy and purpose.
I also appreciated how thoroughly the author built this future world. From the daily lives of people involved in the Human Relief Project (and those impacted by it) to the ripple effects on policy and how governments got involved, the level of detail was immersive. The story spans over two decades, offering insights and excerpts from different points in time and different perspectives, so I felt that as a reader I was connecting the dots as I was understanding the context the characters are in, which is a very fun experience.
In the last third of the book, the pace picks up with many events unfolding quickly, which kept me turning pages. After I finished the book, I kept thinking about how our world might look in 30 years, and it got my own thoughts and imagination running. If you're interested in exploring the human side of technological change and enjoy stories that make you think about the future, I'd definitely recommend this book.
October 3, 2024
For those with a keen interest in the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and society's evolving dynamics, this book is a thought-provoking and captivating read. The author explores the complex relationship between work, purpose, and the shifting landscape of human labor in a world increasingly shaped by intelligent machines.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its nuanced discussion of how individuals find purpose through work. As someone who derives a great deal of value and identity from my professional life, the dilemma of working less—or not at all—presents a fascinating conflict.
I thoroughly enjoyed this exploration and look forward to a potential follow-up from Max. I highly recommend it to those eager to engage with the deeper questions that technology will pose to us all.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its nuanced discussion of how individuals find purpose through work. As someone who derives a great deal of value and identity from my professional life, the dilemma of working less—or not at all—presents a fascinating conflict.
I thoroughly enjoyed this exploration and look forward to a potential follow-up from Max. I highly recommend it to those eager to engage with the deeper questions that technology will pose to us all.
October 9, 2024
The Human Relief Project gives an extraordinary glance at a controversial topic, showcasing a scary but yet highly realistic scenario of our future. Addressing particularly economical, political and social implications of a world without labor, this captivating novel dives deep into emotional consequences of a highly technical development. The amazing mix of near future Sci-fi with a relatable human touch, and personal dilemmas within diverse characters make the book a real page turner.
The author proves to have a deep understanding of current trends, and the extensive amount of research noticeable makes this novel a fantastic read for anyone who'd like to take a look at what's waiting for us on the other end of the hypersonic AI journey, addressing topics auch as climate change, governance, geopolitics, new work, and of course science.
The author proves to have a deep understanding of current trends, and the extensive amount of research noticeable makes this novel a fantastic read for anyone who'd like to take a look at what's waiting for us on the other end of the hypersonic AI journey, addressing topics auch as climate change, governance, geopolitics, new work, and of course science.
April 3, 2025
Page 30-100 were ok but then it was taking too long to make progress so gave up
December 20, 2025
A bit too dry for me. If you are not into slow paced sometimes a little technical stories - skip this one
Otherwise try it because I did enjoy some of it
Otherwise try it because I did enjoy some of it
December 17, 2024
I love books that don't pick just one side on a complex issue, and this book hit the spot for me. I'm not a big sci-fi/fantasy reader but I found this so easy to pick up. It builds an uncannily believable near-future world through two protagonists and thoughtfully presented side characters, as well as media "extracts", shifting between absorbing personal conflicts and documentary-style perspectives on massive events as they unfold.
I like that it starts in the early stages of the Human Relief Project and develops it all the way to its later stages in a short but intensive time period; it not only scratches the "what if" itch, but also the "how would that even happen" itch. You get an insider view from Bert and Alex about what it would actually take logistically and technologically to replace every profession with AI, as well as some thought-provoking details about how society would begin to change and respond.
The book builds up from there to the deeper implications of eradicating work, with a very human take on it. It organically goes deeper than the initial question, what if AI could replace all of our jobs, to what would a world without work mean for our sense of purpose and direction, both on a personal level as well as on a geopolitical scale. Again, I really loved that it explored the possibilities and consequences from many different perspectives, and especially from the sometimes flawed points of view of the main characters.
Overall, I was impressed that a topic that I've often found confusing or even downright depressing could be turned into such a fun, fulfilling, and thought-provoking read, while still doing justice to the gravity of concerns that we as humans have about the future.
I like that it starts in the early stages of the Human Relief Project and develops it all the way to its later stages in a short but intensive time period; it not only scratches the "what if" itch, but also the "how would that even happen" itch. You get an insider view from Bert and Alex about what it would actually take logistically and technologically to replace every profession with AI, as well as some thought-provoking details about how society would begin to change and respond.
The book builds up from there to the deeper implications of eradicating work, with a very human take on it. It organically goes deeper than the initial question, what if AI could replace all of our jobs, to what would a world without work mean for our sense of purpose and direction, both on a personal level as well as on a geopolitical scale. Again, I really loved that it explored the possibilities and consequences from many different perspectives, and especially from the sometimes flawed points of view of the main characters.
Overall, I was impressed that a topic that I've often found confusing or even downright depressing could be turned into such a fun, fulfilling, and thought-provoking read, while still doing justice to the gravity of concerns that we as humans have about the future.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews