Wageless Life: A Manifesto for a Future beyond Capitalism

Forerunners: Ideas First

by Ian G.R. Shaw, Marv Waterstone

Drawing up alternate ways to “make a living” beyond capitalism

To live in this world is to be conditioned by capital. Once paired with Western democracy, unfettered capitalism has led to a shrinking economic system that squeezes out billions of people—creating a planet of surplus populations. Wageless Life is a manifesto for building a future beyond the toxic failures of late-stage capitalism. Daring to imagine new social relations, new modes of economic existence, and new collective worlds, the authors provide skills and tools for perceiving—and living in— a post-capitalist future. 

Ideas First
Short books of thought-in-process scholarship, where intense analysis, questioning, and speculation take the lead

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction, Politics

142 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2019

Reviews

[RMNT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to grasp at times, this book echoes the works of Aaron Bastani (Fully automated luxury communism) and the Dispossessed (Ursula K Le Guin). The two authors are drawing the bleak picture of the world that is appearing clearer to us each passing day: the death of capitalism weighs heavily on all of us, this system has pauperized humanity and 'new worlds' are struggling to breathe. But Shaw and Waterstone make a compelling case for increasing our activism, refusing to partake in the commodification of the world and refusing alienation and exploitation. We need to reclaim what they call the 'commons', these spaces were we can de-economize exchanges, build communities and share knowledge, time and culture. Easier said than done... But I guess that's the only way to go: fighting everyday for a change, and living in communities built on 'autogestion'.

[Joseph Ozment · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s interesting that another reviewer here is so focused on “white guilt” when explicit discussions of race as a singular issue are few and far between in this book, if there are any at all. This book, as the title suggests, is almost entirely about the alienation, disinvestment, and violent dispossession that is inherent to a capitalist mode of development, from discussions of the enclosure movement in England right up to the proliferation of a speculative finance system. Critiques of neoliberalism are front and center here, and the authors routinely argue (very passionately and convincingly I might add) for workers not just to be laborers who own their means of production, but to be working at whatever it is that allows them to leave their creative imprint on the world, and to repossess their inherent means of being-in-the-world as the basis of their human dignity. If you have ever wanted to feel like a bullshit job or corporate realism didn’t define you, read this book.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to a 3.5 than a 4 for me. I think a more accurate title would be "Surplus Populations" since that's what the bulk of the content is dedicated to; the "Manifesto for the Future" from the title is maybe like the last quarter of the book, and even there it stays pretty theoretical and abstract.

This book has a pretty well-thought-out analysis of a certain few theoretical concepts, but not much in the way of suggestions for actual praxis, other than a brief overview of the Zapatistas. Also the future they advocate for seems pretty expressly anarchist in nature, though the authors never label it as such.

[T.R. Ormond · Rating 1 out of 5]

This needs to be read with Orwell's essay on "Politics and the English Language" in mind. Any strengths in these ideas are overshadowed by an awful lot of political conformity.

One would think the aim of such a book would be to gain supporters for its ideas. How is that possible when it is written in an esoteric style only accessible to true-believers?

[Garen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

A profound, thought-provoking, topical, incisive, and surprisingly hope-inducing account of what it is to live in this world conditioned by capital.

'Wageless' dialectically (and accessibly) articulates our modern ills while also reparameterizing the reader to orient us towards a way forward.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 2 out of 5]

The commons are important, but this publisher just really sees a dollar in those who dwell on the benevolent side of white guilt. White guilt is still white guilt, no matter how benevolent. The point is to recognize it, and then do better.

[Emil Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and a great tour of follow-up reading.

[illen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smart clarifying and truly revolutionary in its thinking — everyone trying to navigate this scary world should read this. Knocked off one star bc it was written by 2 white dudes and at times that really showed