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The Story of Work: A New History of Humankind
The first truly global history of work, an upbeat assessment from the age of the hunter-gatherer to the present day
We work because we have to, but also because we like it: from hunting-gathering over 700,000 years ago to the present era of zoom meetings, humans have always worked to make the world around them serve their needs.
Jan Lucassen provides an inclusive history of humanity’s busy labor throughout the ages. Spanning China, India, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, Lucassen looks at the ways in which humanity organizes work: in the household, the tribe, the city, and the state. He examines how labor is split between men, women, and children; the watershed moment of the invention of money; the collective action of workers; and at the impact of migration, slavery, and the idea of leisure.
From peasant farmers in the first agrarian societies to the precarious existence of today’s gig workers, this surprising account of both cooperation and subordination at work throws essential light on the opportunities we face today.
We work because we have to, but also because we like it: from hunting-gathering over 700,000 years ago to the present era of zoom meetings, humans have always worked to make the world around them serve their needs.
Jan Lucassen provides an inclusive history of humanity’s busy labor throughout the ages. Spanning China, India, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, Lucassen looks at the ways in which humanity organizes work: in the household, the tribe, the city, and the state. He examines how labor is split between men, women, and children; the watershed moment of the invention of money; the collective action of workers; and at the impact of migration, slavery, and the idea of leisure.
From peasant farmers in the first agrarian societies to the precarious existence of today’s gig workers, this surprising account of both cooperation and subordination at work throws essential light on the opportunities we face today.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published July 27, 2021
104 people are currently reading
1884 people want to read
About the author
Jan Lucassen
30 books7 followersJan Lucassen is an honorary fellow at the the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam where he founded the IISH Research Department. He is the author of numerous books including Globalising Migration History: The Eurasian Experience and Global Labour History.
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April 21, 2022It should be called "The Descriptive History of Work". It is 500 pages of abstracted descriptions in numbers, dates, and general concepts. When examples are given, they are always generalisations, nothing here is ever concrete, it is localised, it is contextualised or sustained in terms of the concrete effects and impacts on human feelings.
The end result is a highly boring account of the evolution of the idea of work throughout history. Even if I must admit the work could serve well someone studying the subject, because of its wide scope and depth.
The end result is a highly boring account of the evolution of the idea of work throughout history. Even if I must admit the work could serve well someone studying the subject, because of its wide scope and depth.
September 6, 2021
This is a history of “work” by a Dutch labor historian. The time span covered is from the beginning until the present. That is where the subtitles “A New History of Humankind” comes from. This seems like a tall order. If work is not a truly global topic area, than I am unsure what would be. Perhaps a history of skin? Or of aging? What about breathing? It is not as if there is a lot of suspense here - or risk of spoilers. If one follows labor history or more generally labor economics and keeps track of monthly indicators, then it will be clear that the book ends up generally where it should. If it did not - if there were surprises in the plot, then that would be a problem.
But I have to hand it to Professor Lucassen - he has grand aspirations.
So how did he do? I liked the book and thought it was generally effective - surprisingly so. Careful readers will already know that the global state of employment relations and their contributions to economic growth are areas in which observers may all work with a fairly well understood data environment, there are profound difficulties in explaining what it all means. Start with the definition of work. What is meant by work and how can it be the same entity go hack into prehistory? Just coming to a working definition is an accomplishment.
The strength of the book in my opinion lies in the author’s efforts to tie together some highly disparate areas of historical research so that a grand chronology can be built. Work and labor lance the Industrial Revolution has been well worked over by whole sub-industries of professionals. What about before that - in early modernity or during the Middle Ages. Where does slavery in its various forms fit in to the story? This last question is one that has received huge attention in the past few years, but thankfully Professor Lucassen has done his homework.
The further back we go (I am reversing the chronology of the book, which begins in prehistory), there is more diverse scholarship to work with - especially to discuss work in the various medieval and classical empires. This also includes the classical Asian empires of East and South Asia, along with different Islamic empires. He covers a lot of material and seems to work through it well. It is an impressive survey. The preclassical nature of work makes use of recent developments in archeology and historical genetics and there is so much new that it seems hard to process.
Overall, this is a fine historical survey that is highly informative and well written. Research on these and related topics often comes across as too specialized and not integrated into a broader picture. That is not a problem here. In a sense the story is still being written in that virtually nobody knows how work is going to evolve as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in the US and Europe and around the world more generally. I have another history of work in my queue, but this one was worthwhile and seems appropriate to read during the Labor Day weekend this year.
But I have to hand it to Professor Lucassen - he has grand aspirations.
So how did he do? I liked the book and thought it was generally effective - surprisingly so. Careful readers will already know that the global state of employment relations and their contributions to economic growth are areas in which observers may all work with a fairly well understood data environment, there are profound difficulties in explaining what it all means. Start with the definition of work. What is meant by work and how can it be the same entity go hack into prehistory? Just coming to a working definition is an accomplishment.
The strength of the book in my opinion lies in the author’s efforts to tie together some highly disparate areas of historical research so that a grand chronology can be built. Work and labor lance the Industrial Revolution has been well worked over by whole sub-industries of professionals. What about before that - in early modernity or during the Middle Ages. Where does slavery in its various forms fit in to the story? This last question is one that has received huge attention in the past few years, but thankfully Professor Lucassen has done his homework.
The further back we go (I am reversing the chronology of the book, which begins in prehistory), there is more diverse scholarship to work with - especially to discuss work in the various medieval and classical empires. This also includes the classical Asian empires of East and South Asia, along with different Islamic empires. He covers a lot of material and seems to work through it well. It is an impressive survey. The preclassical nature of work makes use of recent developments in archeology and historical genetics and there is so much new that it seems hard to process.
Overall, this is a fine historical survey that is highly informative and well written. Research on these and related topics often comes across as too specialized and not integrated into a broader picture. That is not a problem here. In a sense the story is still being written in that virtually nobody knows how work is going to evolve as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in the US and Europe and around the world more generally. I have another history of work in my queue, but this one was worthwhile and seems appropriate to read during the Labor Day weekend this year.
December 26, 2023
Fora da minha área de especialização, e talvez por isso nem sempre fácil de ler, este livro traça uma história geral do trabalho ao longo de séculos e em quase todas as geografias.
Ao delinear genealogias das tipologias de trabalho e identificá-las com ideologias e desenvolvimento social, torna a análise do tema interessante, para além de se perceber muitos desenvolvimentos históricos sobre as relações de trabalho.
Recomendo
Ao delinear genealogias das tipologias de trabalho e identificá-las com ideologias e desenvolvimento social, torna a análise do tema interessante, para além de se perceber muitos desenvolvimentos históricos sobre as relações de trabalho.
Recomendo
February 4, 2025
Fascinating and useful information but delivered in a very dry and matter of fact style. There’s lots of good data, information and points about work its changes over the years and the implications for modern times.
Just could do with being a bit more punchy.
Just could do with being a bit more punchy.
December 4, 2021
An interesting book covering the history of work and the work environment through the ages from a worldwide perspective. It is the in-depth work of a historian and contrasts with the history of work by Suzman which I read recently and approaches the subject from an anthropological perspective. Unlike Suzman’s book, the Story of Work is much drier and less appealing to read for non-specialists.
March 1, 2023
Comprehensive, detailed and enlightening history of global work patterns and development. It takes us through early Hunter Gatherers, to farming, increased specialisation, the development of complex societies and cities, and onwards to the Market, monetisation, the Agrarian and Industrial revolutions, to modern society and globalisation. Interestingly it reflects on the impacts and consequences differing political and ideological landscapes, including capitalism, communism, nationalism and authoritarianism. Importantly it also details the free and unfree workers and the origins and existence of slavery over millennia in different parts of the world and involving different peoples.
I would have given this book 4 stars had it spent a little more time on the future of work given changing demographics, immigration barriers, modern nationalism and importantly climate change. It speaks little of current geopolitics and the emergence of China as a super power alongside India, and it skips over Artificial intelligence. This is disappointing as the technological age, AI and climate change seem to be incredible forces which will have significant impacts on work and inequality.
I would have given this book 4 stars had it spent a little more time on the future of work given changing demographics, immigration barriers, modern nationalism and importantly climate change. It speaks little of current geopolitics and the emergence of China as a super power alongside India, and it skips over Artificial intelligence. This is disappointing as the technological age, AI and climate change seem to be incredible forces which will have significant impacts on work and inequality.
May 28, 2023
I got about halfway through before stopping. I think this is the best general overview of human history I've ever read, Lucassen does a great job citing his sources and adding nuance to what could've easily been a very general summary. However one will always miss things in a topic this grand, and I think that's why I finally stopped. There's too many things to cover in this topic for one book to do so adequately, and I kept having a voice in the back of my head reminding me that. It finally got too loud and decided my time would be better spent elsewhere.
February 15, 2023
Fun(ny) fact(s): I picked this off the Heffers 50% clearance rack due to its visually striking cover and have hauled this thick hardback around in my backpack for a month (including to and from Texas).
Favourite quote/image: "The Yir Yoront of of North Queensland (Australia) do not have separate words for working and playing indicates an entirely different perspective than expressed by the English language, in which labour can mean both strenuous work and giving birth." (pg. 41)
Honourable mention (which is itself a quote of Richard Sennett): "The craft of making physical things provides insight into techniques of experience that can shape our dealings with others. Both the difficulties and the possibilities of making things well apply to making human relationships." (pg. 434)
Why: Although quite information-dense, Lucassen does balance both a birds-eye view of historical trends and countless specific examples to provide a detailed account of our relationship with work. I especially appreciated how Lucassen offers both a global perspective, discussing civilizations from all parts of the world, and also a broader understanding of work (after all work long pre-dates money), including deep analyses of slavery, work within a home/family, and food production. While unlikely that I will re-read this book, I have definitely learned a lot and do not regret it.
Favourite quote/image: "The Yir Yoront of of North Queensland (Australia) do not have separate words for working and playing indicates an entirely different perspective than expressed by the English language, in which labour can mean both strenuous work and giving birth." (pg. 41)
Honourable mention (which is itself a quote of Richard Sennett): "The craft of making physical things provides insight into techniques of experience that can shape our dealings with others. Both the difficulties and the possibilities of making things well apply to making human relationships." (pg. 434)
Why: Although quite information-dense, Lucassen does balance both a birds-eye view of historical trends and countless specific examples to provide a detailed account of our relationship with work. I especially appreciated how Lucassen offers both a global perspective, discussing civilizations from all parts of the world, and also a broader understanding of work (after all work long pre-dates money), including deep analyses of slavery, work within a home/family, and food production. While unlikely that I will re-read this book, I have definitely learned a lot and do not regret it.
January 26, 2025
I got caught by the beautiful cover and of course the subject really interests me. However, this is a history book that has to cover such a global topic and I do not think it fully succeeds in that. You do read about the various modes of how labour is organised in various time periods and places and that is cool. The thing is, it feels really like the author will write about a certain part simply because there is a lot of data on it(or he just likes it) and then moves on in the chronology.
I cannot say that there is a certain narrative, but then again, the author does start with the statement that there is no narrative to begin with. So unless you have to study this for an exam, you are not going remember a lot that is written in this book. That being said, it is an alright book if you want to know more about the various bits of significant historical economical cultures and how these societies operate.
I cannot say that there is a certain narrative, but then again, the author does start with the statement that there is no narrative to begin with. So unless you have to study this for an exam, you are not going remember a lot that is written in this book. That being said, it is an alright book if you want to know more about the various bits of significant historical economical cultures and how these societies operate.
May 2, 2022
This is a brick, but it was an interesting brick. In fact, it's what I *wanted* "A People's History of the World" to be: a deep look at the different ways people keep ourselves fed and clothed as the world changes around us, and not an ideological polemic.
One thing that impressed me was that he managed to get through the European middle ages (a personal area of interest) without using the words "backward," "barbaric," or "superstitious."
One thing that concerned me was how little he talked about modern unfree labor, especially in prisons. It's not enough to say that unfree labor has declined compared to past eras and then move on, when there are in fact millions of people living and working in a state of unfreedom in 2022.
One thing that impressed me was that he managed to get through the European middle ages (a personal area of interest) without using the words "backward," "barbaric," or "superstitious."
One thing that concerned me was how little he talked about modern unfree labor, especially in prisons. It's not enough to say that unfree labor has declined compared to past eras and then move on, when there are in fact millions of people living and working in a state of unfreedom in 2022.
October 31, 2021
Work is what has formed us to be human. Or did humans evolve and create work?
Either way, work gives us meaning and forces us together to cooperate.
The book is a long read having to cover 60,000+ years of human migration, history and labor.
I wished it were about half the length (which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5). This book feels like it's more for an academic who wants to dive deep into the history of work. But if you skip around and pick and choose what interests you of our long journey as a species, you will find a lot of insightful stats about us.
Now get back to work!
Either way, work gives us meaning and forces us together to cooperate.
The book is a long read having to cover 60,000+ years of human migration, history and labor.
I wished it were about half the length (which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5). This book feels like it's more for an academic who wants to dive deep into the history of work. But if you skip around and pick and choose what interests you of our long journey as a species, you will find a lot of insightful stats about us.
Now get back to work!
February 27, 2022
Titanenwerk , 5 sterren voor de schrijver, maar als hobbylezer vond ik het bij momenten nogal zwaar veel bijgeleerd over werk ( organisatie) , ...... na het weer waarschijnlijk het meest besproken thema van Sapiens ( buiten het wie met wie en wat thema)
Zolang er vrije tijd is zal er waarschijnlijk onvrije tijd zijn en een zoektocht naar een evenwichtige balans die voor persoon tot persoon ( of dezelfde persoon maar een andere leeftijd ) zal verschillen ,
Een goed boek dat wat tijd ( werk :) vraagt om te lezen
Zolang er vrije tijd is zal er waarschijnlijk onvrije tijd zijn en een zoektocht naar een evenwichtige balans die voor persoon tot persoon ( of dezelfde persoon maar een andere leeftijd ) zal verschillen ,
Een goed boek dat wat tijd ( werk :) vraagt om te lezen
April 24, 2023
A very in-depth but broad account of the history of labour and work practices. It covers many different styles of labour and how they evolved and Lucassen has taken care to cover a wide range of labour across several continents. Despite the fact that all of the information is very useful and interesting, it is unfortunately presented in a format that is quite tedious and difficult to read at times from how dry it is. Therefore, while I will find this book very useful to cite, it is not something I greatly enjoyed reading. 6/10
March 9, 2025
It's a survey. Even at the conclusion remarks, after hours of plodding through dry descriptions, the storytelling spark won't even flicker. It's totally skippable, imho could be replaced by a fancy timeline.
Answered questions I haven't asked and, in rare attempts to grab attention (e.g. will robot take your job?), answers provided are so washed down that you will forget you even cared. The RTO hasn't made it 😉
The last paragraph of the book is a tl;tr, so if you pass by it, skip on some LLM tokens - the author has done it for you.
Answered questions I haven't asked and, in rare attempts to grab attention (e.g. will robot take your job?), answers provided are so washed down that you will forget you even cared. The RTO hasn't made it 😉
The last paragraph of the book is a tl;tr, so if you pass by it, skip on some LLM tokens - the author has done it for you.
July 23, 2022
A nice and detailed overview of the history of work, and thus the history of Humankind. From the earliest hunter-gatherer societies to modern times, up to the impacts of COVID (as they unroll).
The one thing that seems to be missing in the book (or I have missed) is a look at the new and changing forms of work, such as the gig economy, creator economy, etc.
I would love to learn the author's thoughts on these and feel they would really finish the whole story.
The one thing that seems to be missing in the book (or I have missed) is a look at the new and changing forms of work, such as the gig economy, creator economy, etc.
I would love to learn the author's thoughts on these and feel they would really finish the whole story.
December 24, 2021
Good survey of history of humankind from the perspective of work/labor. I don't think I got any new stuff from this book; but again, this is more of a zoomed-out perspective kind of thing so it's expected.
May 14, 2023
3,5 stars; knowledgeable, a step-by-step walkthrough through human history (another incarnation of the ‘big history’ trend a al Harari, Diamond and the like) employing the lens of the concept of work; for a popular science book the writing style was a bit too academic and the story unnecessarily long-winded
December 30, 2021
The data was excellent but the left-of-center interpretation of this warped the reading significantly.
For the data alone The Story of Work is worth a read.
For the data alone The Story of Work is worth a read.
October 3, 2022
Doesn't keep a good overview of the story
March 19, 2023
Quite detailed, but very boring.
July 18, 2023
Really enjoyed this audiobook. Did I absorb all of it? Probably not. But I feel like I have a decent background now to learn more about labor and economics in general.
September 21, 2023
Very comprehensive. If you like authors like Smil or Kurlansky this is for U.
July 20, 2024
Started off strong but fell flat on its rear right at the finish line. The marginal revolution seems to have completely flown over the author's head.
December 26, 2023
Having reached the halfway point of "The World: A Brief Introduction" by Peter N. Lucassen, I must commend its status as an excellent and thorough overview of human history. Lucassen skillfully incorporates detailed citations and nuances into what could have been a broad and general summary. However, the complexity and vastness of the subject matter became increasingly apparent, prompting me to pause. The awareness that a single book couldn't adequately cover all aspects of such an expansive topic resonated strongly, leading me to reconsider how I allocated my time. While the book provides a commendable general understanding, its limitations in encapsulating the entirety of this vast subject influenced my decision to explore more specialized and in-depth sources.
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