In this episode, we discuss what Weeks refers to as the "parallel history of those who failed to internalize the ‘gospel of work’”. This is the other side of the story we told in Episode Four. Instead, it is about resisting and rejecting the Work Ethic. We offer a brief overview of what was (and is) rejected, by whom, and via what action.In our discussion on rejecting the Work Ethic, we talk about the different ideological positions highlighted in the book which include:Socialist ModernizationSocialist HumanismAutonomist Marxism  We discuss what each focused on in their critique of capitalist work ethic, and we reflect on their limitations.In the second section, we switch focus to current and contemporary ways in which the Work Ethic continues to be disavowed and how it persists, even in the face of rejection. Benedetta uses the world of Art as a useful framework for reflecting the limitations of Socialist Humanism and working for passion. She does this through a discussion of potential for harm and exploitation, as well as the missing value of (and need for) boredom and rest. Considering how a glorification of the Work Ethic can make us unwell, Nancy uses examples found in Organizational Psychology research to offer practical actions we can all take to resist the temptation to chase passion as a career guide. She asks the listener to consider how they can engage with their jobs in ways that are more likely to result in enjoying meaningful, decent, and psychologically rich work. Other topics pop up along the way such as a brief exchange on the challenge and utility of Utopias (a topic to be explored in much more detail in future episodes!), warnings about the neurological impact of overwork, and an example of Job Crafting done perfectly by tending soil. Question of the Episode: What/When/How will you rest? Rest and recovery are essential for us all. However, in a contemporary world that is filled with productivity hacks, hustle culture, and an unending sense of urgency from our phones - it can be hard to do without purposeful action. Here is a simple way to build small, consistent moments of rest into the end of your work day.   Art of the Episode: Ville Fantôme (1996), Bodys Isek Kingelez. Bodys Isek Kingelez’s works were, as he called them, “extreme maquettes”, architectural and urban models made of paper, cardboard, plastic and other found materials. They are joyous, utopian visions of human environments that offer Kingelez’s own optimistic ideas of what a peaceful, collectively built world might look like. Ville Fantôme, his largest construction, is one of the few completely imaginary places he built. Here the world of the living and that of passed ancestors meet, reminding us of the complexity, if not of the impossibility, of the task of defining a ‘human essence’.Works citedWeeks, K. (2011). The Problem with Work. https://doi.org/10.1215/9780822394723Castrioto, B. (2024). Labor of Fire. https://benedettacastrioto.com/Curatorial-ProjectsGullì, B. (2005). Labor of Fire. Temple University Press.Innes, A. (2023). Late Soviet Britain: Why Materialist Utopias Fail. Cambridge University Press.Jebelli, J., PhD. (2025). The brain at rest: How the Art and Science of Doing Nothing Can Improve Your Life. Penguin Group.Sonnentag, S., & Wiegelmann, M. (2024). Not detaching from work during leisure time: A control‐theory perspective on job‐related cognitions. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 45(7), 1003–1024. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2792Zacher, H., & Baumeister, R. F. (2024). Differences among a satisfied, a meaningful, and a psychologically rich working life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2024.2417102Cover artwork by ⁠Simone Hutsch⁠ from Unsplash.Music by Tech Oasis from Pixabay.Inquires: [email protected]

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