Have you ever felt like your job doesn’t matter?
Like if you vanished tomorrow, nothing would change?
You’re not alone.
In Bullshit Jobs, the author dives deep into the world of pointless work.
He exposes how millions of people spend their days in jobs they secretly know are useless.
It’s not just you—it’s a global phenomenon.
Let’s explore why so many jobs exist that serve no real purpose.
We’ll look at how this affects the people stuck in them.
And we’ll find out what we can do about it.
Chapter 1: What Is a Bullshit Job?
In the first chapter, the author talks about what makes some jobs completely pointless.
He calls these jobs “bullshit jobs.” These are jobs that even the people doing them think are useless and can’t find any real reason for them to exist.
The author gives an example of a guy who worked for the German military.
His task? Moving computers from one office to another in a process so bureaucratic and convoluted that it requires multiple subcontractors and significant paperwork—all for something that could be done by the soldier himself in minutes.
The author presents this example to highlight the absurdity of some modern work, which he argues has no meaningful contribution.
The author offers a provisional definition of a bullshit job: one that is “so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence.” He emphasizes that a key characteristic of these jobs is that they involve pretense—the employee is often required to act as if their job has a purpose, even when they know it doesn’t.
This form of deception is essential in defining what makes a job “bullshit.”
The author discusses the subjective nature of these roles.
He points out that often, the employee is the best judge of whether a job is bullshit or not.
According to a YouGov survey the author cites, around 37% of UK workers reported that their jobs had no meaningful impact on the world, which suggests a significant portion of the workforce finds their jobs to be inherently pointless.
This makes the subjective experience of the employee central to understanding the concept of bullshit jobs.
He also distinguishes between bullshit jobs and shit jobs.
Shit jobs are difficult, low-paying, and often involve poor working conditions, but they still provide value to society.
Cleaners, for example, may have shit jobs, but their work undeniably contributes to maintaining cleanliness.
Bullshit jobs, in contrast, might pay well and offer good conditions but provide no meaningful social value.
The author also asserts that bullshit jobs are not confined to the public sector—contrary to popular belief—but are just as prevalent, if not more so, in private companies.
To further clarify what constitutes a bullshit job, the author delves into borderline cases.
He argues that roles like Mafia hit men or corporate lobbyists are not considered bullshit jobs even if they are harmful.
The key reason is that such roles are at least clearly defined, and those who do them understand their purpose—however morally dubious.
Bullshit jobs, on the other hand, tend to lack purpose in any clear sense, and this pointlessness often generates a sense of resentment in the people who occupy them.
Chapter 2: What Sorts of Bullshit Jobs Are There?
In Chapter 2, the author explains the different kinds of bullshit jobs that exist.
He categorizes them into five main types: Flunkies, Goons, Duct Tapers, Box Tickers, and Taskmasters.
Flunkies are people who are hired to make others look or feel important.
These are jobs like doormen, receptionists in places where they aren’t really needed, or assistants who do very little but exist to create the impression of high status for their bosses.
Their primary role is to be a symbol, rather than to do any meaningful work.
Goons are the enforcers, like lobbyists, PR specialists, or corporate lawyers.
They may have jobs that seem to have some power or influence, but their actual contribution is more about defending or boosting the status of their employers rather than providing a necessary service.
They often create problems or conflicts that wouldn’t exist otherwise, just to justify their own roles.
Duct Tapers are workers whose jobs are to fix problems that shouldn’t exist in the first place.
These are the people who spend their time patching up issues that arise because of bad planning or bad management.
Their job is to constantly apply “duct tape” to hold things together rather than addressing the root cause.
Box Tickers are those who exist only to allow an organization to claim it is doing something that it really isn’t.
For example, these are people who fill out forms, make reports, or complete tasks that are only done to satisfy regulations or make it look like the company is taking action.
Their work has no real impact on what the organization actually does.
Taskmasters come in two forms: those who supervise people who don’t need supervising, and those who create more work for others without adding any value themselves.
They often exist to make it look like management is taking action, or simply to justify their own position within the company.
The author also talks about complex multiform bullshit jobs, where a job might fit into more than one category.
He explains that sometimes, a job can be partly bullshit and partly useful, which makes it harder to identify.
The key takeaway from this chapter is that many jobs are created not because they are needed, but to make someone else feel important, cover up a problem, or satisfy bureaucracy.
These roles often lead to people feeling unhappy and unfulfilled because they know their work doesn’t really matter.
Chapter 3: Why Do Those in Bullshit Jobs Regularly Report Themselves Unhappy?
In this chapter, the author explores why people who have bullshit jobs often feel so miserable.
He explains that having a meaningless job can make people feel like they are wasting their lives.
This feeling comes from a lack of purpose and the awareness that what they are doing has no positive effect on the world.
The author argues that humans naturally want to feel useful.
When people have jobs that provide no value, it goes against their desire to contribute something meaningful.
This disconnect leads to feelings of depression and frustration.
Another reason people in bullshit jobs feel unhappy is because of cognitive dissonance.
They have to pretend that their work matters, even when they know it doesn’t.
This pretending can be exhausting and demoralizing.
The author compares it to being in a constant state of lying, which takes a mental toll.
He also discusses how people in bullshit jobs often feel guilt.
They may feel bad because they know that they are getting paid for doing almost nothing, especially when others are working hard in genuinely demanding jobs.
This guilt can contribute to a sense of worthlessness and unhappiness.
The author then talks about social isolation.
People in bullshit jobs may not be able to talk openly about their frustrations.
If they complain, others might not understand why they are unhappy since they have an “easy” job.
This can lead to loneliness because they feel nobody understands their situation.
The lack of autonomy is another big factor.
Many people in bullshit jobs do not have control over their work.
They may have to follow pointless rules or perform meaningless tasks just because they are told to.
This lack of control can make people feel powerless and even more disconnected from their work.
The key message of this chapter is that having a job without purpose or value goes against basic human needs.
Humans need to feel that they are contributing something worthwhile.
Without this sense of purpose, it is hard to feel happy or satisfied.
Chapter 4: What Is It Like to Have a Bullshit Job?
In Chapter 4, the author looks at the experience of actually working in a bullshit job.
He uses stories from real people to show how it feels to work in a role that doesn’t matter.
Many people in these jobs report feeling bored most of the time.
They have nothing to do but still have to pretend to be busy.
Some of them spend their days browsing the internet or playing games, just waiting for the clock to reach the end of the workday.
The author explains that this boredom is not the same as having free time.
It feels worse because people know they are supposed to be working and contributing but are not allowed to.
It’s an enforced boredom that leads to frustration and low self-esteem.
The author also talks about the emotional impact of having to fake being busy.
Having to pretend you’re doing something important, when you’re not, can create a constant sense of anxiety.
People worry that someone will find out they aren’t doing anything and judge them for it.
This kind of stress can affect their mental health and make them feel even worse about themselves.
Another problem is that many people in bullshit jobs feel trapped.
They might be paid well, which makes it hard to quit, even though they know their job is pointless.
The fear of losing a steady income can keep them stuck in a job that makes them miserable.
The author argues that having a bullshit job is not just boring—it’s emotionally draining and can have serious negative effects on a person’s well-being.
People in these roles often feel ashamed because they want to be useful but know they are not.
Chapter 5: Why Are Bullshit Jobs Proliferating?
In this chapter, the author explores why bullshit jobs are becoming more common.
He explains that there are economic reasons behind this growth.
Many companies create bullshit jobs as a way to look more important or to justify bigger budgets.
The author calls this phenomenon managerial feudalism.
Managers like to have more people working under them because it gives them more power and status.
This has led to companies hiring more workers even when there is no real need for them.
The author also talks about political reasons for the growth of bullshit jobs.
Governments may support the creation of jobs that don’t do much, just to keep people employed.
This is done to reduce unemployment numbers, even if the jobs themselves are pointless.
There are also cultural reasons.
In modern society, people are judged by the work they do.
There is a strong belief that everyone should be working all the time.
Because of this, many jobs are created just to keep people busy, even if they don’t need to be.
This obsession with work makes it hard for people to accept that some jobs might be unnecessary.
The way we think about work needs to change.
Instead of focusing on just keeping people busy, we should focus on creating jobs that actually help others or improve society.
Chapter 6: Why Do We as a Society Not Object to the Growth of Pointless Employment?
In this chapter, the author discusses why people accept the existence of so many pointless jobs.
One reason is that there is a stigma around being unemployed.
People are afraid of being seen as lazy or useless if they don’t have a job.
Because of this, even jobs that don’t make any sense are seen as better than no job at all.
The author also explains how work ethic plays a role.
Society has always valued hard work, even when the work itself isn’t useful.
This cultural belief makes it difficult for people to admit that some jobs are pointless.
The author also talks about how capitalism contributes to the problem.
Under capitalism, people are taught to believe that more work is always better, and that having a job is essential to being a good person.
This belief system makes it hard for people to question the value of their work.
There is also a fear that if people start questioning bullshit jobs, it could lead to economic instability.
Many people rely on these jobs for their income, and getting rid of them could lead to more unemployment.
The author argues that if society could move away from the idea that everyone must work all the time, we could focus more on creating meaningful jobs and allowing people more leisure time.
Chapter 7: What Are the Political Effects of Bullshit Jobs, and Is There Anything That Can Be Done About This Situation?
In this chapter, the author looks at the bigger picture of how bullshit jobs affect society.
He explains that having so many meaningless jobs creates a lot of wasted potential.
People who could be doing something useful or creative are stuck in jobs that don’t matter.
This waste has a negative impact on society as a whole, because it means that we are not making the best use of our talents and skills.
The author also talks about the political consequences of bullshit jobs.
He argues that people who are unhappy and unfulfilled in their work are more likely to feel disconnected from society.
This can lead to political apathy, where people don’t care about voting or being involved in their communities.
The author suggests that one possible solution to the problem of bullshit jobs is Universal Basic Income (UBI).
UBI would provide everyone with a basic level of income, regardless of whether they have a job.
This could allow people to focus on work that is meaningful to them, without worrying about whether it pays enough to survive.
The author believes that if people had the freedom to choose, many would leave their bullshit jobs and find ways to contribute that are more valuable to society.
He also suggests that reducing the number of bullshit jobs could lead to a happier and healthier society overall.
