The Nature of Work from Prehistoric Times to the Era of the Industrial Revolution: A Sociological Perspective

The beginning of an essay penned by Bob Black in 1985 titled "The Abolition of Work" read, "No one should ever work". The writer believed that work is the source of nearly all the misery in the world. Almost any evil you would care to name comes from working or from living in a world designed for work. In order to stop suffering, we have to stop working. In a leisure-loving culture, many would wholeheartedly echo Black's sentiment. Many people across the globe spend most of their time working for survival. Is work a curse, or is it something that humans were uniquely designed to do? In stark contrast to the assertions of Bob Black, the significance and beneficial nature of work is a resounding theme in our everyday activities. This book examines the nature of work from prehistoric times to the era of industrial revolution. It also touches on the concept of work and the contemporary nature of work. A striking feature of this piece is its theoretical exploration to understanding the nature of work and its detailed discussion of occupations and professions. The operations of labour unions have also been given attention, bringing out some negotiation skills used by actors during conflict situations within bureaucratic set ups. Critical issues such as unemployment, finding and applying for a job, training and development, stress at the work place, feminization of work and the future of work have all received considerable attention in this practical piece.