HBR IdeaCast / Episode 762

The Fundamental Human Relationship with Work

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A conversation with anthropologist James Suzman about how our understanding of labor has changed over time.

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October 13, 2020

James Suzman, an anthropologist and former executive, says one way to better understand the future of work is to learn from the history of it. He has studied an ancient hunter-gatherer society in Namibia and says our modern notions of work, economy, and productivity are perhaps too limiting. Suzman argues that humans have always been drawn to work for its intrinsic value, and that managers can prepare for the future workplace by broadening their thinking about work and purpose. Suzman is the author of the new book “Work: A History of How We Spend Our Time,” (U.S. version out in January).

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