I read a graphic adaptation of Bob Black’s “Abolition of Work” essay and while I do agree with the majority of his points, I can’t say that I agree with everything. Sure, the system of education is problematic at best…but to say we need to abolish work which makes us mindless and stupid, in favor of learning and expanding our minds, then to also say we need to abolish teachers and education, seems self-contradictory. The author concedes that there is work which has to be done by people in order to maintain a society, but after lambasting leftist movements that attempt to give workers fair compensation for their time and energies. I don’t think the author understands relationships, hobbies, etc. as work and responsibility- they just happen to be work and responsibility we enjoy. I think that there is merit (to put it lightly) in abolishing pointless, menial work and also the concept of a job, but people will always want to take care of others, will want to feed and clothe and nurse each other; we need builders and fixers and engineers and scientists and so much more. To discredit these things as mere “work” is to reject the human spirit. There is no lighthearted “play” without serious “work” to do- and while no one should be forced to work, everyone should be given the opportunity to channel their energy as they see fit, to put in the “work” to grow as a human being and a person in society. #review#books#socialism#antiwork#workreform#bookreview
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