Down and Out in the New Economy

By Ilana Gershon,

Book cover of Down and Out in the New Economy: How People Find (or Don't Find) Work Today

Book description

Finding a job used to be simple. You'd show up at an office and ask for an application. A friend would mention a job in their department. Or you'd see an ad in a newspaper and send in your cover letter. Maybe you'd call the company a week later to…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Down and Out in the New Economy as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

There is an entire industry that talks very positively and upbeat about finding jobs, and we tend to think of job search as a good thing–good for people and good for organizations–that helps us grow and develop.

Ilana Gershon is an ethnographer, and she moved into groups of people trying to find new jobs. These aren’t the hot-shot computer nerds who happen to have the very specific skills in demand right now; they are average people looking for all the other jobs.

She finds the process is full of snake-oil advice (“find your superpower”!) and false optimism from pop-psychologists who…

From Peter's list on hate your job and dread job hunting.

If you love Down and Out in the New Economy...

Ad

Book cover of The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

The Coaching Habit By Michael Bungay Stanier,

The coaching book that's for all of us, not just coaches.

It's the best-selling book on coaching this century, with 15k+ online reviews. Brené Brown calls it "a classic". Dan Pink said it was "essential".

It is practical, funny, and short, and "unweirds" coaching. Whether you're a parent, a teacher,…

Want books like Down and Out in the New Economy?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 80 books like Down and Out in the New Economy.

Browse books like Down and Out in the New Economy

Book cover of Working: People Talk about What They Do All Day and How They Feel about What They Do
Book cover of Dying for a Paycheck: How Modern Management Harms Employee Health and Company Performance―and What We Can Do About It
Book cover of Good Jobs, Bad Jobs: The Rise of Polarized and Precarious Employment Systems in the United States, 1970s-2000s

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,593

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like Down and Out in the New Economy, you might also like...

Book cover of Currently Away: How Two Disenchanted People Traveled the Great Loop for Nine Months and Returned to the Start, Energized and Optimistic

Currently Away By Bruce Tate,

The plan was insane. The trap seemed to snap shut on Bruce and Maggie Tate, an isolation forced on them by the pandemic and America's growing political factionalism. Something had to change.

Maggie's surprising answer: buy a boat, learn to pilot it, and embark on the Great Loop. With no…

Book cover of Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?: Plan Now to Safeguard Your Health and Happiness in Old Age

Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old? By Joy Loverde,

Everything you need to know to plan for your own safe, financially secure, healthy, and happy old age.

For those who have no support system in place, the thought of aging without help can be a frightening, isolating prospect. Whether you have friends and family ready and able to help…

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Silicon Valley, presidential biography, and entrepreneurs?

Silicon Valley 35 books
Entrepreneurs 316 books