Are We Our Work?
In a world where our first question to strangers is often "What do you do?", we'll examine the complex relationship between our identity and our labor. This session invites us to explore how deeply our sense of self becomes intertwined with our professional lives, and whether this connection serves us—or traps us.
We live in societies that have elevated productivity to a moral virtue, where being "busy" has become a badge of honor, and where retirement can feel like a loss of purpose rather than a reward. Yet many of us spend our days in roles that feel disconnected from our values, our passions, or any sense of meaningful contribution to the world.
Our conversation will explore:
What makes work feel meaningful versus meaningless?
How do we separate who we are from what we do—and should we?
Why are some types of labor celebrated while others remain invisible?
This session challenges assumptions about success, purpose, and the role of work in a life well-lived.
Are We Our Work?
In a world where our first question to strangers is often "What do you do?", we'll examine the complex relationship between our identity and our labor. This session invites us to explore how deeply our sense of self becomes intertwined with our professional lives, and whether this connection serves us—or traps us.
We live in societies that have elevated productivity to a moral virtue, where being "busy" has become a badge of honor, and where retirement can feel like a loss of purpose rather than a reward. Yet many of us spend our days in roles that feel disconnected from our values, our passions, or any sense of meaningful contribution to the world.
Our conversation will explore:
What makes work feel meaningful versus meaningless?
How do we separate who we are from what we do—and should we?
Why are some types of labor celebrated while others remain invisible?
This session challenges assumptions about success, purpose, and the role of work in a life well-lived.
In a world where our first question to strangers is often "What do you do?", we'll examine the complex relationship between our identity and our labor. This session invites us to explore how deeply our sense of self becomes intertwined with our professional lives, and whether this connection serves us—or traps us.
We live in societies that have elevated productivity to a moral virtue, where being "busy" has become a badge of honor, and where retirement can feel like a loss of purpose rather than a reward. Yet many of us spend our days in roles that feel disconnected from our values, our passions, or any sense of meaningful contribution to the world.
Our conversation will explore:
What makes work feel meaningful versus meaningless?
How do we separate who we are from what we do—and should we?
Why are some types of labor celebrated while others remain invisible?
This session challenges assumptions about success, purpose, and the role of work in a life well-lived.
Conversation Catalysts
At Premise, a Conversation Catalyst is a short story, essay, film, or poem that sparks reflection and connection. It’s the shared reference point that grounds each session and opens the door to meaningful and deep conversation.
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (selected chapters)
"To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
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We explore the tension between society's rhetoric about "essential workers" and the reality of how we value different forms of labor.
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (selected chapters)
Anthropologist David Graeber's provocative analysis dissects the proliferation of meaningless work in modern economies. Through both rigorous research and personal testimonies, Graeber argues that a surprising number of jobs contribute little or nothing to society—yet these positions often command higher salaries and social status than genuinely essential work. His exploration of administrative bloat, corporate hierarchies, and the psychological toll of purposeless labor challenges us to reconsider what we mean when we talk about "productive" work.
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Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (selected chapters)
"To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
We explore the tension between society's rhetoric about "essential workers" and the reality of how we value different forms of labor.
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (selected chapters)
Anthropologist David Graeber's provocative analysis dissects the proliferation of meaningless work in modern economies. Through both rigorous research and personal testimonies, Graeber argues that a surprising number of jobs contribute little or nothing to society—yet these positions often command higher salaries and social status than genuinely essential work. His exploration of administrative bloat, corporate hierarchies, and the psychological toll of purposeless labor challenges us to reconsider what we mean when we talk about "productive" work.
Conversation Catalysts
At Premise, a Conversation Catalyst is a short story, essay, film, or poem that sparks reflection and connection. It’s the shared reference point that grounds each session and opens the door to meaningful and deep conversation.
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (selected chapters)
"To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy
Text Set A
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
Session Description
We explore the tension between society's rhetoric about "essential workers" and the reality of how we value different forms of labor.
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (selected chapters)
Anthropologist David Graeber's provocative analysis dissects the proliferation of meaningless work in modern economies. Through both rigorous research and personal testimonies, Graeber argues that a surprising number of jobs contribute little or nothing to society—yet these positions often command higher salaries and social status than genuinely essential work. His exploration of administrative bloat, corporate hierarchies, and the psychological toll of purposeless labor challenges us to reconsider what we mean when we talk about "productive" work.
Graeber's insights force us to confront uncomfortable questions: If your job disappeared tomorrow, would anyone notice? What does it do to the human spirit to spend eight hours a day performing tasks that feel fundamentally pointless?
"To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy
Piercy's beloved poem stands as a counterpoint to meaningless labor, celebrating work that is "real work: / hard work in gardens and kitchens / in the fields and woods."
With vivid imagery of swimming against strong currents and hands that know the weight of useful tools, the poem honors those who choose substance over status, who find deep satisfaction in work that serves genuine human needs.
The poem's central metaphor—preferring to be like oxen or water buffalo rather than ornamental animals—invites us to examine our own relationship to usefulness, contribution, and the kinds of work that feed both body and soul.
Text Set A
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
Session Description
We explore the tension between society's rhetoric about "essential workers" and the reality of how we value different forms of labor.
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (selected chapters)
Anthropologist David Graeber's provocative analysis dissects the proliferation of meaningless work in modern economies. Through both rigorous research and personal testimonies, Graeber argues that a surprising number of jobs contribute little or nothing to society—yet these positions often command higher salaries and social status than genuinely essential work. His exploration of administrative bloat, corporate hierarchies, and the psychological toll of purposeless labor challenges us to reconsider what we mean when we talk about "productive" work.
Graeber's insights force us to confront uncomfortable questions: If your job disappeared tomorrow, would anyone notice? What does it do to the human spirit to spend eight hours a day performing tasks that feel fundamentally pointless?
"To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy
Piercy's beloved poem stands as a counterpoint to meaningless labor, celebrating work that is "real work: / hard work in gardens and kitchens / in the fields and woods."
With vivid imagery of swimming against strong currents and hands that know the weight of useful tools, the poem honors those who choose substance over status, who find deep satisfaction in work that serves genuine human needs.
The poem's central metaphor—preferring to be like oxen or water buffalo rather than ornamental animals—invites us to examine our own relationship to usefulness, contribution, and the kinds of work that feed both body and soul.
Conversation Catalysts
At Premise, a Conversation Catalyst is a short story, essay, film, or poem that sparks reflection and connection. It’s the shared reference point that grounds each session and opens the door to meaningful and deep conversation.
More conversation catalysts coming soon!
Text Set B
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
Session Description
At Premise, we’re always growing. Our sessions are shaped not only by the enduring questions we ask but also by the ideas and contributions of our participants and Chapter Leaders. We are a constructivist learning community, which means we build our learning experiences together.
More text sets for this question are on the way. Each one will follow our approach: short enough to prepare in under three hours, substantial and thought-provoking enough to spark deep discussion, and accessible to a wide audience.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you. If you have a suggestion for a story, essay, film, or poem that belongs here, please share it in the section below.
Text Set A
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
Session Description
We explore the tension between society's rhetoric about "essential workers" and the reality of how we value different forms of labor.
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (selected chapters)
Anthropologist David Graeber's provocative analysis dissects the proliferation of meaningless work in modern economies. Through both rigorous research and personal testimonies, Graeber argues that a surprising number of jobs contribute little or nothing to society—yet these positions often command higher salaries and social status than genuinely essential work. His exploration of administrative bloat, corporate hierarchies, and the psychological toll of purposeless labor challenges us to reconsider what we mean when we talk about "productive" work.
Graeber's insights force us to confront uncomfortable questions: If your job disappeared tomorrow, would anyone notice? What does it do to the human spirit to spend eight hours a day performing tasks that feel fundamentally pointless?
"To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy
Piercy's beloved poem stands as a counterpoint to meaningless labor, celebrating work that is "real work: / hard work in gardens and kitchens / in the fields and woods."
With vivid imagery of swimming against strong currents and hands that know the weight of useful tools, the poem honors those who choose substance over status, who find deep satisfaction in work that serves genuine human needs.
The poem's central metaphor—preferring to be like oxen or water buffalo rather than ornamental animals—invites us to examine our own relationship to usefulness, contribution, and the kinds of work that feed both body and soul.