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Work and vocation

A young woman and an older man at a poker table with colourful chips, the man wears a suit and lights a cigar, the woman wears jeans and a fluffy turquoise top.

Work and vocation

idea

The ways Sugar Babies navigate two roles: lover and employee

‘Sugaring’ involves the commodification of romance – presenting a puzzle of love, labour and autonomy for those involved

by Brynn Valentine

A woman in an orange sweater is practising her golf swing in a narrow, cobblestone alleyway lined with bicycles, adjacent to a building with large windows.

Play

idea

The achievement society is burning us out, we need more play

This is about more than a self-help switch – it will take structural changes to reject capitalism’s productivity obsession

by Alec Stubbs

Man at an office desk with multiple monitors, working on spreadsheets, a large mountain mural on the wall in front of him.

Work and vocation

idea

Why do so many people think they are in a bullshit job?

Researchers continue to debate whether some jobs are inherently useless – but all agree it’s harmful to see your job this way

by Shayla Love

A train arrives at a busy subway station. Many different people on the platform wait to get on the train. Some are blurred as they are caught by the camera mid-motion.

Neurodiversity

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Adapting to the neurotypical world is not the same as conforming

As an autistic person, this is how I draw the line between adapting in a way that’s good for me and simple conformity

by Jack Ori

A tabby cat sleeps upon a home office desk next to a laptop and various desk items

Goals and motivation

idea

Facing a tedious to-do list? This trick could make it easier

The ‘easy addendum effect’: how careful timing of your easier tasks could help you feel better at the end of the day

by Shayla Love

A painting of a man with long hair wearing a black outfit and hat, holding a lit cigarette, and sitting in a café with a glass of green liquid.

Thinkers and theories

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Learning to be a loser: a philosopher’s case for doing nothing

For Emil Cioran, a life devoid of action, practical ambitions and busyness is a life in which room has been made for meaning

by Costica Bradatan

Silhouette of a lorry driver drinking from a bottle inside the cabin at dusk.

Work and vocation

idea

Why AI surveillance at work leads to perverse outcomes

In the name of efficiency, workplace AI technologies shift burdens long-assumed by employers onto workers

by Karen Levy

A person walks past a billboard under a bridge, featuring an image of eyes superimposed on a sky with clouds, next to a café entrance.

Work and vocation

idea

Kafka warned us: surveillance turns the watched into watchers

Surveillance changes us in powerful ways, as Franz Kafka warned. Neither the watched nor their watcher escapes unscathed

by George Alliger

A bearded man’s portrait surrounded by scientific instruments, an elephant, a globe, and palm trees on a colourful background.

Stories and literature

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Are successful authors creative geniuses or literary labourers?

Some writers are explorers, like Edgar Allan Poe. Others are exploiters, like Jules Verne. Which type is better off?

by Oleg Sobchuk

A surgeon in blue scrubs and a mask walks through a hospital corridor, with surgical equipment on a table and cabinets visible through a window.

Work and vocation

idea

The idea of a ‘surgeon’s personality’ won’t fix the profession

What can explain why surgeons are leaving the profession in their droves? Clue: it’s not a failure of their personality

by Agnes Arnold-Forster

Neon signs reading “Willkommen im Love Story” and “Caffe” with two women in lingerie at the entrance, illuminated by red lights.

Gender

idea

The reality of prostitution is not complex. It is simple

Prostitution is not sex and it’s not work. Its reality is far from complex – in fact, it’s simple. Trust me, I’ve done it

by Rachel Moran

A group of children sitting on a gymnasium floor, holding basketballs, wearing various athletic clothing, and appearing to be in a sports class.

Goals and motivation

idea

Why some teams boost motivation while others totally sap it

Working in a team can inspire striving – or encourage free-riding. What makes a difference is how the teamwork is designed

by Ann-Kathrin Torka, Jens Mazei & Joachim Hüffmeier