About the Book (from the publisher):
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and labor-saving technologies like self-checkouts and automated factories, the future of work has never been more uncertain, and even jobs requiring high levels of human interaction are no longer safe. “The Last Human Job” explores the human connections that underlie our work, arguing that what people do for each other in these settings is valuable and worth preserving.
Vividly illustrating how connective labor enriches the lives of individuals and binds our communities together, “The Last Human Job” is a compelling argument for us to recognize, value, and protect humane work in an increasingly automated and disconnected world.
Allison Pugh is professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at the University of Virginia. She is the author of “The Tumbleweed Society: Working and Caring in an Age of Insecurity and Longing” and “Belonging: Parents, Children, and Consumer Culture.” Her writing has appeared in leading publications such as The New Yorker, the New York Times, and the New Republic.
Shamus Khan is Willard Thorp professor of sociology and American studies at Princeton University, where he also serves as the Director of Gender & Sexuality Studies. He is the author of over 120 articles, books, and essays, including “Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School,” and “Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus” (with Jennifer Hirsch).
Presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This event was recorded on November 3, 2024.