"'This book is stolen. Written in part on stolen time, that is. Because like millions of others who work for a living, I was giving most of my prime time to my employer...' So begins Jeff Schmidt in this riveting book about the world of professional work. Schmidt demonstrates that the workplace is a battleground for the very identity of the individual, as is graduate school, where professionals are trained. He shows that professional work is inherently political, and that professionals are hired to maintain strict "ideological discipline." The hidden root of much career dissatisfaction, argues Schmidt, is the professional's lack of control over the political component of his or her creative work. Many professionals set out to make a contribution to society and add meaning to their lives. Yet our system of professional education and employment abusively inculcates an acceptance of politically subordinate roles in which professionals typically do not make a significant difference, undermining the creative potential of individuals, organizations, and even democracy. Schmidt details the battle one must fight to be an independent thinker, showing how an honest reassessment of what it means to be a professional in today's corporate society can be remarkably liberating. After reading this book, no one who works for a living will ever think the same way about his or her job.“
I’m always a bit confused by the HN algorithm. I think it depends highly on your own points [1], timing of the post, and the rate at which it picks up votes and comments. Those are just guesses though…
Topics might matter too, but I don’t see why this would be deprioritized as it isn’t a news items. But it also isnt tech and has a tinge of politics so that doesn’t help
This submission, being a digitized book, is also quite a long read, making it more difficult to start a discussion.
1: it could also be that those with many points are likely to have figured out how to maximize their submissions via timing and topic, or they simply submit a lot and therefore rack up points through “brute force”, creating the illusion that points affect submission ranking
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[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 18.7 ms ] threadDisciplined Minds: A Critical Look at Salaried Professionals and the Soul-battering System That Shapes Their Lives
Jeff Schmid
- blurb from Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/558867
I’m always a bit confused by the HN algorithm. I think it depends highly on your own points [1], timing of the post, and the rate at which it picks up votes and comments. Those are just guesses though…
Topics might matter too, but I don’t see why this would be deprioritized as it isn’t a news items. But it also isnt tech and has a tinge of politics so that doesn’t help
This submission, being a digitized book, is also quite a long read, making it more difficult to start a discussion.
1: it could also be that those with many points are likely to have figured out how to maximize their submissions via timing and topic, or they simply submit a lot and therefore rack up points through “brute force”, creating the illusion that points affect submission ranking