Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Evolution of Work

by Richard Donkin

Work - a process as familiar to almost everyone as their daily routines - has radically changed in nature over the centuries. Most of these changes have involved revolutionary steps, significantly influencing the way people live and behave. Two of these - the agrarian revolution (when people abandoned their hunter-gatherer lifestyles and grouped together as farming communities) and the industrial revolution (where people began to concentrate in farms and cities) - were watersheds in the evolution of work. A third revolution in the way we work and live, driven this time by new technology, appears to be happening as we enter the new millennium.

Genres: History

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2002

Reviews

[Jane Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's some history, but this is mainly a book about management rather than work. There's no mention of the sort of work many of us do, and far too much focus on the evolution of management theories. Published in 2001, it seems absurdly dated now. It's hardly Donkin's fault that he failed to foresee the financial crisis and its consequences, but much of what he says towards the end of the book is hopelessly optimistic.

[Peter Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely readable and though provoking.

[Barbara Carder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Donkin, reporter for the Financial Times of London .... thank you!! This book has parts that are original thinking/postulating and other parts written specifically for the 'managers' out there . . . . those who are actually interested in understanding how and why the human being embraces 'work.' Especially noteworthy: the origins of work and role the Quakers and Nazis have played in the meaning behind work. Read this, people!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well-written and fun to read exploration of why we get up in the morning. WORK! I loved it.