労働とは多くの人にとってアイデンティティそのものであり、社会の中で自分の存在を認識する判断材料にもなっています。労働に深く係わり合うトピックとして、グローバル化やフェミニズム、技術の進展などにも触れながら、労働とは何か、人はなぜ働くのかといった、労働に関する基本的概念を見つめ直します。
   

• An authoritative but accessible short introduction to the concept of work
• Explores the concepts that have shaped 'work' in different societies at different times
• Considers the organization of working - from employment and labour - to their social class and power implications
• Explores the types of work and their moral implications
• Looks at the cultural aspects of gender issues and work
• Highlights how the concept of work continues to change and how it will develop in future

　　
The image of a job captures our imagination from an early age, usually prompted by the question 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'. Work — paid, unpaid, voluntary, or obligatory — is woven into the fabric of all human societies. For many of us, it becomes part of our identity. For others it is a tedious necessity. Living is problematic without paid work, and for many it is catastrophic. 
　
Steve Fineman tells the fascinating story of work - how we strive for security, reward, and often, meaning. Looking at how we classify 'work'; the cultural and social factors that influence the way we work; the ethics of certain types of work; and the factors that will affect the future of work, from globalization to technology, this Very Short Introductionconsiders work as a concept and as a practical experience, drawing upon ideas from psychology, sociology, management, and social history.
　
　
Reading Guide