Shadow Work

February 23, 2015
In this insightful work, former Harvard Magazine deputy editor Lambert (Mind Over Water) examines how people spend their time, pointing out just how much is taken up with “shadow work”: tasks that people perform on their own behalf for free, often via automated tools, that used to be outsourced to paid workers. He writes that “most of us do not recognize or realize how much of it we are doing, even as we pump our own gas, scan and bag our own groceries, execute our own stock trades, and assemble our Ikea furniture.” To Lambert’s mind, automation has actually chipped away at leisure time, as well as human contact and personal service. Though Lambert raises good points about the effect of shadow work on social interaction, observing that it “can make people more self-sufficient, while at the same time sealing them off in silos,” there’s occasionally a reactionary, alarmist tinge to his comments as he yearns for the good old days. By exposing this phenomenon, Lambert may help readers become more aware of their choices and opportunities. His observations are both illuminating and disturbing, and well worth considering. Agent: Julia Lord, Julia Lord Literary Management.

March 15, 2015
Former Harvard Magazine deputy editor Lambert (Mind Over Water: Lessons on Life from the Art of Rowing, 1999) reviews the effects on the labor force of practices such as self-checkouts at grocery stores and how they are reducing the availability of entry-level jobs.The author profiles how such changes tend to eliminate these jobs and consumers' own labor is used as a substitute for the lost employment. Lambert attributes the readiness to accept such increased burdens to a submissive "middle-class serfdom" produced from a work ethic of self-reliance. These days, shadow work "represents a major-and hidden-force shrinking the job market." The shift, writes the author, is often based on consumers' lack of awareness, since "to get millions of people doing shadow work, it's imperative to avoid consumer choice in the matter." Do-it-yourself types of labor, undertaken voluntarily-at the gas station, a food-dispensing kiosk, or online at home-eliminate services that have been taken for granted, and the DIY movement is attractive to consumers seeking to reinvigorate their lifestyles. Downsizing, technological attrition through automation, and the outsourcing of the menial tasks of a business's operations are some of the causes behind this global transformation for prospective employees and the unemployed-the author cites a World Economic Forum statistic that "young people aged 15 to 24 make up 17 percent of the global population but 40 percent of the unemployed." Lambert examines a variety of industries, including retail trade, food service and restaurants, airlines and travel, highlighting ongoing changes and their effects. Many of the jobs that are being replaced by shadow work are entry level. Without the entry-level jobs-e.g., bank teller, office secretary-the author wonders whether anyone will be able to build the skills necessary to work his or her way up the pyramid of opportunity. An appealingly different view of employment based on what people actually do and not just statistics.

April 15, 2015

Over time, American consumers have taken on many of the tasks that historically businesses and organizations offered as services. Lambert (Mind Over Water) calls these tasks shadow work. Planning one's own travel, pumping gas, and self-service groceries mean more effort for the consumer and a loss of leisure time. In many instances technology, and especially the Internet, has contributed to this. Although many of these tasks save time or money, the author argues there are consequences to society. Shadow work means losing face-to-face contact with fellow human beings, less importance given to expert advice, and fewer entry-level jobs. Though offering a warning as to the implications to society, there is little resolution offered. VERDICT Lambert's guide to this phenomenon explains how the modern American's day has gotten so full, offering some unique insights into the ubiquitous tasks that lengthen the work day and creep into downtime. This will interest and enlighten futurists and those with curiosity in the ways technological trends have both changed and will continue to alter the undercurrent of modern life.--Kristen Calvert Nelson, Marion Cty. Pub. Lib. Sys., Ocala, FL

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