Marx and Spinoza on the Ideology of Work Under Capitalism: Jason Read's 'The Double Shift'

Coming to Verso Books February 2024:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741197/the-double-shift-by-jason-read/


ABOUT THE DOUBLE SHIFT
“Why do people fight for their exploitation as if it was
liberation?” How Marx and Spinoza can explain our attachment to
work, and what we can do about it

In a world of declining wages, working conditions, and
instability, the response for many has been to work harder,
increasing hours and finding various ways to hustle in a gig
economy. What drives our attachment to work? To paraphrase a
question from Spinoza, “Why do people fight for their
exploitation as if it was liberation?”

The Double Shift turns towards the intersection of Marx and
Spinoza in order to examine the nature of our affective,
ideological, and strategic attachment to work. Through an
examination of contemporary capitalism and popular culture it
argues that the current moment can be defined as one of “negative
solidarity.”

The hardship and difficulty of work is seen not as the basis for
alienation and calls for its transformation but rather an
identification with the difficulties and hardships of work. This
distortion of the work ethic leads to a celebration of
capitalists as job creators and suspicion towards anyone who is
not seen as a “real worker.”

The book is grounded in philosophy, specifically Marx and
Spinoza, and is in dialogue with Plato, Smith, Hegel, and Arendt,
but, at the same time, in examining contemporary ideologies and
ideas about work it discusses motivational meetings at Apple
Stores, the culture of Silicon Valley, and films and television
from Office Space to Better Call Saul. The Double Shift argues
for a transformation of our collective imagination and attachment
to work. 

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Support the show


Support the podcast:

https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acidhorizon

Acid Horizon on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcast


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Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast:
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Happy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog):
https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com

​Revolting Bodies (Will's Blog):
https://revoltingbodies.com

​Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack):
https://splitinfinities.substack.com/

​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/ and
https://thecominginsurrection.bandcamp.com/