Main take away: it’s grim working low-wage jobs.

I would argue that, objectively speaking, average living standards overall have continued to improve. Yet, this book is a helpful reminder that real people don’t live in averages. To the individual, improvements to healthcare are irrelevant if you’re physically healthy but working 80 hours a week to meet basic needs like food, water, a place to sleep.

I’ve always agreed with the statement that “money can’t make you happy, but poverty can make you sad”. From this book it would be fair to add, “a good work environment can’t make you happy, but a bad work environment can make you sad”.

One of the striking themes of all of the jobs explored is that seemingly simple, and inexpensive changes would make working environments much better. This book explores the cutting edge, where corporate process and the bottom line run up against basic human needs.

Overall, the author seems understandably bitter and I don’t really agree with his politics. But this book is well worth a read. If you’re in the target audience (observer reading middle class) this book will help you get some understanding of what it’s like for the less fortunate in the UK.

Hired by James Bloodworth was Published by Atlantic Books on the 7 February 2019, ISBN: 9781786490162 This book was recommended to me by my good friend David Weston.