Decoding Work: Insights from Hunter-Gatherers for Well-being

Course Overview

In Work: A Deep History, from the Stone Age to the Age of Robots, author Dr. James Suzman challenges modern conceptions about work. He offers a stark comparison of our approach to work with that of the Ju/’hoansi, a hunter-gatherer society in southern Africa.

In this course, you’ll first uncover what work is, why we work, and the role of skills development in our success. Then, you’ll examine common misconceptions about competition, scarcity, and hierarchy. Finally, you’ll learn how agriculture, community, and prosperity influence our approach to work.

Unique Features of the Course

• Interactive Course
• Video(s)
• Knowledge Check(s)
• Quiz

Table to Content

• Introduction
• All Living Organisms Do Work
• We’re Skilled at Acquiring Skills
• Not Everything Is a Competition
• Our Ancestors Worked to Live—But They Did Not Live to Work
• Our Relationship With Hierarchy Is Complicated
• We’re Not All Farmers Anymore
• We Dene Ourselves by the Work We Do
• Work Today Is Doing More Harm Than Good
• Conclusion
• Quiz

Intended audience

This course is intended for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as working professionals from all streams/departments/functions.