Office

Object Lessons is a series of short books that explore the hidden lives of ordinary things. It traces the cultural history of the office from its late 19th-century origins to its decline in the 21st century, considering how it has become the primary site of labor in the postmodern economy. The book discusses how culture became organized around the idea of the office and how it will change if the office becomes extinct.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Object Lessons is a captivating series of short books that delves into the hidden lives of ordinary things. Spanning from its origins in the late 19th century to its decline in the 21st century, Sheila Liming's Office narrates a rich cultural history of a place that has arguably been the epicenter of labor in the postmodern economy. During the post-war decades of the 20th century, the office rose to prominence in culture, achieving an iconic status that is reflected in television, film, literature, and throughout the history of advertising. While most people are familiar with the clichés of office culture, it is important to note that evidence suggests that a growing number of us no longer work in traditional offices. With the advent of computing technology in the 1980s and 90s, the office underwent significant transformations. In 1989, Microsoft introduced its suite of multitasking applications known as Microsoft Office, marking the beginning of a fierce battle for the survival of these spaces.

This book, therefore, poses a thought-provoking question: how did culture become organized around the idea of the office, and what would happen if the office were to become extinct? Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic, further exploring these intriguing themes and shedding light on the evolving nature of work and its impact on society.

Weight: 142g
Dimension: 121 x 164 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501348679