Unworking by Jeremy Myerson & Philip Ross Summary
Overview of Unworking
Unworking reinvents office spaces post-pandemic, praised by Microsoft's Harald Becker as "invaluable" for helping people thrive. What if traditional workplaces are obsolete? Myerson and Ross reveal why homogeneity kills productivity and how spatial intelligence creates tomorrow's irresistible workplaces.
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Key takeaways
The Office Revolution: From Paper Factories to Human Experiences
The modern office is experiencing a silent revolution beneath its seemingly stable exterior. While today's workplaces might superficially resemble their 1920s predecessors, this familiar facade masks a complete dismantling of workplace fundamentals. Like a swan gliding smoothly while paddling furiously beneath the surface, the office is experiencing what experts call "swan syndrome" - apparent stability concealing revolutionary change. The 2008 financial crisis began this disruption, but COVID-19 delivered the final blow, forcing a global experiment in remote work that accelerated changes already underway. Recent surveys show workers have embraced this revolution - with only 5-7% wanting to return to pre-pandemic arrangements. This shift represents the most significant transformation in work patterns since the Industrial Revolution. The traditional office emerged from industrial-era thinking, designed as a "paper factory" where humans functioned as components in a productivity machine. Frederick Taylor's scientific management treated employees as interchangeable parts in a system optimized for efficiency. Today, this paradigm has been completely inverted - the workplace is now being reconceived around how people feel rather than just what they produce. This fundamental reorientation requires organizational restructuring as traditionally siloed departments must collaborate to deliver satisfying employee experiences.
Communities of Purpose: The End of Hierarchy and Rise of Innovation Districts
Reimagining Space: From Rectangles to Circles
Technology: The Disappearing Infrastructure
Designing for Diversity and Wellbeing
Unworking: Reimagining Our Relationship With Work
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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