Erik Baker

A sweeping new history of the changing meaning of work in the United States, from Horatio Alger to Instagram influencers. How Americans think about work changed profoundly over the course of the twentieth century. Thrift and persistence came to seem old-fashioned. Successful workers were increasingly expected to show initiative and enthusiasm for change—not just to do their jobs reliably but...

A sweeping new history of the changing meaning of work in the United States, from Horatio Alger to Instagram influencers. How Americans think about work changed profoundly over the course of the twentieth century. Now, it's not enough for a worker to be reliable; they are also increasingly expected to show initiative, creating new opportunities for themselves and their employer....