The Post-Work Society

The Post-Work Society offers a clear, grounded framework for understanding what comes after the paycheck economy. Quentin G. Dalton examines why the job-centered model is under strain, how industrial-era assumptions still shape modern life, and what people lose when employment is expected to carry income, identity, structure, and dignity all at once. Drawing on the realities of automation, AI, burnout, underemployment, and shifting labor demand, this book makes the case that the future of work is not simply about replacing jobs, but about rethinking the social contract itself. Readers will find a practical, expository guide to shorter workweeks, broader sharing of work, public services, and new ways people can contribute and belong. Thoughtful and accessible, this book is for anyone seeking a serious vision of a livable society beyond full-time employment.