Future Perfect Book Club

In this episode of Future Perfect Book Club, Joel and Ron dive into Careless People: The Story of Where I Used to Work by Sarah Wynn Williams-a memoir chronicling the author’s time at Facebook (now Meta). Recorded in person with producer Jess, the hosts wrestle with the challenges of critiquing a memoir while unpacking the broader societal and ethical questions the book raises. Their conversation moves beyond the author’s personal journey to examine idealism versus realism in tech, the complicity of individuals within powerful systems, and the corrosive effects of unchecked corporate influence on society and personal agency.

The hosts share candid reactions to the book, discuss the lack of accountability in Williams’ narrative, and reflect on how tech platforms have shifted from fostering genuine connections to fueling profit and manipulation. They also introduce a new segment, “A Book We Don’t Want You to Read,” taking aim at the recent abundance discourse.

Ultimately, both Joel and Ron give Careless People a thumbs down, suggesting listeners can skip the book and still engage deeply with the urgent issues it surfaces.

Plus, a preview of the next pick: Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall by Alexandra Lang. Read along and join the conversation on Blue Sky or at Future Perfect Book Club online!

00:00 Introduction to Future Perfect Book Club

Joel Goodman and Ron Bronson delve into Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly. They discuss the book's exploration of Spotify's impact on the music industry, focusing on historical parallels, algorithmic control, and the creation of 'fake' artists.

The conversation includes personal reflections on the evolution of music consumption, streaming services, and the nostalgia of early music platforms and blog eras. Throughout, they emphasize the moral and existential implications of Spotify's practices for both artists and listeners.

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly. Buy on Bookshop.org

In the inaugural episode of the Future Perfect Book Club, Ron Bronson and Joel Goodman delve into Craig Gent's "Cyberboss: The Rise of Algorithmic Management and the New Struggle for Control at Work." They explore how algorithms are shaping the modern workplace, often in ways that diminish worker autonomy and dignity.

Ron and Joel discuss the increasing disintermediation of human interaction in favor of algorithmic control, citing examples from ride-sharing apps to Amazon distribution centers. They examine the book's anecdotes of workers experiencing isolation and a lack of communication, as well as the elevation of algorithms to a "godlike" status in organizational cultures.

The conversation touches on the allure of convenience that drives the adoption of these platforms, even in the face of known risks and ethical concerns. They dissect the implications of "just-in-time" logistics, the role of "subvisors" in the management structure, and the dehumanizing effects of algorithmic scheduling.

The hosts also analyze how these systems perpetuate capitalist structures and echo the principles of Taylorism, all while removing accountability and consolidating power at the top. While acknowledging the book's left-leaning perspective, Ron and Joel emphasize the importance of understanding these trends and finding ways to disrupt them. They also share some laughs along the way, despite the episode's heavy topic.

00:00 Welcome to Future Perfect Book Club

01:16 Introducing "Cyberboss"

02:32 Synopsis: Algorithmic Management and Disintermediation

03:11 Anecdotes from the Book: Worker Experiences

06:15 Algorithms as gods

07:17 The Allure of Convenience Despite the Downsides

11:00 Trusting the System

14:24 Implications of Control Structures: Subvisors

16:50 Dehumanizing Worker Dignity

18:47 The App is the Boss

20:09 Compliance is built into the system

23:35 Capitalist Structures

25:37 A little bit about Taylorism

33:39 Wrapping up this book

38:44 Announcing the next book

Purchase Cyberboss: The Rise of Algorithmic Management and the New Struggle for Control at Work at Bookshop.org