It’s not just that it’s difficult to get an elite job. It’s that the jobs themselves feel meaningless—and are meaningless. Humans are simple creatures, we like to be able to see, touch, feel our work. The code for one tiny portion of the Google Maps CarPlay interface or spreadsheets deciding whether to extend credit to failing Midwestern companies... See more

The desire for fulfilling work — a job that provides a deep sense of purpose, and reflects our values, passions and personality — is a modern invention. … For centuries, most inhabitants of the Western world were too busy struggling to meet their subsistence needs to worry about whether they had an exciting career that used their talents and... See more