Dreams of the Overworked: Living, Working, and Parenting in the Digital Age
Christine M. Beckman · Melissa Mazmanian
Jun 2020 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Chelsea Stephens
headphones
Audiobook
8 hr 29 min
Unabridged
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
Want a 50 min sample? Listen anytime, even offline.
Add
About this audiobook
In Dreams of the Overworked, Christine M. Beckman and Melissa Mazmanian offer vivid sketches of daily life for nine families, capturing what it means to live, work, and parent in a world of impossible expectations, now amplified unlike ever before by smart devices. We are invited into homes and offices, where we recognize the crushing pressure of unraveling plans, and the healing warmth of being together. Moreover, we witness the constant planning that goes into a "good" day, often with the aid of phones and apps. Yet, as technologies empower us to do more, they also promise limitless availability and connection. Checking email on the weekend, monitoring screen time, and counting steps are all part of the daily routine. The stories in this book challenge the seductive myth of the phone-clad individual, by showing that beneath the plastic veneer of technology is a complex, hidden system of support-our dreams being scaffolded by retired in-laws, friendly neighbors, spouses, and paid help. This book makes a compelling case for celebrating the structures that allow us to strive for our dreams, by supporting public policies and community organizations, challenging workplace norms, reimagining family, and valuing the joy of human connection.
About the author
Christine M. Beckman is professor and Price Family Chair in Social Innovation at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.
Melissa Mazmanian is associate professor in informatics at the School of Information and Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine.
Chelsea Stephens has a longtime love and appreciation for the performing arts, with experience in on-stage acting, singing, and voice-over. Her love for reading books and the pursuit of the story led her to narration. She enjoys unfolding characters and bringing listeners into new worlds.
Rate this audiobook
Tell us what you think.
Listening information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can read books purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
