Work is deeply embedded in the moral and political character of most societies. For many people, work becomes fused with their personal and social identities -- who they are and how they define themselves. For others it is just a boring necessity. In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen Fineman explores the fascinating debates about work, drawing on ideas from psychology, sociology, management, and history. He considers how we classify 'work', the social and cultural factors that affect it, the ethical implications of certain types of work, and the relationship between work and the wider issues of globalization, feminism, and technology.