About the book
A challenge to the tyranny of work and a call to reclaim our lives from its clutches.
From the moment we ask children what they want to “be” when they grow up, we exalt the dream job as if it were life’s ultimate objective. Many entangle their identities with their jobs, with predictable damage to happiness, wellbeing, and even professional success.
In The Good Enough Job, journalist Simone Stolzoff traces how work has come to dominate Americans’ lives—and why we find it so difficult to let go. Based on groundbreaking reporting and interviews with Michelin star chefs, Wall Street bankers, overwhelmed teachers and other workers across the American economy, Stolzoff exposes what we lose when we expect work to be more than a job. Rather than treat work as a calling or a dream, he asks what it would take to reframe work as a part of life rather than the entirety of our lives. What does it mean for a job to be good enough?
Through provocative critique and deep reporting, Stolzoff punctures the myths that keep us chained to our jobs. By exposing the lies we—and our employers—tell about the value of our labor, The Good Enough Job makes the urgent case for reclaiming our lives in a world centered around work.

Hey, I'm Simo
(like Nemo with an S).
Simone Stolzoff is an author, designer, and workplace expert from San Francisco. A former design lead at the global innovation firm IDEO, his work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and many other publications. He is a graduate of Stanford and The University of Pennsylvania.
In addition to writing books, Simone:
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Writes a monthly column on work/life called The Seesaw
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Reports stories for national publications
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Teaches an online course called Designing Your Next Career Step
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Speaks at companies and conferences about careers and the future of work
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And consults with values-aligned organizations
For business opportunities, please get in touch.
Bring Simone to your company, conference, or podcast.
Simone is an experienced speaker on issues that relate to careers and the workplace. Past talks at places like IDEO and Stanford include:
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How to develop a healthier relationship to work (without quitting your day job)
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Postcards from the future: the trends you should be following to understand the future of work
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Navigating career transitions: how to find clarity when you're unsure of what's next
To get a sense of Simone's writing or speaking style, listen to his NPR Up First interview, his episode of The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, or read his recent NYT Op-Ed.
For podcast and speaking opportunities, please get in touch (and cc his publicist kberndt@penguinrandomhouse.com).
