About the Book

What would you miss in a world without work?

In 2038, the Human Relief Project is on a mission to eradicate labor, using AI to "free" humanity from work. Bert, after years of struggle, has finally found his calling as a conductor for the Project. Yet as he moves from relief facility to relief facility, his newfound sense of purpose is increasingly challenged by the disruption his role brings to those he “relieves” – even to those he loves, who are deeply divided over a workless future. Meanwhile, Alex, the Project’s visionary leader, faces fierce opposition, from skeptical citizens to obstructionist governments, as she pushes toward a workless future few truly grasp.

As the world edges closer to total relief, Bert and Alex must confront a question at the core of their mission: when work no longer defines us, how do we define ourselves? And who gets to decide that?

Set in a meticulously crafted near-future shaped by AI, The Human Relief Project challenges our understanding of purpose, identity, and humanity itself. Follow Bert and Alex as they navigate the complexities of a changing world, overcoming personal crises and grappling with ideals that may forever change the human experience.

“So you don’t believe we at the HRP can create AI that can do that? — Bert

What Readers Are Saying

“Thought provoking. Makes you ponder what gives us purpose.” — Charmaine Chua, Singapore

“A story of a world without work worth diving into. With a fine eye for individual implications and the time ahead.” — Johannes Schneider, Germany

“A relatable yet futuristic book about what it means to be human - through work, technology, and love.” — Amanda Siegel, US

“Tackles the deeply human struggles that we are confronted with in our brave new AI world. An absorbing mix of utopia and dystopia.” — Rosalee Edwards, UK

„The societal and personal conflicts of this scarily realistic future pulled me in immediately. Not just entertaining, but this book provokes highly relevant thoughts about our future with AI." — Daniel Baumann, Germany

„Malterer paints a meticulous picture of 2038 around them, with realistic technological advancements of the very near future and political and social dynamics that feel both new and familiar. Readers can see how these factors shape their attitudes and affect the decisions they make in the plot." — K.C. Finn @ Readers’ Favorite

Once we reach 100% relief, we can focus on creating a completely new system for distributing goods and services to everyone. We will remove inequality from the world, which will then exist only in memories of the soon-forgotten times before relief. — Alex

Reading Group Guide

Organizing or part of a book club and in need of some discussion questions? Look no further than our reading group guide, just watch out for the spoilers!