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 one relief facility to the next, his newfound sense of purpose is increasingly challenged by the disruption his work brings to those he ‘relieves’. Beyond his work, Bert's personal life becomes a microcosm of the conflicts shaping society – a partner who never tires of questioning his work, a mother struggling to find joy in her post-relief life, and family and friends deeply divided over the Project’s mission.
Meanwhile, Alex, the Project's newly appointed leader, faces fierce opposition as she pushes toward a workless future few can truly grasp. With the support of Hive, the Project’s central AI, she methodically removes one obstacle after another – stubborn politicians, greedy governments, and a skeptical public that doesn’t always share her conviction in the beauty of a world without work.
As the world nears total relief, a series of events, from the global stage all the way to Bert’s childhood home, push Bert and Alex into a shared crisis that tests their beliefs about humanity’s future in a post-work era.
Set in a meticulously crafted near-future shaped by AI, The Human Relief Project challenges our understanding of purpose, identity, and humanity itself, and ultimately asks: In a world without work, what makes us human? And who gets to decide that?
“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!