Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace by Nikil Saval Summary

Cubed traces the evolution of office spaces from 19th-century counting houses to modern cubicles and open-plan designs, examining how workplace architecture reflects societal shifts in labor, gender roles, and corporate culture. Nikil Saval connects design trends to broader economic changes, highlighting their impact on worker productivity, communication, and identity. The book blends historical analysis with cultural commentary, referencing literature like Bartleby the Scrivener and pop culture icons like The Office.

This book suits professionals in HR, architecture, or workplace design, as well as readers interested in labor history, organizational culture, or social anthropology. Its accessible style appeals to fans of narrative nonfiction seeking insights into how office environments shape daily work life and societal norms.

Yes. Critics praise its engaging blend of historical research and cultural critique, calling it a “readable version of Foucault’s genealogical work” for office workers. Saval’s analysis of design trends and labor dynamics offers fresh perspectives on mundane spaces, making it a standout in workplace literature.

The cubicle emerged from the 1960s “Action Office” concept, which aimed to balance privacy and collaboration. However, cost-cutting led to its dilution into cramped, uniform partitions. Saval critiques this shift as symbolic of corporate efficiency over worker well-being, arguing it stifled creativity and reinforced hierarchical structures.

Saval documents how clerical roles became dominated by women in the early 20th century, often relegating them to low-paid, undervalued positions. He ties this to gendered stereotypes of clerical work as “unskilled” and explores how office design reinforced power imbalances, such as placing male executives in secluded, privileged spaces.

Open-plan offices, initially touted for fostering collaboration, often created noise and distractions, undermining their purpose. Saval argues that design choices—from mid-century executive suites to modern co-working spaces—reflect shifting corporate priorities, balancing efficiency, surveillance, and employee satisfaction.

The book spans the 19th-century industrial era’s clerical boom, mid-20th-century corporate modernism, and postmodern open-plan trends. It concludes with early 2010s innovations, such as activity-based workspaces, while contextualizing each shift within economic and technological changes.

Saval, a labor organizer, frames office design as a battleground for worker autonomy. He critiques layouts that prioritize managerial control over employee needs and advocates for designs that empower workers, reflecting his broader activism for equitable workplaces.

Saval envisions offices that prioritize flexibility, worker input, and well-being over rigid hierarchies. He highlights emerging trends like hybrid layouts and sustainable design but cautions against solutions that ignore systemic labor inequalities.

The book uses The Office, Bartleby the Scrivener, and Dilbert cartoons to illustrate societal attitudes toward clerical work. These references underscore how media both reflects and shapes perceptions of office drudgery, bureaucracy, and worker alienation.

Unlike technical manuals, Cubed offers a sociocultural lens, aligning it with works like David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs. Its narrative-driven approach makes it more accessible than academic texts, while its focus on labor rights distinguishes it from purely architectural analyses.

Saval’s critique of rigid office structures resonates with modern debates over hybrid work. The book provides historical context for current shifts, urging readers to reimagine workspaces as tools for equity—not just productivity—in a post-pandemic world.