
audiobook
by Frank B. (Frank Bunker) Gilbreth, Lillian Moller Gilbreth
This work opens a systematic look at human fatigue, treating it as the hidden waste that drains both time and energy in industry and daily life. Drawing on early‑twentieth‑century research, the authors explain how unnecessary motions and poorly planned tasks create a poison‑like fatigue that lingers long after the workday ends. By linking fatigue directly to lost productivity, they make a compelling case that reducing it is as vital as any technical improvement. The introduction walks the listener through the basic signs of fatigue and shows how even modest tiredness can compound without proper rest.
Beyond theory, the book offers straightforward, low‑tech methods anyone can apply to recognize and cut down on needless exertion. Simple observations, pin‑plan diagrams of work zones, and practical advice on arranging tasks for optimal recovery form the core of its early‑stage toolkit. Listeners will come away with a clear understanding of how small changes in motion and rest can dramatically improve well‑being and efficiency, laying the groundwork for deeper scientific study later in the text.
Full title
Fatigue Study: The Elimination of Humanity's Greatest Unnecessary Waste A First Step in Motion Study
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (174K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Sturgis & Walton Company, 1916.
Credits
deaurider and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2022-04-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1868–1924
A pioneer of efficiency studies, he helped transform factory and workplace management by closely observing how people actually moved and worked. His ideas reached far beyond industry and later inspired the family story behind Cheaper by the Dozen.
View all books
1878–1972
A pioneering industrial engineer and psychologist, she helped change the way workplaces were organized and how everyday tasks were studied. She is also widely remembered as the mother in the family story behind Cheaper by the Dozen.
View all books