Heike Geißler on Unlearning Optimization and the Necessity of Despair in a Demanding World

During a podcast episode of "Fantasiemuskel" at the Leipzig Book Fair, author Heike Geißler delves into the theme of unlearning optimization and the implications of contemporary life. In 2025, she was honored with three prestigious awards: the Heinrich Böll Prize, the Klopstock Prize for New Literature, and the Bavarian Book Prize. Her literary contributions, notably the 2014 piece "Saisonarbeit," draw from her experiences in an Amazon warehouse. Geißler's anti-capitalist perspective frames writing as a form of resistance against a society that values optimization. The podcast also features her essays "Verzweiflungen" and "Arbeiten," which tackle workplace disillusionment. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing despair and advocates for employees to write letters to voice their concerns, rather than attending corporate workshops. This episode is part of Monopol's exploration of art and societal change.