Taylorism: Work Faster!

# Summary

This Stuff You Should Know episode dives into the life and legacy of Frederick Winslow Taylor, the Philadelphia-born efficiency expert who essentially invented modern management consulting and the concept of "scientific management." Josh and Chuck explore how Taylor's obsession with breaking down tasks into their most efficient components—from his famous pig iron loading experiments to his controversial "high-priced man" Schmidt—revolutionized American industry in the early 20th century, though not always for workers' benefit. The episode also highlights the contrasting approach of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, a husband-and-wife team who pursued efficiency with a focus on improving workers' quality of life and free time, and shows how these ideas rippled through education, kitchens, and every corner of American work life, for better or worse.