The Affluent Society

This efficient pursuit of predictable value is the quiet dignity of the mass of working people. But if we are to solve the bigger structural, spiritual, and intellectual problems which aren’t addressed by existing institutions, someone needs to be exploring off of the established road, where there is a high probability of failing to accomplish anyt... See more

For hunter-gatherers, chiefs and shamans could, and did, moonlight as foragers and hunters. Overlapping duties preserved a strong sense of community, reinforced by customs and religions that obscured individual differences in strength, skill, and ambition. Shared labor meant shared values.But in industrial economies, lawyers don’t tag in for brain ... See more

In traditional societies, a man typically worked in the same trade that his father worked in. Satisfaction in life generally came from family, faith, and a sense of community rather than ambition to rise to the top of a profession or to get rich. Unfortunately, traditional sources of life satisfaction are increasingly marginalized in a society driv

... See more