I read ‘In Praise of Idleness” quite a while ago, and had forgotten about it. I agree that it makes a good point about how we’re able to produce enough to fill our needs with less and less effort, and yet we’re spending more and more time working, so something must be wrong.

The urge to consume is probably innate on some level, but it’s also socially reinforced, in ways that are quite dangerous to our health, our environment, and other people. It’s certainly counter intuitive that working less — and thus creating and consuming less — might be the key to making the world better.

This remember me a Bertrand Russel´s essay: “In Praise of Idleness”.

Okay, it seems to be a utopic view, but is a good reading for get insights about these problems. I didn’t read “The Four Hour Work Week”, but I think they suggest similar things, but the first one is more philosophical

1. working like a madman on fascinating problems with brilliant people that I get along well with.

2. having a low-paying and non-stressful job that leaves me with a lot of energy to do my own thing

3. killing myself for a paycheck, even if it’s a really fat one.

In general, I’m happier as the student rather than the brave leader.