Hmm, I'm not convinced. I agree with Max Weber who accredits the betterment of society with the Protestant work ethic which led to capitalism i.e. traits such as thrift and hard work espoused by many Protestant sects led to excess capital which, by the same credo, could not be used for personal excess. Therefore profits must be returned to the business. This working capital led to expansion leading to the type of businesses we see today.
Can you really see Lord Smedley saying to his son, "Well, junior, all the peasants have died so how about ploughing that meadow?"

Fine. But here in the U.S., longer hours are making Americans miserable. They're afraid of taking vacations. We're a nation of workaholics. So, after reading Scientific American article on what constitutes happiness (aside from enough food to eat), the people with multiple degrees having reached one goal, have to set another. The people who have close friendships and family ties are the happiest, although they may not have an exalted career.

Me, I'm for gardening.

I'm not convinced either. The work ethic tends to be a product of the religious mind-set, which would still have us toiling in the fields in a mediaeval society if it could away with it. Technology would still be one step-up from the wheel and fire!

Malthus got it wrong too!

The wood for fuel ran out so people started burning coal instead. Then the easy coal ran out and they had to start digging deep. Then the pits flooded and they had to start pumping out the water. Then the hand pumps weren't enough - they needed an engine. Enter Thomas Newcomen and his steam driven pump, later improved by Watt. Once they had an engine and realised its other possible applications - mill machinery, locomotives etc etc, then things took off big-time.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Habits of industry that made revolution work

2. KatieDC1, Potomac, MD, U.S.A. / Dude ,
--------------------------------------------------
Dude I am for Shrooms.

My parents are for hard work, and so are my sisters, and all are very well off financially.

But I commesurate with my oldest sister who happens to be an MD like you.

Hey Dude, like me they will not escape the grim reaper/ They will all die.

"Life itself is the greatest tragety . For at the end is dead"
So make the most of our most precious commodity TIME.

Lastly REVOLUTION is only a T-shirt away..Ask Fidel Castro

Happy Revolution Day dude

GC

Yes, #6.
and there was nothing poor about 'way back when' It was different from now. People had different goals, ideals, and needs. They, in all probability, weren't any happier, nor were they any unhappier, just different.
The Industrial Revolution happened because it came about that the requirement to source energy shifted to deep mining, the cottage industries suddenly became redundant with the invention of such things as spinning-jennys and other technological innovations, people were surplus in one area so they moved to another, re-trained and got down to earning a living.
Seems to me time is coming when we'll have to do something similar...

5. jennifer / 10:39am 11 Aug 2007 Invention and discovery, combined with imagination and speculation,all evolved to contribute.
---------------------------------------------------------

Get real Dude,

People living in the years 1000 bc , 1000 AD ,2007 AD were or can all be equally happy

Happiness is a state of mind of well-being

With emotions of contentment and joy .

In 1000 BC the man or woman who after a day hunting are wre back in their shack,
With full bellies and about to have sex . they experience happiness.

Happy Happiness day

GC