What's the Difference Between Material and Non Material?

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In the first modern economies, britain and america, around 18 twenties, we're just full of people tinkering and a experimenting and exploringand sometimes discovering new ways to produce. We are comfortable materially, but that's not what makes our lives so pleasant. I don't think it's part of it, but it's not reason. So my question is, is it? What portion of the American work force has such a life,. this life of challenge and change and interesting new things that come along at one extreme, versus the bolt theother, turning the bolt at the other extreme.

Edmund Phelps of Columbia University, Nobel Laureate in economics, and author of Mass Flourishing talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in the book. Phelps argues that human flourishing requires challenges, struggles, and success and goes beyond material prosperity. He argues that in recent decades, policy has discouraged innovation and mass flourishing resulting in a slow-down in growth rates. Phelps emphasizes the non-material benefits of economic growth and the importance of small innovations over big inventions as key to that growth.