Do We Need More Hours to Perform a Task?

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i think understanding that process and being aware of it gives us the opportunity to kind of bend the arc ofhistory, gore, making work more humane and more dignified. The energy and complexity embodied in our consumer gadgets represents all the extra labor that has to be performed in order to maintain our modern standard of living. Andh there seems to be no end to that. So, yo, machines don't take away jobs, but they can't change the nature of those jobs, for good or for ill.

As the holidays approach, we are being reminded of the fragility of the global supply chain. But at the same time, the supply chain itself is a truly impressive and fascinating structure, made as it is from multiple components that must work together in synchrony. From building an item in a factory and shipping it worldwide to transporting it locally, processing it in a distribution center, and finally delivering it to an address, the system is simultaneously awe-inspiring and deeply dehumanizing. I talk with Christopher Mims about how things are made, how they get to us, and what it all means for the present and future of our work and our lives.

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Christopher Mims received a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology from Emory University. He is currently a technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal. He has previously written for publications such as Wired, Scientific American, The Atlantic, and Smithsonian. His new book is Arriving Today: From Factory to Front Door — Why Everything Has Changed About How and What We Buy.

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