Can Automation and Productivity Change Our Lives?

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i absolutely believe that there are plenty of people out there who derive dignity from work, even if it's not creative and fulfilling in and of itself. And we need to have an economy that lets people do that in a meaningful and well compensated way. On the other hand, there will some people who want to sit around and smoke wheat, or sit around and play video games and actually are happy because it is their day. Like i say, usually once we're past the one hour mark in the podcast, we can just say any crazy thing we want can we change? Instead of saying that, you know, automation and productivity gets rid of jobs and work, i mean, maybe it gets

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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