In this captivating text, the author highlights the irony of travel guidebooks that only showcase Renaissance churches in Italy, while ignoring the other fascinating aspects such as pylons, factories, and trucks. They emphasize the importance of appreciating the diverse elements that make up our existence and travel experience, rather than solely focusing on cultural aspects.
Author Alain de Botton talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work. How has the nature of work changed with the increase in specialization? Why is the search for meaningful work a modern phenomenon? Has the change in the workplace changed parenting? Why does technology become invisible? These are some of the questions discussed by de Botton in a wide-ranging discussion of the modern workplace and the modern worker.