Laziness Does Not Exist

Price focuses on the detrimental effects of overwork and the importance of embracing laziness. He gives the example of Dr. Annette Towler, an industrial organizational psychologist who left her tenured position due to a toxic work environment. Towler observed that her academic department was becoming increasingly stressful, with faculty bullying students and each other. This anecdote lays the groundwork for discussing the broader issues of overwork in modern society and how even experts in workplace psychology can fall victim to harmful work cultures.

Price presents data showing that the average workweek has been increasing, with many Americans working more than 45 hours per week. He explains that despite technological advancements making work more efficient, employees are not benefiting from reduced hours or increased compensation. Price notes that Americans struggle to maintain work-life boundaries, often checking work emails outside of office hours and hesitating to use vacation days. He highlights the rise of the gig economy and how it has led to people filling their spare time with additional work, further blurring the lines between work and personal life.

Price discusses research that indicates that working beyond 40 hours per week leads to diminishing returns in productivity. He cites studies showing that people are only truly productive for about three hours per day, and that pushing for longer work hours often backfires.