The author, a Professor of Leisure Studies, explores themes of work and leisure through his previous works. His notable titles, including "Kellogg's Six-Hour Day" and "Work Without End," delve into the historical context of labor and the evolving relationship between work hours and quality of life. Hunnicutt's research offers insights into the societal implications of labor practices and advocates for a balance between work and leisure in modern life.
In The Age of Experiences, Benjamin Kline Hunnicutt examines how the advance of happiness science is impacting the economy, making possible new experience-products that really make people happy and help forward-looking businesses expand and develop new technologies. In today’s marketplace there is less interest in goods and services and more interest in buying and selling personal improvements and experiences. Hunnicutt traces how this historical shift in consumption to the “softer” technologies of happiness represents not only a change in the modern understanding of progress, but also a practical, economic transformation, profoundly shaping our work and the ordering of our life goals. Based on incisive historical research, Hunnicutt demonstrates that we have begun to turn from material wealth to focus on the enrichment of our personal and social lives. The Age of Experiences shows how industry, technology, and the general public are just beginning to realize the potential of the new economy. Exploring the broader implications of this historical shift, Hunnicutt concludes that the new demand for experiences will result in the reduction of work time, the growth of jobs, and the regeneration of virtue—altogether an increasingly healthy public life.
Exploring the intersection of happiness science and economics, Benjamin Kline Hunnicutt delves into the rise of experience-products that prioritize personal improvement over traditional goods. This shift signifies a broader transformation in consumption patterns, reflecting a modern understanding of progress that emphasizes well-being. Hunnicutt argues that this evolution not only influences business strategies and technological advancements but also fundamentally alters our work and life goals, highlighting the importance of experiences in today's marketplace.
