The future holds many promises. Within my lifetime, I expect to experience a fully networked world, a life of abundance, and may live keep my health for more than a century. While technocrats and futurists discuss engineering marvels and world-changing API's, what can be done about humanity's dark side?

It's a complex issue and there are bound to be unexpected consequences. Historic data show reduced hours per American workers since 1950 when the average American workers' hours were 1,920 per year to 1700 in 2012. Averaged per week, our work week has shrunk from 37 to 33 hours per week in 60 years.

Sadly, these work hour reductions aren't spread evenly. While the work week has shrunk, it has more to do with companies reducing their full time positions to reduce benefit costs. In truth, salaried employees and specialized blue collar workers have seen an increase in their hours since the 1980's. At Salon, Sara Robinson offers a history of the 40-hour work week, including how it came about and why it is becoming more rare of late.

Futurists often explain our potential consumption in the number of planets we would need if everyone lives like a Westerner with large homes, multiple cars, and a dependency on consumerism to drive the economy - the last count I read was six Earths. It's a fair assumption and a questionable habit. In fact, I believe teaching my daughter to control her consumerism will be a key asset in her future no matter where or how she lives.

As part of an ongoing series to introduce his new book, Dan Abelow introduces chapter 1.2 about the Age of Crisis, which he refers to as The Crisis of Success. He sums the crisis up very well in a single sentence:

Our growing Crisis of Success comes from who we are: Everyone wants it all, wants it now, and won’t stop.