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...this attitude of affluent-society man is to be explained by the central thesis of this volume: that beginning from the norms of postwar affluence economic growth has failed to provide men with additional choices significant to his welfare; that, indeed, it has incidentally destroyed some cardinal sources of welfare hitherto available. The bewildering assortment of gadgetry and fashion goods offers the sort of expansion that is as likely to subtract from than to add to his welfare. As produce, affluent-man has little choice but to adopt himself to the prevailing technology; no provision is made by industry enabling him, if he chooses, to forego something in the way of earnings for more creative and enjoyable work. Nor, as citizen, has he yet been presented with the vital choice of quieter and more human environments, free of the ravages of unrestrained traffic.