Work-life balance: how our ancestors fought for free time

Work-life balance might seem like a thoroughly modern concern, as many people today struggle to maintain boundaries between our jobs and out home life. But in fact, this issue has a long history. So, how did changing work patterns alter people's ideas about leisure time? And how did people choose to use that leisure time once they had it? Speaking to Elinor Evans, Gary S Cross explores how ideas about "free time" and its uses have evolved.

Gary S Cross is the author of Free Time: The History of an Elusive Ideal (New York University Press, 2024)