The Invention of the Weekend How We Fought for Free Time and Why We’re Losing It

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A gripping history of the weekend-how it was won, and why it's slipping through our fingers.

Why does your boss email you on Sunday? Why does "time off" no longer feel like a real break? In this timely book, The Invention of the Weekend uncovers the surprising history of the two-day break we now take for granted-and how it's being quietly erased in the digital age.

From the brutal schedules of factory workers during the Industrial Revolution to the revolutionary slogan "Eight Hours for What We Will," this book traces the dramatic rise of the weekend through labor battles, economic shifts, and cultural reinvention. You'll meet 19th-century workers skipping Mondays, witness the bloodshed of the Haymarket Affair, and learn how Henry Ford-of all people-helped birth the modern weekend.

As smartphones tether us to the office and hustle culture glorifies burnout, the weekend is under threat once more. From gig economy pressures to pandemic-era overwork, The Invention of the Weekend explores how modern forces are undoing a century of progress-and what we can do to reclaim our time.

Perfect for readers of labor history, cultural criticism, and anyone who's ever checked their email on a Sunday afternoon, this book is both a wake-up call and a hopeful blueprint for a more balanced, human future.