In America today, it seems that people do not understand the separation of work and leisure. Weekends present many choices regarding the potential use of leisure time. It is interesting that many Americans choose to pursue activities that ultimately require the most exertion. The intensive, demanding work environment that most people are subjected to for a dominant portion of their waking life has fueled Americans' work mentality on and off the job. The time that should be occupied by quiet restful activities are instead used to engage in vigerous recreational pursuits, and household chores. Americans also use their free time to buy material goods. Aquiring more work is vital to this consumption. In Common Culture, Witold Rybczynski and Juliet Schor both agree that Americans work more for greater consumption power, while using their limited leisure time to create more work for themselves. They both agree that great thing could be accomplish if more leisure time was available to the public.
             For many, free time is viewed as an opportunity to consume materialistic products for entertainment purposes, recreational endeavors and self fulfillment. Time away from work that is intended for relaxation, 'is converted in 'consumption time.'" Both authors contend that Americans have invested designated leisure time and hard earned cash into expensive forms of entertainment and recreation. Costly types of entertainment include luxurious vacations, movies, and habitual shopping trips to the mall. For recreational fulfillment most Americans resort to the most expensive pastimes such as skiing and canoeing. Schor suggested alternatives to expensive entertainment such as trips to the park or adult education. She believed that excessive spending is often used as a means of filling a void, or fulfilling an identity. Rybczynski revealed that Americans spend over 13 billion dollars on sports clothing a year. It...