Part 6/9:
As Han observes, the drive for achievement manifests in an inability to rest. We falsely equate diligence with virtue, glorifying the “hustle” culture that celebrates overwork and constant productivity. The once-valued periods of leisure now serve merely as a recharge for work duties instead of providing genuine respite, reflection, and personal growth.
This unsustainable drive can eventually culminate in a dangerous cycle where work eclipses all other aspects of life. Han posits that our freedom vanishes when our every decision serves the machine of productivity, further exacerbating feelings of helplessness and despair. The idea that communal leisure should contribute to personal renewal and creativity has morphed into a means to keep ourselves marketable and productive.