Capitalism's Culture Shock

We all know the change — from clock-punching, seniority-building, gold-watch careers in the old economy to the job-hopping, no-strings, freestyle scramble of the new economy.

In the '90s, the "new economy" life was loudly celebrated for its speed and creativity and fluidity, its boundlessness and freedom. But it wasn't long before the bestseller was asking "Who Moved My Cheese?" and a lot of Americans were feeling breathless, unmoored, even useless.

Now, an old flag-bearer of the New Left is looking deeply into the quality of life emerging in the light-speed global economy.

Hear a conversation with sociologist Richard Sennett on the culture of the new capitalism.

Guests:

Richard Sennett, professor of sociology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the London School of Economics and author of the new book "The Culture of the New Capitalism"

Jack Beatty, On Point News Analyst, senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly.