csikszentmihalyi : why we need things

IN SUMMARY : artifacts compete with humans for resources, almost as a third entity beyond the natural world. we are burying ourselves under a mountain of objects, pre-conditioned by the presence of objects from the past. objects help to organize experience (keeping random-ness at bay). they do so by demonstrating power (largely along gender lines), in the continuity of self through time (in light of great change + mobility in our current society), and in providing evidence of one's place in the social hierarchy (illustrating family ties + notions of gentility, wisdom, care, creativity "we need objects to magnify our power, enhance our beauty, and extend control over our future.

FOR CONVERSATION : speculate about the challenge in assuming that objects are objective (p. 23). discuss the idea that one can train oneself to reduce reliance on objects by quieting one's mind (p. 28)