If you find this interesting, you might enjoy <i>The Rise and Fall of American Growth</i>, which spends much of its time discussing the dramatic changes in American working and living conditions since the 1870s. It will certainly erase and illusions you have about the good old days.<p>The conclusion (that the tech industry will not generate nearly as much growth as the previous revolution after 1870) is HN bait, and probably deserves a separate discussion.