"The Protestant Ethic & The Spirit of Capitalism" (1904) by Max Weber, a German Protestant, glorifies economically productive hard work as a pre-requisite of Capitalism. This seminal work also influenced N.R.Narayana Murthy of Infosys. Basavanna, the 12th Century social reformer & religious leader also held similar views. He said "Work (by itself) is Kailasa" (abode of Lord Shiva) not just a way to attain Kailasa. The noted playwright Girish Karnad attributed the prosperity during Basavanna's time to this ethic of hard work.
On the other hand, "Leisure - The Basis of Culture" (1947) by Josef Pieper, a German Catholic, propounds that it is leisure leading to culture, which makes human life worthwhile. It should be noted that Pieper, being a Catholic, places the Contemplation of God at the top of Cultural activities. Workoholism leads to absence of leisure & hence denying Cultural Life, which is the sine qua non of human existence, without which human life may self-destruct. Bertrand Russel, in his "In Praise of Idleness" (1935) also advocated a four hour workday as quite sufficient to fulfil our needs, the rest being leisure to be spent on cultural activities. Of course, Lord Russel, being an atheist, did not suggest contemplation of God in leisure!
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