Previously issued in print: 2019.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

How things are divided up or pieced together matters. Half a bridge is of no use at all. Conversely, many things would do more good if they could be divided up differently: Perhaps you would prefer a job that involves a third less work and a third less pay or a car that materializes only when needed and is priced accordingly? Difficulties in 'slicing' and 'lumping' shape nearly every facet of how we live and work, and a great deal of law and policy as well. Lee Anne Fennell explores how both types of challenges - carving out useful slices and assembling useful lumps - surface in myriad contexts, from hot button issues like conservation and eminent domain to developments in the sharing economy to personal struggles over work, money, time, diet, and exercise. Yet the significance of configuration is often overlooked, leading to missed opportunities for improving our lives.

Description based on print version record.