Though I'm fairly ignorant on the topic itself, it seems like time is an essential element of our daily lives, and as necessary to our modern lives as money, electricity, and coffee. Perhaps more so, some might argue.

At what point in history did we become obsessed with it, and has it changed much in the last few centuries? Additionally, have there been any efforts to change how we keep or view time (aside from Daylight Savings Time, etc.)? Or does it fall into the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" caveat?