Why You Want What Other People Want (with Luke Burgis)

While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.  In this episode, she’s speaking with Luke Burgis about his new book, The One and the Ninety-Nine, Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion.  Through stories ranging from the parable of the lost sheep to August Landmesser, the only person in a huge crowd to refuse to salute to Hitler, Luke describes the missing skill that makes real community possible: learning how to remain oneself while staying connected to others. He offers practical, tactical advice for how to recognize false belonging, escape coercive dynamics, and pass through the rites of passage that produce people with integrity and courage. This is a book that will help you figure out what YOU want, so that you can go get it rather than being distracted by what others want. Guest Background: Luke Burgis is the director of The Cluny Institute and a professor at The Catholic University of America, where he studies the invisible forces that shape human behavior. He is the author of Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life. He lives in Washington, D.C., and Michigan with his wife, Claire, and their children. CHAPTERS (00:00) Introduction to the Radical Sabbatical and Luke Burgis' Book (02:09) The Meaning Behind 'The One and the 99' (03:24) Exploring the Parable of the Lost Sheep (06:05) August Landmesser: Standing Alone Against the Crowd (10:48) Family Dynamics and the Solid Self (17:55) Education and the Self: Navigating Expectations (22:37) The Role of Technology in Education (29:13) The Loss of Subtle Cues in Communication (31:37) The Evolution of Education and Rites of Passage (35:18) The Importance of Ownership in Learning (37:45) Mimetic Desire and Its Impact on Choices (40:44) Understanding Political Mimesis (46:20) The Tension of Relationships and Community (51:36) Finding Meaning in Tension and Discomfort Connect with the Radical Candor team: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices