
Self-Made
Creating Our Identities from Da Vinci to the Kardashians
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Narrated by:
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Patricia Santomasso
About this listen
An exploration into the curation of the self in Western civilization from Da Vinci to Kim Kardashian.
In a technologically-saturated era where nearly everything can be effortlessly and digitally reproduced, we're all hungry to carve out our own unique personalities, our own bespoke personae, to stand out and be seen. As the forces of social media and capitalism collide, and individualism becomes more important than ever across a wide array of industries, "branding ourselves" or actively defining our selves for others has become the norm. Yet, this phenomenon is not new. In Self-Made, Tara Isabella Burton shows us how we arrived at this moment of fervent personal-branding.
As attitudes towards religion, politics and society evolved, our sense of self did as well, moving from a collective to individual mindset. Through a series of chronological biographical essays on famous (and infamous) "self-creators" in the modern Western world, from the Renassiance to the Enlightenment to modern capitalism and finally to our present moment of mass media, Burton examines the theories and forces behind our never-ending need to curate ourselves. Through a vivid cast of characters and an engaging mix of cultural and historical commentary, we learn how the personal brand has come to be.
©2023 Tara Isabella Burton (P)2023 PublicAffairsListeners also enjoyed...
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- How the Soviet Space Program Crashed and Burned
- By: John Strausbaugh
- Narrated by: LJ Ganser
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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In the wake of World War II, with America ascendant and the Soviet Union devastated by the conflict, the Space Race should have been over before it started. But the underdog Soviets scored a series of victories—starting with the 1957 launch of Sputnik and continuing in the years following--that seemed to achieve the impossible. It was proof, it seemed, that the USSR had manpower and collective will that went beyond America's material advantages. They had asserted themselves as a world power. But in The Wrong Stuff, John Strausbaugh tells a different story.
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Perfection
- By Wilhelm on 05-08-25
By: John Strausbaugh
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Homer and His Iliad
- By: Robin Lane Fox
- Narrated by: Steve John Shepherd
- Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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The Iliad is the world’s greatest epic poem—heroic battle and divine fate set against the Trojan War. Its beauty and profound bleakness are intensely moving, but great questions remain: Where, how, and when was it composed and why does it endure? Robin Lane Fox addresses these questions, drawing on a lifelong love and engagement with the poem. He argues for a place, a date, and a method for its composition—subjects of ongoing controversy—combining the detailed expertise of a historian with a poetic reader’s sensitivity.
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Masterful!
- By J. C. Weaver on 01-08-24
By: Robin Lane Fox
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Bone in the Throat
- By: Anthony Bourdain
- Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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When up-and-coming chef Tommy Pagana settles for a less than glamorous stint at his uncle's restaurant in Manhattan's Little Italy, he unwittingly finds himself a partner in big-time crime. And when the mob decides to use the kitchen for a murder, nothing Tommy learned in cooking school has prepared him for what happens next. With the FBI on one side and his eccentric wise guy superiors on the other, Tommy has to struggle to do right by his conscience and avoid getting killed in the meantime....
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Very unique culinary-based mafia story
- By Marisa J. on 12-21-18
By: Anthony Bourdain
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To Sanctify the World
- The Vital Legacy of Vatican II
- By: George Weigel
- Narrated by: Steven Arthur
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) was the most important Catholic event in the past five hundred years. Yet sixty years after its opening on October 11, 1962, its meaning remains sharply contested and its promise unfulfilled. In To Sanctify the World, George Weigel explains the necessity of Vatican II and explores the continuing relevance of its teaching in a world seeking a deeper experience of freedom than personal willfulness.
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Fails to see how Vatican II broke with tradition
- By Amanda S on 12-20-24
By: George Weigel
What listeners say about Self-Made
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- J. Kinkley
- 07-21-23
Intriguing Historical Dive Into Making Your Brand
I was immediately drawn to this prescient and relevant topic to our influencer era. Burton’s exploration of how people have presented themselves to the world is fascinating and full of historical anecdotes. Interestingly she positions the narrative on how humans have defined meaning in their lives. However it would be great to hear more about the difference between people’s true selves and their fabricated identities as there is indeed a difference. I thought there would be more practical info on how to create one’s own brand and this was a missed opportunity in my opinion. Also, it seems a miss not to include discussion of Bowie or Hemingway, two of the 20th centuries biggest examples of identities fabrication but the examples given were still of keen interest.
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- Stefanie Elizabeth Taylor
- 12-19-23
Riveting & relevant
Just wow. For me this is like Lasch meets Macintyre meets Charles Taylor meets I dunno who else whose books line my shelves, but simplified and accessible for broader consumption. This is the type of book that hook you and deserve multiple readings. Can’t remember the last time a book captivated me from beginning to end like this (it was probably the book Strange Rites). I consider myself as well-read on many of the issues discussed in this book, and felt as though many areas of personal interest were masterfully woven together. I am anticipating the next of her non-fiction titles (I read there was a project in the works on magic & technology).
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- SLoves2read
- 04-05-24
Interesting current topic, did not like the reader’s cadence
Interesting historical section to explain where we are today. Better to read it than listen to it. Reader’s inflections were annoying and distracting.
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- Andrew Weinstein
- 07-11-23
A look at the history of being a star
Great work from Tara Isabelle Burton with this historical journey through the world’s self-made legends. From stealing hair from graves, to taking over social media, this book will take you on a wild ride.
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- jared r.
- 09-15-23
Fantastically unique and poignant look at the modern psyche
Fantastically unique and poignant look at the modern psyche through the lens of pop culture. An important work to be sure.
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- Brooke
- 07-20-24
Might need to read the print version
This title is one I might have to go back and get a print version of so I can mark it up. I really appreciate the level of research that went into tracing the history of how people have created their public image.
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- A.
- 11-23-24
Not to the same standard as T.I.B’s other books.
While the subject matter interests me, I found much of the focus on colonialism and slavery (which we of course understand are abhorrent) to be very preachy. This book hardly focuses on its advertised subject matter and instead constantly wades into topics like the definition of and importance of western liberalism (the author’s words). I look forward to Burton’s next book, as all of her others have been fabulous. This one just wasn’t it.
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