
Wanting
The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life
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Narrated by:
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Luke Burgis
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Sean Patrick Hopkins
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By:
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Luke Burgis
A groundbreaking exploration of why we want what we want, and a toolkit for freeing ourselves from chasing unfulfilling desires.
Gravity affects every aspect of our physical being, but there’s a psychological force just as powerful - yet almost nobody has heard of it. It’s responsible for bringing groups of people together and pulling them apart, making certain goals attractive to some and not to others, and fueling cycles of anxiety and conflict. In Wanting, Luke Burgis draws on the work of French polymath René Girard to bring this hidden force to light and reveals how it shapes our lives and societies.
According to Girard, humans don’t desire anything independently. Human desire is mimetic - we imitate what other people want. This affects the way we choose partners, friends, careers, clothes, and vacation destinations. Mimetic desire is responsible for the formation of our very identities. It explains the enduring relevancy of Shakespeare’s plays, why Peter Thiel decided to be the first investor in Facebook, and why our world is growing more divided as it becomes more connected.
Wanting also shows that conflict does not arise because of our differences - it comes from our sameness. Because we learn to want what other people want, we often end up competing for the same things. Ignoring our large similarities, we cling to our perceived differences.
Drawing on his experience as an entrepreneur, teacher, and student of classical philosophy and theology, Burgis shares tactics that help turn blind wanting into intentional wanting - not by trying to rid ourselves of desire, but by desiring differently. It’s possible to be more in control of the things we want, to achieve more independence from trends and bubbles, and to find more meaning in our work and lives.
The future will be shaped by our desires. Wanting shows us how to desire a better one.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press
"This book makes a startling case that many of our goals are merely reflections of what we think others want. It’s a spellbinding read, and it will leave you rethinking your own motivations for months and maybe even years later.” (Adam Grant, New York Times best-selling author of Think Again and Originals, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife)
"Luke Burgis’ Wanting is a brilliant exploration of the hidden and powerful dynamics of desire operating in our age of social media memes, commercial rivalry, and rising partisan scapegoating and violence.... It’s a call to discernment and a deeper fulfillment that lights a path beyond the darkness of our current world." (Stephen Hanselman, New York Times best-selling co-author of Lives of the Stoics and The Daily Stoic)
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A superb rendition and truly thought-provoking content.
I got so much out of this book… but is suspect I have barely scratched the surface of all that can be extracted.
10/10
Outstanding and thought provoking!
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Fantastic book!
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how to live better
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The ideas presented are not new if you have ever exercised a bit of self awareness. What is new is the way that Luke articulates these ideas and projects them to modern life and not just literature.
A solid explanation of human rivalry
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Keep it on repeat!
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Very Interesting and Timely
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This is the must read book of 2022….which is mimetic in itself. Luke has given Girard a breath of life and brought him to the masses. We need more introspective books like Wanting.
Possibly the Best Book of 2022
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excellent! Best book I've heard in months.
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Great concepts, really makes you think and re-evaluate
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WOW…this perspective defines future possibility.
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