{"product_id":"book-e801","title":"Wanting","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA groundbreaking exploration of why we want what we want, and a toolkit for freeing ourselves from chasing unfulfilling desires.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGravity 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 \u003ci\u003eWanting\u003c\/i\u003e, 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.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAccording to Girard, humans don't desire anything independently. Human desire is \u003ci\u003emimetic\u003c\/i\u003e-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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWanting\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrawing 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe future will be shaped by our desires. \u003ci\u003eWanting\u003c\/i\u003e shows us how to desire a better one.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"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, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThink Again\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eOriginals\u003c\/i\u003e, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Luke Burgis' \u003ci\u003eWanting \u003c\/i\u003eis 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, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling co-author of \u003ci\u003eLives of the Stoics\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Daily Stoic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Macmillan Audio","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49365302837552,"sku":"BDe801","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/e801-cover.jpg?v=1761000412","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-e801","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}