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Modern WisdomOct 8, 2018

#033 - Carl Cederstrom - What Happens When You Dedicate A Year To Optimising Your Life & The Happiness Fantasy

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for #033 - Carl Cederstrom - What Happens When You Dedicate A Year To Optimising Your Life & The Happiness Fantasy on Modern Wisdom.

Guest: Carl Cederstrom

Notable books mentioned: Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber, The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lash, The Triumph of the Therapeutic by Philip Reif, EST

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Bullshit Jobs cover
Mentioned at 29:20
Bullshit Jobs
David Graeber

The host discusses how many people perceive their jobs as meaningless, referencing David Graeber's book 'Bullshit Jobs'. This book highlights the d…

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The Culture of Narcissism cover
Mentioned at 36:26
The Culture of Narcissism
Christopher Lash

The host mentions 'The Culture of Narcissism' to highlight how the optimization movement reflects a loss of faith in traditional social institution…

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The Triumph of the Therapeutic cover
Mentioned at 36:38
The Triumph of the Therapeutic
Philip Reif

The host mentions 'The Triumph of the Therapeutic' to highlight how societal institutions that once provided meaning have deteriorated, leading to…

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#033 - Carl Cederstrom - What Happens When You Dedicate A Year To Optimising Your Life & The Happiness Fantasy
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Episode summary, books & quotes

#033 - Carl Cederstrom - What Happens When You Dedicate A Year To Optimising Your Life & The Happiness Fantasy mentions Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber, The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lash, The Triumph of the Therapeutic by Philip Reif, and EST with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

Bullshit JobsThe Culture of NarcissismThe Triumph of the TherapeuticEST
Guest: Carl Cederstrom
Episode summary
Carl Cederstrom is an Associate Professor at Stockholm Business School, an author of several books and a writer for The Guardian, The New York Times and Harvard Business Review. Carl dedicated a full year of his life to immersing himself in the Human Optimisation Movement. This is the equivalent of going completely dick & balls on a 12 months of back to back Life Hacks episodes and Carl's experience is both hilarious and insightful. We also discuss his new book The Happiness Fantasy which analyses society's obsession with becoming happy and offers a fascinating alternative view to what we should be aiming for in our lives. Expect to learn why optimising masturbation is a difficult process, how you can write an entire book in a single month, what he found to be the single most effective optimisation strategy and why happiness might be a redundant word. Further Reading: Follow Carl on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cederstromcarl The Happiness Fantasy Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happiness-Fantasy-Carl-Cederstr%C3%B6m/dp/1509523812/ Desperately Seeking Self Improvement: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desperately-Seeking-Self-Improvement-Optimization-Movement/dp/1944869395 Check out everything I recommend from books to products and help support the podcast at no extra cost to you by shopping through this link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast Email: https://www.chriswillx.com/contact
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What is #033 - Carl Cederstrom - What Happens When You Dedicate A Year To Optimising Your Life & The Happiness Fantasy about?

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for #033 - Carl Cederstrom - What Happens When You Dedicate A Year To Optimising Your Life & The Happiness Fantasy on Modern Wisdom.

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These are the strongest takeaways surfaced by the transcript, summary copy, and linked mentions for #033 - Carl Cederstrom - What Happens When You Dedicate A Year To Optimising Your Life & The Happiness Fantasy.

  • The conversation centers on human optimization movement.
  • A second recurring theme is self-help movement evolution.
  • Referenced books include Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber and The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lash.
  • The strongest audience signal points to Individuals feeling unfulfilled in their jobs and sociologists and those interested in cultural critiques.
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Which books are mentioned in #033 - Carl Cederstrom - What Happens When You Dedicate A Year To Optimising Your Life & The Happiness Fantasy?

Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber, The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lash, and The Triumph of the Therapeutic by Philip Reif are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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Top triggers
human optimization movement(3)self-help movement evolution(2)concept of happiness(1)meaningless jobs and culture(1)optimization culture and community(1)optimization culture and meaning(1)philosophers and happiness(1)self-help culture(1)
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Deep Dive(6)Passing Reference(4)Critical Analysis(1)
Audience signals
Individuals feeling unfulfilled in their jobssociologists and those interested in cultural critiquesIndividuals interested in sociology and self-help movementsIndividuals interested in self-improvement and optimization strategies.Individuals interested in the history of self-help literatureIndividuals interested in psychology and philosophy

Books Mentioned

Bullshit Jobs cover
Bullshit Jobs
David Graeber
Best for Individuals feeling unfulfilled in their jobsOften cited around meaningless jobs and culture

“David Graeber came out with the book 'Bullshit Jobs' based on an essay he wrote, discussing jobs that are considered meaningless both personally and socially.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals feeling unfulfilled in their jobs
Key quote: “Bullshit job is a job that is not only meaningless for you but you consider the job to be meaningless on a more fundamental social political level in other words no use at all.”
The host discusses how many people perceive their jobs as meaningless, referencing David Graeber's book 'Bullshit Jobs'. This book highlights the disconnect between societal value and personal fulfillment in the workplace, which ties into the broader conversation about finding meaning in life through other avenues, like fitness.
ASIN: 5100097361
Buy on Amazon
The Culture of Narcissism cover
The Culture of Narcissism
Christopher Lash
Best for sociologists and those interested in cultural critiquesOften cited around optimization culture and community

“Reference to Christopher Lash's work discussing the loss of faith in institutions that used to give meaning to life.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Critical Analysis
For: sociologists and those interested in cultural critiques
Key quote: “you have some key reference points like Christopher Lash writing in The Culture of Narcissism”
The host mentions 'The Culture of Narcissism' to highlight how the optimization movement reflects a loss of faith in traditional social institutions that once provided meaning in life. This book serves as a reference point for understanding the shift from collective values to individualistic pursuits in the 1970s.
ASIN: 0393356175
Buy on Amazon
The Triumph of the Therapeutic cover
The Triumph of the Therapeutic
Philip Reif
Best for Individuals interested in sociology and self-help movementsOften cited around optimization culture and meaning

“Mention of Philip Reif's work that addresses the loss of faith in various institutions that provided meaning in life.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in sociology and self-help movements
Key quote: “Philip Reif a little bit earlier than that, speaking in The Triumph of the Therapeutic, that really today we have lost faith in these various institutions that used to give us meaning in life.”
The host mentions 'The Triumph of the Therapeutic' to highlight how societal institutions that once provided meaning have deteriorated, leading to a focus on individual optimization. This shift has resulted in a loss of community and deeper existential questions about life and purpose.
ASIN: 1932236805
Buy on Amazon
EST cover
EST
Best for Individuals interested in self-improvement and optimization strategies.Often cited around human optimization movement

“A book discussing the Earhart Seminar Training and its impact on self-help movements.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in self-improvement and optimization strategies.
Key quote: “Carl spent 12 months immersed in the human optimization movement.”
The host mentions the book 'EST' in the context of discussing Carl Sederstrom's exploration of the human optimization movement. This reference serves to highlight the extreme lengths to which individuals may go in pursuit of optimizing various aspects of their lives.
ASIN: 0380006979
Buy on Amazon
How to Win Friends and Influence People cover
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
Best for Individuals interested in the history of self-help literatureOften cited around self-help movement evolution

“Mention of this self-help book as part of a discussion on the self-help movement and its historical context.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in the history of self-help literature
Key quote: “you know, Norman Vincent Peale, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill”
The host mentions 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' in the context of discussing the evolution of the self-help movement from the 1930s to the 1970s. This reference highlights how self-help literature has historically provided hope during challenging times, contrasting the collective focus of earlier movements with the later emphasis on individualism.
ASIN: B0006IU7JK
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Think and Grow Rich cover
Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill
Best for Individuals interested in the history of self-help literatureOften cited around self-help movement evolution

“Reference to this book in the context of self-help literature that emerged after the Great Depression.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in the history of self-help literature
Key quote: “you know, Norman Vincent Peale, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, which also interest, but the kind of interesting parallel there is that they came out at the back of the Great Depression.”
The host mentions 'Think and Grow Rich' to illustrate the historical context of self-help literature that emerged during challenging times. This book, along with others, reflects the shift towards individualism and personal agency that became prominent in the 1970s.
ASIN: 1585424331
Buy on Amazon
the happiness book cover
the happiness book
Best for Individuals interested in psychology and philosophyOften cited around philosophers and happiness

“The speaker mentions writing about 'the happiness book' in relation to Freud and Wilhelm Reich's ideas on happiness.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in psychology and philosophy
Key quote: “But what's interesting is that in the 1920s, and this is one, what I write about in the, the, the happiness book, the happiness fantasy, that there's this other psychoanalyst who's really young at the time called Wilhelm Reich.”
The host discusses the evolution of the concept of happiness through history, highlighting how different philosophers have shaped our understanding of it. They mention 'the happiness book' to delve into Wilhelm Reich's theories on happiness and societal repression, contrasting them with Freud's views.
ASIN: 0307591557
Buy on Amazon
The Promise of Happiness cover
The Promise of Happiness
Sara Ahmed
Best for Individuals interested in feminist theory and the critique of societal norms around happiness.Often cited around concept of happiness

“Sara Ahmed wrote this book, The Promise of Happiness, and she makes a really good point about how some parents would speak to the gay people that, well, you know, I just want you to be happy.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in feminist theory and the critique of societal norms around happiness.
Key quote: “this desire to, to be happy and follow the route of happiness could also be extraordinarily constraining, because we have so specific ideas of what it means to be happy.”
The host discusses the complexities of happiness and how societal expectations can constrain individual experiences of joy. They reference Sara Ahmed's book, 'The Promise of Happiness,' to illustrate how the pursuit of happiness can often lead to restrictive norms, particularly for marginalized groups.
ASIN: 0822347253
Buy on Amazon
The Happiness Fantasy cover
The Happiness Fantasy
Best for Individuals interested in personal development and alternative views on happiness.Often cited around human optimization movement

“I will make sure that the link to Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement, The Wellness Syndrome and The Happiness Fantasy is going to be in the show notes.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in personal development and alternative views on happiness.
Key quote: “He makes a strong case that happiness isn't something that any of us should be aiming for and that there are much more worthy terms that would make us much more fulfilled and content within life.”
The host mentions 'The Happiness Fantasy' to highlight Carl Sederstrom's unique perspective on happiness, suggesting that it may not be the ultimate goal for individuals. This book is part of a broader discussion on optimizing various aspects of life and finding deeper fulfillment.
ASIN: 1509523812
Buy on Amazon
The Wellness Syndrome cover
The Wellness Syndrome
Best for Readers interested in self-help culture and societal critiquesOften cited around human optimization movement

“I will make sure that the link to Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement, The Wellness Syndrome and The Happiness Fantasy is going to be in the show notes.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Readers interested in self-help culture and societal critiques
Key quote: “we wrote a book a number of years ago called The Wellness Syndrome, which was really a critical diagnosis of what we call a wellness society, a society where everyone is really sort of commanded, where there is an injunction to be well, to be happy, to be healthy.”
The host mentioned 'The Wellness Syndrome' to provide a critical perspective on the wellness culture that pressures individuals to constantly optimize their well-being. The book serves as a foundation for discussing the authors' personal experiment in human optimization over a year.
ASIN: 0745655610
Buy on Amazon
Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement cover
Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement
Best for Readers interested in self-help and cultural critiquesOften cited around self-help culture

“I will make sure that the link to Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement, The Wellness Syndrome and The Happiness Fantasy is going to be in the show notes.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Readers interested in self-help and cultural critiques
Key quote: “I will make sure that the link to Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement, The Wellness Syndrome and The Happiness Fantasy, or potentially the email address of your publishers so everyone can send them a nasty email, is going to be in the show notes.”
The host mentions 'Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement' in the context of discussing the evolution of happiness and self-help culture. It serves as a reference point for understanding the dominant narratives around happiness in contemporary society.
ASIN: B079NNQYZC
Buy on Amazon

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