Wanting

The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

By: Luke Burgis

Narrated by: Luke Burgis, Sean Patrick Hopkins

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.

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 bestselling 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 bestselling co-author of Lives of the Stoics and The Daily Stoic

Outstanding and thought provoking!

I will definitely listen to this book. Again, again, and again.

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

Fantastic book!

I’ve read just over 500 books in the past 12 years, and this is easily in the top 10.

how to live better

i’ve listened to this book multiple times. a very rare thing for me to do. wanting has become a touchstone for asking what the best version of myself and those around me looks like. and prompts ways for me to make progress towards those goals. this is the kind of work that i think will help me find peace throughout my life

A solid explanation of human rivalry

Can't agree more with what Luke has to say. I've seen and been influenced by mimesis, rivalry and scapegoating firsthand in my job.

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.

Keep it on repeat!

Just finished the first time through and will be going back for round two to pick up what I missed. There is a lot here and all or any of it can make like better, relationships deeper and more real, and help focus energy toward true vocation.

Very Interesting and Timely

In an age where social media has taken over the world by engineering all our desires, Luke Burgis helps remove the smoke screen to reveal why Facebook, Instagram, and all the other social media platforms have succeeded so well. Knowledge and understanding is the first step in self-defense from the constant barrage of engineered wants and desires.

Possibly the Best Book of 2022

Luke Burgis writes a book that brings an important topic to the public in an accessible way and yet makes you want to go deeper into Rene Girard’s theories. Wanting is well written and well performed as an audio book. The message of the book is about why we want what we want. The answer to this question points to how toxic and corrosive modern life had become to our core understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Luke approaches the topic of mimetic desire in a clear and approachable way.

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.

excellent! Best book I've heard in months.

i listen to non-fiction audio books every day. this is the first one in a while that significantly impacted view of life.

You must read!!

Very enlightening, allowed me to see why I act the way I do in a different light.

Why, Iwant

This book is not like any book
dives deep into areas never explained and understood
I will read this book more than once
there are many lessons and learning
key to living the life I choose and WANT

THANK YOU