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 binging groups of people together and pulling them apart, making certain goals attractive to some and not to others, and fueling cycles of anxiety and guilt.
According to French polymath René 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 become the first investor in Facebook, and why our world is growing more divided as it becomes more connected.
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 desire. Wanting tells us how to desire a better one.