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A mind-blowing, insightful, and transformative look at what we want; why we want it; and what we can do to want more, or less, or want differently.
The main theme provided by the author is that the vast majority of us live our lives wanting the things, (behaviors, lifestyles, careers) we see modeled by what others around us seem to want.
In many (perhaps most) cases, we act in a way that blindly and reflexively imitates other’s wants in a sort of pre-programmed “mimetic” way of being the author first defines and then illuminates for us, forcing us to recognize (horrifyingly) our own life’s “mimetic” veneer, as a first and necessary step in the journey in a proposed plan to break free of the cycle.
Meticulously researched and brimming with contemplative nuggets, many of them originating from the work of Rene Girard and his followers, the author has also mined and thematically connected an impressive array of sources (with extensive references and notes provided), including classical literature, philosophy, anecdotes from his own person life, myths, biographical snippets, religious teachings, Sci-fi story themes, true-life stories from the business and high-tech arena, and ideas and writings from modern-day doctors, scholars, and ethical thinkers.
This book raised so many ideas begging to be digested that my head spun and I had to put it down a few times to let my thoughts settle.
With the very many references to the new word “mimetic” used in a huge range of contexts in this work, I did struggle for the first half of the book with the mind-shift needed to stay on point with the author. But as I read on the concepts settled and I was all in, – so much so that I found myself dropping the word “mimetic” into my own thought process with wild abandon, the unavoidable questions now lining up in my mind :
- Do I really spend my life endlessly striving for “mimetic” goals or things based on others examples, that never really light the spark that makes it all worthwhile, deep inside, for me, myself, and I?
- Does my life, do my wants, my actions, serve as a model I would be happy to see others “mimetically” pursue?
- Am I ready to do the work, as outlined in this book, to understand and identify my true and deepest (“non-mimetic”) desires, and take the steps to individual transformation?
- Are we, as a society, ready to take responsibility for the cultural “mimetic’ travesty, and do what we can to contribute to the long-overdue “third wave” of transformation?
It’s a pretty heady ask, and you can be sure, I will be thinking about the ideas raised in this book for quite some time. (Whether or not you choose to do the same!) (mimetically).
A great big thank you to #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.All thoughts presented are my own.
