

#911
Mentioned in 23 episodes
We Have Never Been Woke
The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite
Book • 2024
In this book, Musa al-Gharbi argues that despite the rise of a new elite who identify as allies of progressive causes such as antiracism, feminism, and LGBTQ rights, social and economic inequalities have continued to grow.
These symbolic capitalists, who work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, genuinely believe in egalitarian principles but inadvertently contribute to and perpetuate the very inequalities they oppose.
The book examines how their actions and narratives often provoke backlash against the social justice causes they champion and argues that challenging these self-serving narratives is crucial for addressing social and economic inequality effectively.
These symbolic capitalists, who work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, genuinely believe in egalitarian principles but inadvertently contribute to and perpetuate the very inequalities they oppose.
The book examines how their actions and narratives often provoke backlash against the social justice causes they champion and argues that challenging these self-serving narratives is crucial for addressing social and economic inequality effectively.
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Mentioned in 23 episodes
Mentioned by 

as a book offering a bold argument about 'woke' culture and its implications.


Cal Newport

702 snips
Ep. 330: Tackling Social Media’s Hidden Dangers
Recommended by 

as a good book on wokeness, focusing on elite academia and competition.


Noah Smith

144 snips
Trump, Tariffs, and the New 80s: America's Next Cultural Reset
Mentioned by 

; he agrees with much of the book but notes some disagreements.


Jonah Goldberg

89 snips
Joe Biden’s Roadside Library
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as a serious effort to understand the woke movement and its effects on society.

Sean Illing

89 snips
Does being "woke" do any good?
Mentioned by 

as his new book, which he blurbed.


Tyler Cowen

48 snips
Musa al-Gharbi on Elite Wokeness, Islam, and Social Movements
Mentioned by 

as the author of a book on wokeness.


Thomas Chatterton Williams

42 snips
When the Right Went Woke
Mentioned by 

as the author and subject of the podcast episode, discussing his theory on the causes of wokeness.


Andrew Heaton

41 snips
What Sparked the Great Awokening
Mentioned by 

, who was super impressed by it, even though it's critical of people like him who are anti-woke.


Greg Lukianoff

38 snips
Greg Lukianoff – The Legal Battle to Defend Campus Speech
Mentioned by 

as the author's new book, outlining an argument about social movements and the 'woke elite'.


Meghna Chakrabarti

24 snips
Why sociologist Musa al-Gharbi says social justice elites value performance over progress
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to read, highlighting its insightful analysis of class lines in society.

Justin Robert Young

Jen Briney

23 snips
About AOC's Failed Promotion and Drones
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a recently published book that has caused an incredible stir of conversation.

Laura Stark

19 snips
We Have Never Been Woke: A Conversation with Musa al-Gharbi
Mentioned by 

as the book being discussed in the podcast.


Jonah Goldberg

15 snips
Elite Envy
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; the book is described as having interesting takes on wokeness.

Michael Moynihan

11 snips
Members Only #241 - Tinder Trotskyists, Siouxsie and the Nazis, When We Were Kings
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

while discussing symbolic capitalists and Donald Trump's approach to politics.

Mike Peska

11 snips
Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

, summarizing Musa Algarbi's critique on accumulating social capital through progressive activism.

Lee C. Camp

210: Unabridged Interview: Holy Post
Mentioned by 

as a book he is currently reading, praising its insights into cancel culture.


Greg Lukianoff

Ep. 242: Is cancel culture dead?
Mentioned by 

while discussing the similarities between the "woke left" and "woke right", highlighting the use of similar tactics and justifications.


Greg Lukianoff

4/22/25: DHS Secretary Robbed, Trump Floats Birthrate Incentives, Harvard Sues Trump, Free Speech Org Sounds Off
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as the subject of an upcoming live interview.

Katherine Mangu-Ward

Eric Adams and New York City's Corruption Problem
Recommended by 

as a comprehensive and engaging read on social justice issues.


Jesse Singal

Episode 230: Why Liberal Elites Have Unraveled So Spectacularly (With Musa Al-Gharbi)
Mentioned by 

as the author of the book that explains the left's drift from average Americans.


Emily Jashinsky

Musa Al-Gharbi: Democrats must stop shaming voters