#2041
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.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 23 episodes

Mentioned by Cal Newport as a book offering a bold argument about 'woke' culture and its implications.
702 snips
Ep. 330: Tackling Social Media’s Hidden Dangers
Recommended by Noah Smith as a good book on wokeness, focusing on elite academia and competition.
144 snips
Trump, Tariffs, and the New 80s: America's Next Cultural Reset
Mentioned by Jonah Goldberg ; he agrees with much of the book but notes some disagreements.
89 snips
Joe Biden’s Roadside Library
Mentioned by Sean Illing as a serious effort to understand the woke movement and its effects on society.
89 snips
Does being "woke" do any good?
Mentioned by Thomas Chatterton Williams as the author of a book on wokeness.
42 snips
When the Right Went Woke
Mentioned by Andrew Heaton as the author and subject of the podcast episode, discussing his theory on the causes of wokeness.
41 snips
What Sparked the Great Awokening
Mentioned by Greg Lukianoff , who was super impressed by it, even though it's critical of people like him who are anti-woke.
32 snips
Greg Lukianoff – The Legal Battle to Defend Campus Speech
Mentioned by Meghna Chakrabarti as the author's new book, outlining an argument about social movements and the 'woke elite'.
24 snips
Why sociologist Musa al-Gharbi says social justice elites value performance over progress
Recommended by Justin Robert Young for Jen Briney to read, highlighting its insightful analysis of class lines in society.
23 snips
About AOC's Failed Promotion and Drones
Mentioned by Laura Stark as a recently published book that has caused an incredible stir of conversation.
19 snips
We Have Never Been Woke: A Conversation with Musa al-Gharbi
Mentioned by Jonah Goldberg as the book being discussed in the podcast.
15 snips
Elite Envy
Mentioned by Michael Moynihan ; the book is described as having interesting takes on wokeness.
11 snips
Members Only #241 - Tinder Trotskyists, Siouxsie and the Nazis, When We Were Kings
Mentioned by Mike Peska while discussing symbolic capitalists and Donald Trump's approach to politics.
11 snips
Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk
Mentioned by Lee C. Camp , summarizing Musa Algarbi's critique on accumulating social capital through progressive activism.
210: Unabridged Interview: Holy Post
Mentioned by Greg Lukianoff as a book he is currently reading, praising its insights into cancel culture.
Ep. 242: Is cancel culture dead?
Mentioned by Greg Lukianoff while discussing the similarities between the "woke left" and "woke right", highlighting the use of similar tactics and justifications.
4/22/25: DHS Secretary Robbed, Trump Floats Birthrate Incentives, Harvard Sues Trump, Free Speech Org Sounds Off
Mentioned by Katherine Mangu-Ward as the subject of an upcoming live interview.
Eric Adams and New York City's Corruption Problem
Recommended by Jesse Singal as a comprehensive and engaging read on social justice issues.
Episode 230: Why Liberal Elites Have Unraveled So Spectacularly (With Musa Al-Gharbi)
Mentioned by Emily Jashinsky as the author of the book that explains the left's drift from average Americans.
Musa Al-Gharbi: Democrats must stop shaming voters

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app