I was haunted by this proverb, the child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth. So often these kind of people who commit very evil acts are grandiose. They by their nature already feel entitled to a high level of status. I think for me, the story you tell of the young mother who became an anti-vaxxer was really helpful in trying to understand.
“Life is a game. There’s no way to understand the human world without first understanding this. Everyone alive is playing a game whose hidden rules are built into us and that silently directs our thoughts, beliefs and actions. This game is inside us. It is us. We can’t help but play.”
So begins “The Status Game,” a new book by acclaimed writer Will Storr.
He continues: “We play for status, if only subtly, with every social interaction, every contribution we make to work, love or family life and every internet post. We play with how we dress, how we speak and what we believe. … Life is not a journey towards a perfect destination. It’s a game that never ends. And it’s the very worst of us.”
Does it have to be?
We may not be able to quit the status game, but Will says we can learn to play it better. In this episode, he explains how.
---
Download The Next Big Idea app today at nextbigideaclub.com/app/