The Strugger's Curse

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The strivers curse is the idea that people who are good at something can't keep doing it forever. The author talks about his own personal decline as a french horn player, and how he tried to re-energize himself by taking different jobs. He also explains why some athletes burn out so early in their careers. It's not well understood why classical musicians p can decline early.

Sam Harris speaks with Arthur C. Brooks about what it takes to build a good life. They discuss the power of social comparison, the intelligence taboo, political dignity and ethical hierarchy, the Dalai Lama, the nature of love, fluid and crystallized intelligences, the strange case of Linus Pauling, the limits of identity, atheism and religious faith, fear of death, psychedelics, existentialism, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other topics.

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Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.