The LRB Podcast

On Giving Up

Mar 6, 2024

A psychoanalyst and critic discuss the concept of giving up as a way to succeed. They explore the idea of knowing limitations as heroism, the consequences of persistence in famous literary characters, and the balance of discipline and creativity in writing.

51:53

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Episode guests

Hermione Lee

Adam Phillips

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Giving up can be a way to succeed at something else, challenging the notion of failure.

Understanding personal thresholds and desires is crucial in balancing persistence and giving up effectively.

Deep dives

Exploring the Theme of Giving Up

Giving Up is viewed as an act usually associated with failure rather than success. The justification for giving up is often deemed necessary when completion does not occur. However, giving up could be seen as a way to succeed at something else, challenging the conventional idea of failure.

Introduction

2min

Redefining Giving Up

12min

The Tragic Consequences of Persistence

20min

Exploring Open-Endedness in Literature

5min

Exploring the Balance of Seriousness and Playfulness in Writing and Communication

2min

Navigating Creativity and Discipline in Writing

5min

Exploring Gender and Book Cover Analysis

2min

Exploring Giving Up, Breakdowns, and Second Chances in Psychoanalysis and Literature

4min

When is giving up not failure, but a way of succeeding at something else? In his new book, which began as a piece for the LRB, the psychoanalyst and critic Adam Phillips explores the ways in which knowing our limitations can be an act of heroism. This episode was recorded at the London Review Bookshop, where Phillips was joined by the biographer and critic Hermione Lee in a conversation about giving up and On Giving Up, his approach to writing and the purpose of psychoanalysis.

Find Phillips’s 2022 piece On Giving Up and further reading on the episode page: lrb.me/ongivingup

Find future events at the Bookshop: lrb.me/eventspod

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Discover the LRB's subscription podcast, Close Readings, and audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiopod

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The LRB Podcast

On Giving Up

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Exploring the Theme of Giving Up

The Notion of Persistence vs. Giving Up

The Significance of Wanting

Navigating Giving Up in Personal Growth

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts