David Brooks, New York Times columnist, discusses his book 'The Road to Character' and the importance of forgetting ourselves amidst the self-promotion culture. He explores the power of suffering and transformative growth, shares stories of Dorothy Day and Francis Perkins, discusses the meaning of sin, and explores the shift in society's values after WWII.
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Quick takeaways
In today's self-promoting culture, forgetting ourselves is crucial for personal fulfillment.
Leading a worthy life entails recognizing and overcoming our weaknesses and sins through humility and personal growth.
Love has the power to humble us, foster vulnerability, and enrich our character with joy and depth.
Deep dives
The importance of stocking up on summer brands
Stikart allows for saving money and time by stocking up on favorite summer brands and getting them delivered quickly.
Highlighting the convenience of paper plates for summer cookouts
One way to save time and avoid dirty dishes during summer cookouts is by stocking up on paper plates.
Shopify's role in taking businesses to the next level
Shopify is a commerce platform that provides everything needed for businesses to grow and succeed, without the need for coding or design skills.
The pursuit of a good life and the challenges of moral growth
Leading a worthy life involves a struggle against one's own weaknesses and sins, which requires humility and a commitment to personal growth.
The power of love and its transformative effects
Love has the ability to humble us, open us up to vulnerability, and fuse us with others, leading to great joy and depth of character.
On May 26th 2015, New York Times columnist David Brooks came to the Intelligence Squared stage to share the insights of his latest book, 'The Road to Character'. Brooks argued that today’s ‘Big Me’ culture is making us increasingly self-preoccupied: we live in a world where we’re taught to be assertive, to master skills, to broadcast our brand, to get likes, to get followers. But amidst all the noise of self-promotion, Brooks claimed that we’ve lost sight of an important and counterintuitive truth: that in order to fulfil ourselves we need to learn how to forget ourselves.
Brooks was joined on stage by writer and lecturer on psychology, politics, and the arts Andrew Solomon.