Becoming Antifragile

Lessons from reading Confession, a spiritual-philosophical reflection by Leo Tolstoy (Sep 9, 1828 - Nov 20, 1910) as he struggles with existential despair and the meaning of life. Leo Tolstoy attained the kind of success only a few reached. He had enormous wealth, an estate that stretched for 16,200 acres, a mansion, 300 horses, two of his books (War & Peace and Anna Karenina) were considered masterpieces, and he was already regarded as one of the greatest novelists. And it’s here that we pick up 'Confession'. Not a memoir nor a novel, but Tolstoy’s personal spiritual-philosophical reflection as he struggles with existential despair and the question of the meaning of life. - 00:00:00 - The question of life 00:01:48 - The success of Tolstoy 00:02:30 - Living without meaning 00:05:18 - Keeping up appearances 00:06:15 - All is vanity 00:07:20 - Why we’re reading these books 00:08:20 - The 80-year-old version of you 00:08:35 - The Fable 00:12:50 - Is life meaningless? 00:13:50 - Importance of having skin in the game 00:16:40 - Cultivate a strong reputation with yourself 00:20:00 - Tolstoy undermining his ethics 00:23:23 - The breakthrough 00:29:00 - Gaining the world, losing your soul 00:31:18 - Can science and philosophy provide the answer to the question of life 00:37:45 - The people who live with meaning 00:41:30 - Living in community 00:44:00 - Who is more successful: Khabib vs. Conor? 00:46:22 - Face your mortality 00:48:00 - Wealth and craftsmanship - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠ Twitter ⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠ Website ⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠ Newsletter ⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from reading Man's Search for Meaning, a memoir by Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. The book chronicles his experience in Nazi concentration camps, his psychological insights into human nature at its worst, what motivates people to live even in the worse conditions, and explores his theory of logotherapy. Frankl earned his M.D. in 1930 and began working at Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital where he led the treatment of suicidal women, before he was sent to the camps. During the Holocaust his wife died in the Bergen Belsen concentration camp, his father died in the Theresienstadt Ghetto concentration camp, and both his mother and brother died in Auschwitz. However, it was during his time in the concentration camps that he further developed his theory on the importance of finding meaning in life. He emphasized that discovering meaning is the primary motivation in life. It’s our will to meaning which gives hope in a hopeless world. And if a man loses hope and his will to meaning, then his “strength to carry on… seldom returned.” - 00:00:00 - Introduction & excerpt from Man’s Search for Meaning 00:02:37 - Summary of the memoir & logotherapy 00:04:47 - Getting stripped of all belongings 00:05:30 - Finding meaning 00:06:49 - Frankl’s thought on success 00:08:00 - Become worthy of suffering  00:13:35 - Changing perspective 00:14:35 - Urbanites suffer from existential anxiety 00:15:35 - Importance of a full inner life  00:16:57 - Ability to endure horrible conditions 00:18:20 - Nightmares  00:19:20 - 3 ways to find meaning 00:20:00 - Cigarettes as a sign of impending death 00:21:45 - F—’s Dream of getting rescued 00:24:25 - Meaning is subjective & concrete 00:27:00 - Nietzsche’s ‘Why’ 00:31:30 - Live with conviction 00:32:33 - Power of love 00:38:50 - Becoming virtuous 00:40:00 - Why read this book 00:41:00 - Seeking solitude - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan Twitter https://twitter.com/ijmakan Website https://becomingantifragile.com Newsletter https://ijmakan.substack.com