I'm glad that you used the word narcissism because the behaviors that Han describes are the fall-out from a narcissistic society in which we have to compete. Narcissists naturally live an episodic lifestyle versus a sense of a continuum that normal people try to live. Narcissists can't love and can't give of themselves. Their approach to life has permeated our society so that instead of pursuing the joy of touching other people, we placate ourselves with the distraction of being consumed by what technology offers.
What a coincidence. I read The Burnout Society last year, ironically while looking for books about (my recently diagnosed) ADHD and I'm thoroughly intrigued with his ideas. Although I am more on agreement with Slavoj Zizek that Han's ideas only applicable to a hypercapitalism society which only translates to maybe major cities in well-developed and developing countries. Watching your video, now I'm also intrigued with Scent of Time. I'll buy it along Psychopolitics which already in my wishlist.
If you're also interested in books that explore ADHD in the context of the environment as opposed to genetics, I highly recommend Gabor Maté's book: Scattered Minds. It gave me a new perspective on ADHD and hope on managing it.
Thanks for making this video. Byung Chul Hans work has become incredibly influential over the past couple of years in reframing my ways of being. This channel is easily my favorite on youtube! Keep up the amazing work!
Also I was wondering if you want to do a collaboration of some kind? I’m a big fan of your work and would love to set up a zoom call to bounce some ideas around. :)
It’s good to see you back as I’ve missed your videos. I’ve never read any of Byung-Chul Hans works but he has been my too read list for some time but I’ve always pushed other books ahead of his. This video has prompted me to move him to the top of my reading list.
Thank you! It feels great to be back and I’m glad you got something out of this video! Han’s books are wonderful to read and they won’t take you long to finish.
I discovered Byung-Chul Han eight years ago when I stumbled across “The Agony of Eros” in a bookstore, and since then I read whatever I can of his work. In my opinion he does the most perceptive and uncompromising dissection of our increasingly digi-spheric existence (its twin pillars being narcissism and exhibitionism), and he warns us of the consequences that our reigning attitude of techno-optimism poses. My own view is that a fundamental shift in human nature is underway due to the growing predominance of our digital distraction-based society, and we will not like what it produces. In addition, he offers the most devastating critique of the positivity-cult attitudes and behaviors that too many people take for granted these days. No other philosopher has our techno-society’s number like Byung Chul-Han.
Ordered Burnout society a while ago and I expected a long book. When it came it actually had me shocked and hooked pretty early on. I really love how he condenses his ideas and makes them so very relatable to one's reality. As a (recovering) overachiever, I believe reading him is getting into an arguent with myself and coming out on the healthier, less burned-out end of myself. Thank you for the other book reccomendations - I am looking forward to reading one or two of them soon!
Great writer and thinker and loved this analysis and exploration Byung-Chul Han's corpus. Almost purchased Non-Things in Kindle format, oh sweet irony!
Hes incredible. The burnout society really changed my outlook on things. I felt like he was speaking directly to me as I haven't been familiar with the idea of "too much freedom" as I live in a capitalistic society. I have also been trying my best to break down that wall of anti-marxist thought. Its so engrained here in the states. Han has been a great way of enlightenment for me.
Really helpful recommendations- great timing too as I recently finished In the Swarm, which I really enjoyed, and so I was wondering which of his books to read next!
I have just discovered your channel. I have only read 6 of his books and it was a long time back. I think I will re read some of them again. The burnt out society is very interesting, especially for someone who is not from a Calvinist work ethics culture. Max Weber would be a good antecedent to this.
I’ve been wanting to get into Byung-Chul Han’s works. I have The Burnout Society on my Kindle and Psychopolitics in my wishlist but I haven’t found the time I really want to devote to reading him. I don’t remember where I first heard his name, but so many of the themes you pointed out here really speak to me - specifically self-optimization. I’m actually on a bit of a journey to deprogram myself from self-optimization in various areas of my life.
Watched this video earlier today and I had me thinking. Am I the only one who feels bad when I don’t complete everything I planned to do in a day, especially find time for reading? How do you deal with it?
You're far from the only one. What has solved the majority of the issue is not scheduling my day chock-full, and instead posing an artificial limit on the amount of work hours I can schedule, purposely leaving large gaps. On one hand, if I underestimate the amount of time I need, I usually still get everything done. On the other hand, it leaves time for 'free' work, that is, working when you feel motivated to do so beyond your planned hours. It also helps me a lot with prioritizing. A lot of people, including myself (still today) do a lot of fluff work just to inflate their schedules and feel really busy and hard-working. When you only have say, 5 hours per day, you are forced to focus on the things that matter most. Take what I say with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, I hope it helps!
This is the first video I've seen on Han featuring Absence and Non-Things, my two favorites by him. All of his work has been beneficial to me in some way, though, as a non-university-educated student of philosophy, the book What Is Power? went just about all the way over my head. Curious if you've read that one, and what you'd rate it on your difficulty scale.
Oh man What is Power is perhaps one of the most difficult ones by him. It’s essentially a critique of the repressive power hypothesis proposed in late 20th century critical theory, and compared to some of his other books the writing is turgid and opaque. It’s not his strongest work in terms of accessibility, but it’s definitely one of his more academic ones.
Thanks for this! I just recently started reading Byung-Chul Han (have read Burnout Society, Psychopolitics, and Transparency Society) and one term his translator uses a lot is "dispositive" and I'm not 100% clear on what this means other that some vague idea of it maybe meaning something like "the resolution of a legal issue". Any ideas?
Ah finally a modern philosopher who won't write 500 pages on one, two, three, where's the fourth... hehe. Nice to see books that are actually getting shorter instead of 1000 pages of esoteric nonsense 😂
I'm glad that you used the word narcissism because the behaviors that Han describes are the fall-out from a narcissistic society in which we have to compete. Narcissists naturally live an episodic lifestyle versus a sense of a continuum that normal people try to live. Narcissists can't love and can't give of themselves. Their approach to life has permeated our society so that instead of pursuing the joy of touching other people, we placate ourselves with the distraction of being consumed by what technology offers.
You have put it in words very well!
What a coincidence. I read The Burnout Society last year, ironically while looking for books about (my recently diagnosed) ADHD and I'm thoroughly intrigued with his ideas. Although I am more on agreement with Slavoj Zizek that Han's ideas only applicable to a hypercapitalism society which only translates to maybe major cities in well-developed and developing countries. Watching your video, now I'm also intrigued with Scent of Time. I'll buy it along Psychopolitics which already in my wishlist.
If you're also interested in books that explore ADHD in the context of the environment as opposed to genetics, I highly recommend Gabor Maté's book: Scattered Minds.
It gave me a new perspective on ADHD and hope on managing it.
How ironic it is to watch a video about Byung Chul Han's philosophy and be fed an advertisement of Skilshare.
This video and its comments section are pretty wild.
I just wanted to learn more about Byung-Chul Han, and your video really helps.
Thanks for making this video. Byung Chul Hans work has become incredibly influential over the past couple of years in reframing my ways of being. This channel is easily my favorite on youtube! Keep up the amazing work!
I’m very glad you made this video.
Thanks Jared!
Also I was wondering if you want to do a collaboration of some kind? I’m a big fan of your work and would love to set up a zoom call to bounce some ideas around. :)
It’s good to see you back as I’ve missed your videos. I’ve never read any of Byung-Chul Hans works but he has been my too read list for some time but I’ve always pushed other books ahead of his. This video has prompted me to move him to the top of my reading list.
Thank you! It feels great to be back and I’m glad you got something out of this video! Han’s books are wonderful to read and they won’t take you long to finish.
Nice video man. Perfect amount of focus given to each book and very useful. You even gave me some recommendations I hadn’t heard of before!
I read Psychopolitics near the end of last year. Loved it. His writing is so simple but retains complexity/profundity
Enjoyed your introduction. Kind of got an idea on where to start. Thank you!
I discovered Byung-Chul Han eight years ago when I stumbled across “The Agony of Eros” in a bookstore, and since then I read whatever I can of his work.
In my opinion he does the most perceptive and uncompromising dissection of our increasingly digi-spheric existence (its twin pillars being narcissism and exhibitionism), and he warns us of the consequences that our reigning attitude of techno-optimism poses. My own view is that a fundamental shift in human nature is underway due to the growing predominance of our digital distraction-based society, and we will not like what it produces.
In addition, he offers the most devastating critique of the positivity-cult attitudes and behaviors that too many people take for granted these days.
No other philosopher has our techno-society’s number like Byung Chul-Han.
My favorite living philosopher. Been obsessed by him since I’ve discovered him 9 years ago.
We appreciate how well you articulate your insights. You'll always have our support.
Ordered Burnout society a while ago and I expected a long book. When it came it actually had me shocked and hooked pretty early on. I really love how he condenses his ideas and makes them so very relatable to one's reality. As a (recovering) overachiever, I believe reading him is getting into an arguent with myself and coming out on the healthier, less burned-out end of myself.
Thank you for the other book reccomendations - I am looking forward to reading one or two of them soon!
Great writer and thinker and loved this analysis and exploration Byung-Chul Han's corpus. Almost purchased Non-Things in Kindle format, oh sweet irony!
Hes incredible. The burnout society really changed my outlook on things. I felt like he was speaking directly to me as I haven't been familiar with the idea of "too much freedom" as I live in a capitalistic society. I have also been trying my best to break down that wall of anti-marxist thought. Its so engrained here in the states. Han has been a great way of enlightenment for me.
Really helpful recommendations- great timing too as I recently finished In the Swarm, which I really enjoyed, and so I was wondering which of his books to read next!
Excellent recommendations, thanks you so much!!
You’re welcome! :)
Welcome back, Waldun! And thanks for the recs!
I can't wait to enter this thinker
I have just discovered your channel. I have only read 6 of his books and it was a long time back. I think I will re read some of them again. The burnt out society is very interesting, especially for someone who is not from a Calvinist work ethics culture. Max Weber would be a good antecedent to this.
Great vid thank you for the book recommendations Waldun!
This video is very inspiring! I have recently discovered his works as a part of my study in political science.
I’ve been wanting to get into Byung-Chul Han’s works. I have The Burnout Society on my Kindle and Psychopolitics in my wishlist but I haven’t found the time I really want to devote to reading him. I don’t remember where I first heard his name, but so many of the themes you pointed out here really speak to me - specifically self-optimization. I’m actually on a bit of a journey to deprogram myself from self-optimization in various areas of my life.
Have not read Han yet, but I am intrigued, so I've added all recs to my TBR. Thanks!
Wow, your Substack is beauuuutiful. congrats, well done
Watched this video earlier today and I had me thinking. Am I the only one who feels bad when I don’t complete everything I planned to do in a day, especially find time for reading? How do you deal with it?
You're far from the only one. What has solved the majority of the issue is not scheduling my day chock-full, and instead posing an artificial limit on the amount of work hours I can schedule, purposely leaving large gaps. On one hand, if I underestimate the amount of time I need, I usually still get everything done. On the other hand, it leaves time for 'free' work, that is, working when you feel motivated to do so beyond your planned hours.
It also helps me a lot with prioritizing. A lot of people, including myself (still today) do a lot of fluff work just to inflate their schedules and feel really busy and hard-working. When you only have say, 5 hours per day, you are forced to focus on the things that matter most.
Take what I say with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, I hope it helps!
What are your thoughts on Murakami?
This is the first video I've seen on Han featuring Absence and Non-Things, my two favorites by him.
All of his work has been beneficial to me in some way, though, as a non-university-educated student of philosophy, the book What Is Power? went just about all the way over my head. Curious if you've read that one, and what you'd rate it on your difficulty scale.
Oh man What is Power is perhaps one of the most difficult ones by him. It’s essentially a critique of the repressive power hypothesis proposed in late 20th century critical theory, and compared to some of his other books the writing is turgid and opaque. It’s not his strongest work in terms of accessibility, but it’s definitely one of his more academic ones.
Great video, thanks!
Gotta get Waldun a copy of Jason Bryan's upcoming 3rd book!
Welcome back!
Thanks for this! I just recently started reading Byung-Chul Han (have read Burnout Society, Psychopolitics, and Transparency Society) and one term his translator uses a lot is "dispositive" and I'm not 100% clear on what this means other that some vague idea of it maybe meaning something like "the resolution of a legal issue". Any ideas?
Well done .....
has anyone read Vita Contemplativa? It looks interesting to me
It’s brilliant, read it! :)
@@RCWaldun I ended up buying the ebook last night actually! Thanks for the inspiration.
Byung-Chul Han is definitely Waldun in the future
Flattered. :)
Maybe Apple's new "Vision Pro" should come with some free copies of Byung-Chul Han.
I missed you
Its true 😂he writes so well that you end up highlighting the whole book
And read Marx.
No
@@pragmaticthinker1139 I expect nothing less from someone with John Locke as their profile pic. Lol. I bet you value property over ppl.
@@BT-sc6lu No I dont. Plus Marx is a materialist which is why he is so wrong on so many things.
f marx
@@pragmaticthinker1139Delusional idealist nonsense
You need a Skillshare course on how to brush your hair...it is always a mess.
I blame my shitty conditioner.
@@RCWaldunUse one with Keratin. Leave it for 10 mins.
Ah finally a modern philosopher who won't write 500 pages on one, two, three, where's the fourth... hehe. Nice to see books that are actually getting shorter instead of 1000 pages of esoteric nonsense 😂
Byung Chul Han is writing in German. It's all about condensing meaning. 😅
How you make money? What you do?
For 50 pages, they are still prohibitively expensive. He may be good at writing, but he also likes money.