#604: The Boring Decadence of Modern Society

#604: The Boring Decadence of Modern Society

On the surface, it can feel like we've made a lot of technological, economic, and cultural progress during the past 30 years. But if you look closer, you start to notice that in a lot of ways, we've been running on repeat for several decades now. My guest today argues that this is what typically happens to rich and powerful societies: A period of growth and dynamism, such as we experienced after WWII, is followed by a period of stagnation and malaise. His name is Ross Douthat and his latest book is The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success. We begin our conversation discussing Ross's idea of decadence and how it's particularly marked by the quality of boredom. We then explore how decadence manifests itself in different areas of our society: Ross and I discuss how even though the realms of the economy and technology might seem vibrant (or at least they did before the pandemic struck), Americans are actually starting fewer businesses, moving less for work, and making fewer life-altering innovations than in times past. We then discuss the fact that clothing styles haven't changed all that much from the 1990s, the repercussions of couples having fewer children, and the calcification of our political institutions. We end our conversation with how each of us as individuals can fight back against decadence.

Get the show notes at aom.is/decadence.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(1158)

Stop Saying Um (And Fix the Other Vocal Tics That Are Sabotaging Your Speaking)

Stop Saying Um (And Fix the Other Vocal Tics That Are Sabotaging Your Speaking)

Think about a time you've had to speak in front of others — maybe during a work presentation, a wedding toast, or even on a first date. Did you struggle with using too many filler words, such as "um" ...

14 Tammi 202548min

Man's Search for Meaning, With Viktor Frankl's Grandson

Man's Search for Meaning, With Viktor Frankl's Grandson

I first read Man's Search for Meaning by the neurologist, psychologist, and philosopher Viktor Frankl in high school, and I have re-read it several times since. It's one of the books that's had the bi...

7 Tammi 202556min

How to Hack the Habit Loop to Build a Better Life

How to Hack the Habit Loop to Build a Better Life

Think about your habits, the things you do automatically without much thought — from brushing your teeth in the morning to scrolling social media before bed.There’s a lot going on with these behaviors...

30 Joulu 202449min

Philosophical Tools for Living the Good Life

Philosophical Tools for Living the Good Life

Note: This is a rebroadcast.Most everyone wants to live a good, meaningful life, though we don’t always know what that means and how to do it. Plenty of modern self-improvement programs claim to point...

25 Joulu 20241h 2min

The 6 Principles for Writing Messages People Won't Swipe Away

The 6 Principles for Writing Messages People Won't Swipe Away

Think of all the texts, emails, and social media posts you're inundated with each day. Sometimes you read them, and sometimes you swipe them away, telling yourself, perhaps not so honestly, that you'l...

23 Joulu 202448min

The Swiss Army Knife of Fitness — How to Get Lean, Strong, and Flexible With Kettlebells Alone

The Swiss Army Knife of Fitness — How to Get Lean, Strong, and Flexible With Kettlebells Alone

What if there was one piece of fitness equipment that was affordable, didn’t take up much space, could get you both strong and flexible, and was fun to use?While that might sound too good to be true, ...

18 Joulu 202450min

The Roman Caesars' Guide to Ruling

The Roman Caesars' Guide to Ruling

The Roman caesars were the rulers of the Roman Empire, beginning in 27 BC with Julius Caesar’s heir Augustus, from whom subsequent caesars took their name, and lasting until around the fall of the Wes...

16 Joulu 202457min

The Winter Mindset: How Norwegians Love the Winter (And You Can Too)

The Winter Mindset: How Norwegians Love the Winter (And You Can Too)

When people think about winter, they often focus on the negatives: the cold, the dark, and the seasonal depression the season can bring. But my guest today questions whether winter really has to be so...

11 Joulu 20241h 1min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
rss-narsisti
adhd-podi
rss-rahamania
psykologia
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
kesken
rss-valo-minussa-2
ihminen-tavattavissa-tommy-hellsten-instituutti
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
leikitaanko-laakaria
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
rss-niinku-asia-on
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
mielipaivakirja
puhutaan-koiraa
rss-rentotapaus