Luke Burgis

A groundbreaking exploration of why we want what we want, and a toolkit for freeing ourselves from chasing unfulfilling desires.Gravity affects every aspect of our physical being, but there's a psychological force just as powerful – yet almost nobody has heard of it. It's responsible for bringing groups of people together and pulling them apart, making certain goals attractive to some and not to others, and fueling cycles of anxiety and conflict. In Wanting, Luke Burgis draws on the work of French polymath René Girard to bring this hidden force to light and reveals how it shapes our lives and societies.According to Girard, humans don't desire anything independently. Human desire is mimetic – we imitate what other people want. This affects the way we choose partners, friends, careers, clothes, and vacation destinations. Mimetic desire is responsible for the formation of our very identities. It explains the enduring relevancy of Shakespeare's plays, why Peter Thiel decided to be the first investor in Facebook, and why our world is growing more divided as it becomes more connected.Wanting also shows that conflict does not arise because of our differences--it comes from our sameness. Because we learn to want what other people want, we often end up competing for the same things. Ignoring our large similarities, we cling to our perceived differences.Drawing on his experience as an entrepreneur, teacher, and student of classical philosophy and theology, Burgis shares tactics that help turn blind wanting into intentional wanting – not by trying to rid ourselves of desire, but by desiring differently. It's possible to be more in control of the things we want, to achieve more independence from trends and bubbles, and to find more meaning in our work and lives.The future will be shaped by our desires. Wanting shows us how to desire a better one.

"Beautifully written, compellingly personal, and a treasure to read."—Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, OFM, Cap., Archbishop of PhiladelphiaWhat if we were able to gain profound insight into the unique design, creative drive, and potential destiny of the people in our lives? The bold promise of this book is that we can.This ability carries an awesome responsibility: We must all be mentors and midwives to the personal vocations of others.Unrepeatable is about the urgent need for each of us to cultivate the vocations of others and the steps we should take to do it well.By smartly weaving evocative stories of those who have radically lived out their callings with practical tools for discernment and mentorship, Luke Burgis and Joshua Miller—who have a combined twenty-five years of experience helping people and organizations discover their purpose—turn staid perceptions of vocation on their head.Unrepeatable will equip you to:-- Renew your church, school, community, or company by empowering every member to discover, embrace, and fully live out their unique calling-- Confidently teach and mentor young people in critical skills of discernment and decision-making-- Know and be known by others in a deeply personal way through a technique that unlocks and awakens the deepest desires of the heartAs we enter into the stories of others' lives, we enter into the story of God's love. There is no greater adventure. Unrepeatable invites you to be a part of it."This spiritually grounded, easy-to-read treatise is a solid piece of research, and yet is still packed throughout with supporting anecdotes that the reader will recognize and appreciate. Eminently practicable, Unrepeatable is for every Christian, especially the teacher, counselor, or spiritual director, who is truly serious about sifting through the cultural morass to find the ‘right’ vocation, rather than just a job."—Bishop Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

The Interactive Companion to the book Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every PersonHelp young people ages 15-25 discover, embrace, and live out their unique callings. Unrepeatable Life is a workbook designed to help youth ages 15-25 identify and live out their personal vocations. It is packed with exercises, discussion questions, and group activities to facilitate the prayerful discernment of each person s God-given mission in the world. The workbook can be used as a stand-alone curriculum or in groups churches, families, clubs, and schools (including homeschools) will benefit from using Unrepeatable Life to teach and cultivate the unique calling of every student and child and help build a culture of vocation. In a highly practical and engaging way, Miller and Burgis go beyond helping young people discern a vocation to marriage or a vocation to the priesthood or religious life or a particular kind of job. It helps each and every young person understand their unique, created design and the particular way in which they are called to live out their personal vocation in every circumstance and on every path of life. The workbook includes innovative approaches to discernment - Open questions to help youth develop a framework for living an examined life - Narrative-driven assessment that helps youth discover their core motivational drive by telling their story - Mission Essential Task Lists for the prioritization of daily responsibilities and the ordering of time toward the fulfillment of one s personal calling - Writing their personal examination of conscience based on their unique purpose in the world Unrepeatable Life is a first-of-its-kind approach, which Bishop Robert Barron says is for every Christian, especially the teacher, counselor, or spiritual director, who is truly serious about sifting through the cultural morass to find the right vocation, covers everything from cultural challenges, listening with empathy, unique motivational design, keys to effective discernment, and practical tools for ongoing discernment. Young people are not the only ones who will benefit. Pick up this book to help others, says author Lisa Hendey, but be prepared to rediscover the blessing of your own story too!

Warum nur eifern wir immer anderen nach und wollen haben, was sie haben wollen? Die Antwort liegt tief in der menschlichen Natur begrü Wir alle werden von einem mimetischen Begehren gelenkt, einem nachahmenden Verlangen, wodurch Menschen oder Dinge unwiderstehlich anziehend auf uns wirken, sobald sie bereits von anderen begehrt werden. Aus diesem "Haben wollen" entstehen Eifersucht, Neid und Gewalt. Wie also können wir uns daraus befreien? Luke Burgis erläutert gleichzeitig unterhaltsam und fundiert die psychologischen und soziologischen Hintergründe des mimetischen Abgesehen von grundlegenden Bedürfnissen wie Essen und Trinken wissen wir eigentlich nicht, was wir wirklich wollen. Unsere Wünsche und Begehrlichkeiten sind von Beginn an sozial geprä Sie richten sich nach dem, was andere für begehrenswert halten, oder nach dem, was eine Zeit oder eine Mode zu angeblichen Bedürfnissen idealisiert. So dreht sich unser "Haben wollen" um des "Haben wollens Willen" im Grunde um eine leere Mitte, die uns nie wirklich zufrieden stellen kann. Wir werden zu einem manipulierbaren Spielball unserer scheinbaren Wünsche. Das hat Auswirkungen auf alle Lebensbereiche, wie Berufsziele, unseren Kleidungsstil und sogar unsere Partnerwahl. Werbung, Influencer und Social Media nutzen es für ihre Zwecke, indem sie ein Verlangen nach ihren Produkten in uns wecken, und in letzter Konsequenz können auch schwerwiegende Konflikte bis hin zu Kriegen daraus entstehen, wenn verbissen mit anderen um etwas gerungen wird, das vermeintlich alle haben wollen. Hier setzt Luke Burgis an. Wir lernen, die Gründe für unser nachahmendes Verlangen zu erkennen und zu hinterfragen. So wird der Weg frei, die Wünsche zu finden, die wirklich von Bedeutung für uns sind und uns auf lange Sicht erfüllen. Ganz konkrete Taktiken, wie wir dem mimetischen Begehren in uns ein Schnippchen schlagen und die Selbstkontrolle wiedererlangen, runden dieses hochaktuelle Buch ab.

How to become yourself without losing everyone else. We’re living in a time when it’s harder than ever to become a whole person—and to stay in authentic community. Some people dissolve into their group identities and lose themselves entirely. Others withdraw into ephemeral, online collectives they can float into and out of without consequence. Both are symptoms of the same a fragmented sense of self in an age of social contagion. This fragmentation is more than a personal crisis—it’s the soil in which hollow and often dangerous mass movements take root, offering counterfeit belonging to those desperate for meaning. The One and the Ninety-Nine is a timely and inspiring exploration of what it means to forge a stable identity in the face of coercion, conformity, and the contagious desires of the crowd. Through compelling and original insights drawn from philosophy, psychology, and personal experience, author Luke Burgis examines how our lives are shaped by the groups we belong to—and how we, in turn, shape those groups. He offers a roadmap for engaging with modern society without losing our unique sense of personhood, and reveals the essential rites of passage and personal challenges that differentiate a life of meaning from one dictated by societal expectations. People who are able to find their solid self and thrive in the space between the one and the many—who can act with integrity while being part of a community—live freer and more comfortable lives and become models for others. The One and the Ninety-Nine is a call to reject passive conformity, rediscover the depth of personality, and choose a life that is both truly personal and deeply connected.

How do you become your true self without losing everyone else?We are living in an era of crisis where becoming a whole person means navigating constantexternal pressure. Some of us dissolve into group identities, while others withdraw intotemporary and sometimes dangerous online collectives. Both are symptoms of the same a fragmented sense of self in an age of mass influence.One and the Ninety-Nine is your essential roadmap to forging a stable, authenticidentity in the face of coercion and conformity. Through compelling and original insights,author Luke Burgis dives into philosophy, psychology and personal experience, offering aclear guide for engaging with chaotic modern society. Discover how to build a values-drivenlife of meaning, not one dictated by external expectations, and thrive in the space betweenthe one and the many.Burgis offers us a powerful call to action, and a guide - Reject passive conformity.- Rediscover the depth of your personality.- Choose a life that is both truly personal and deeply connected.Live freely, and comfortably. Be the One, not the Ninety-Nine.***Praise for Wanting:‘A spellbinding read’ Adam Grant‘I love the book’ Ryan Holiday‘Luke Burgis has produced the go-to book’ Tyler Cowen‘His prose is punchy. His anecdotes are entertaining . . . part philosophical tract, part self-helpguide’ Christina Patterson, The Sunday Times