Byung-Chul Han: A Short Introduction via 5 Books

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A brief introduction to Byung-Chul Han's philosophy through 5 book recommendations to help you understand his key ideas and how they are relevant to our neoliberal late-modern society.
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Other Resources:
The Back to the Basics course for avid readers: skl.sh/3HtD1Kb
My course on keeping a writer's diary:
skl.sh/3qHJKYg
My playlist on Reading:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls2yn...
My collaborative novel about Melbourne: There's A Tale To This City:
rcwaldun.com/tale
My short story collection Passing Tales: rcwaldun.com/publication
Introduction: 00:00
Sponsor: 01:16
Han's Writing Style: 02:42
1: The Burnout Society: 05:21
2: The Scent of Time: 06:56
3: The Agony of Eros: 08:52
4: Absence: 10:55
5: Non-Things: 11:58

[@Varykino1917]

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.

[@kikiandsen]

You have put it in words very well!

[@phoebeyuu4525]

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.

[@nerd26373]

We appreciate how well you articulate your insights. You'll always have our support.

[@emanuelalmroth6683]

My favorite living philosopher. Been obsessed by him since I’ve discovered him 9 years ago.

[@yonathanasefaw9001]

Welcome back, Waldun! And thanks for the recs!

[@rokari2238]

Great vid thank you for the book recommendations Waldun!

[@benpetty9603]

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!

[@joshuaadams1747]

I read Psychopolitics near the end of last year. Loved it. His writing is so simple but retains complexity/profundity

[@cicieurve]

I just wanted to learn more about Byung-Chul Han, and your video really helps.

[@ReticentObsessive]

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!

[@kikiandsen]

Enjoyed your introduction. Kind of got an idea on where to start. Thank you!

[@wikkedlildifranco]

Have not read Han yet, but I am intrigued, so I've added all recs to my TBR. Thanks!

[@sarapeine6785]

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!

[@jaenam4030]

This video is very inspiring! I have recently discovered his works as a part of my study in political science.

[@RichardShortland-Neal]

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.

[@RCWaldun]

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.

[@animatedwallpaper4k]

Wow, your Substack is beauuuutiful. congrats, well done

[@MuhammadAlEmran]

Welcome back!

[@_jared]

I’m very glad you made this video.

[@RCWaldun]

Thanks Jared!

[@RCWaldun]

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. :)

[@eliasE989]

Great video, thanks!

[@CultivateFeelings]

Excellent recommendations, thanks you so much!!

[@RCWaldun]

You’re welcome! :)

[@djcybercorgi]

Gotta get Waldun a copy of Jason Bryan's upcoming 3rd book!

[@mattmontag3922]

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?

[@juanelcaballoloco9388]

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!

[@tricky-vixen]

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.

[@Cleveland_Rocks]

I can't wait to enter this thinker

[@skylarnielsentalks]

What are your thoughts on Murakami?

[@Gruso57]

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.

[@erickaparicio6118]

Byung-Chul Han is definitely Waldun in the future

[@RCWaldun]

Flattered. :)

[@alexhopewell449]

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.

[@RCWaldun]

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.

[@himeshwarirathore444]

I missed you

[@jackwheeler27]

Maybe Apple's new "Vision Pro" should come with some free copies of Byung-Chul Han.

[@battlepoet]

has anyone read Vita Contemplativa? It looks interesting to me

[@RCWaldun]

It’s brilliant, read it! :)

[@battlepoet]

@@RCWaldun I ended up buying the ebook last night actually! Thanks for the inspiration.

[@basalatbhat2687]

Its true 😂he writes so well that you end up highlighting the whole book

[@presidentrepublic2479]

How you make money? What you do?

[@riethc]

Byung Chul Han is writing in German. It's all about condensing meaning. 😅

[@Juan-kd5nz]

You need a Skillshare course on how to brush your hair...it is always a mess.

[@RCWaldun]

I blame my shitty conditioner.

[@Juan-kd5nz]

@@RCWaldunUse one with Keratin. Leave it for 10 mins.

[@BT-sc6lu]

And read Marx.

[@pragmaticthinker1139]

No

[@BT-sc6lu]

@@pragmaticthinker1139 I expect nothing less from someone with John Locke as their profile pic. Lol. I bet you value property over ppl.

[@pragmaticthinker1139]

@@BT-sc6lu No I dont. Plus Marx is a materialist which is why he is so wrong on so many things.

[@derherrgonzo9021]

f marx

[@ladyoftheflowers9781]

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 😂