Byung-Chul Han: The Burnout Society & Vita Contemplativa

[@Pretzels722]

Honey wake up - Leaf x Leaf is doing a Byung Chul Han video

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hahahahaha!

[@Tony-id6kg]

Han is huge here in Germany - well, huge for a philosopher, or as he's better known, "Zeitkritiker". I think his popularity is due to his books really connecting with how people feel. He's very far from a typical, entombed in his tower academic. Some of my other favourites by him : Agonie des Eros (which is about love, loneliness and narcissism), Infokratie (which builds on the ideas of Burnout Society und its crossover with the information age) and his latest Krise der Narration, which deals with the increasing lack of meaning because of the lack of meaningful narratives in society...Honestly, any of his books offer at least one valuable and actionable idea. Great video!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I preordered his Crisis of Narration from Polity (8 April)! I like that word: Zeitkritiker. German is a language I wish I had learned. Well, hey--I suppose there's still time! I definitely want to read Infocracy. You're right: his crossover with so many prominent elements of society makes everything really alluring. Glad to hear from someone closer to the source, and who has read more of Han than I, that there's still much to glean.

[@Tony-id6kg]

@@LeafbyLeaf I envy you a bit, to be honest, because you get to discover him and his ideas for the first time! Infocracy gave me a lot of clarity around my own experience working in IT, in the areas of AI and Big Data. His take on the difference between knowledge and information, calculation and thinking, machine and human was enlightening! And I've been in this industry for 20 years; I thought I had it all figured out. I've also found that this specific book is a great gift to give to people who have no specialist knowledge about IT or philosophy, but a lot of anxiety or overwhelm around the topic of AI. And yeah, sometimes the German word hits that special spot that's ineffable in a different language ;-) German isn't that complicated to learn actually - very logical, very few rule exceptions, very literal vocabulary, and also, closely related to English. Definitely give it a go! Happy exploring and thanks for all the great content - I love the more long form stuff that goes in depth!

[@kieran_forster_artist]

Great introduction to Byung chul Han, Chris. You have shown readers why this philosopher truly does have powerful meta-insights that can help us. His clinical and sociological insight is amazing. Once you learn to read him so you can follow his associative style of thinking, there is just a plethora of real penetrating understanding. Thank you so much for bringing him to your readers !

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Really appreciate the affirmation, Kieran, especially given your professional experience and your deeper depth of reading Han. I’m continuing into his other books now. 🙏

[@byAlecSanchez]

Leaf x Leaf has not only inspired me to read in the first place but also to become a better reader over time.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

That means a great deal to me. Thank you. 🙏

[@mohammadataei689]

this is THE most important video on YT

[@LeafbyLeaf]

What an accolade!

[@jpmisterioman]

What I like about Han is that he's a philosopher in the original sense of the world. He tries to talk with us, normal people, and not hide himself behind academic jargon. These are my favorite writers/thinkers because this's what matters in the end: you can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you can't communicate it, it doesn't really matter. Anyways, you should also check out Mark Fisher's "realist capitalism".

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I agree. Although, in some cases, I can get interested in academics debating some ultra-specialized point that only those in their ultra-specialized area of concentration care about-in the end, this doesn’t really help the masses. And It’s rare to come across someone like Stephen Hawking who could take such complicated topics and express them in accessible and worldview-altering ways. Thanks for that recommendation!

[@romdotdog]

​@@LeafbyLeaf I strongly recommend capitalist realism. It's powerful.

[@brianclary8205]

Fine recommendations as usual, Chris. You mentioned that Byung Chul-Han is Catholic so the themes he addresses are timely with The Lenten season being underway. Trying to prepare a place for God in one’s day is one of the disciplines during these 40 days. I’m reading a book called Prayer by Catholic Theologian Hans Urs Von Balthazar and most of the book centers around the theme of contemplative prayer.

[@amateurstanding]

Thanks for the recommendation, will definitely check it out

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Yes, thanks for this recommendation! I’ve read some work of Thomas Keating on centering and contemplative prayer that seems to really align with Han.

[@tysonn4736]

You know society is sick when we have to 'optimize' our free time.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Yep. His description of how our “free time” has essentially become co-opted by our work is spot on.

[@pixelneer]

I JUST had a conversation with a friend this morning. He shared a video about how we should schedule our free time, and weekend time first, and THEN our work schedule so that we don't let work take the place of that personal time. :(

[@LifeLessonsFromBooks]

Thank you. These books (and this philosopher/author) would be right up my alley and answer a lot of questions I have about the nonsensical nature of competitive work and toxic workplaces. When I left the corporate world two years ago, I’ve been going on a similar journey trying to understand it. These books I’m sure will help. Thank you.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

My pleasure! Definitely sounds like you’ll get a lot out of this thinker’s books. Also-I’m jealous of your exodus!

[@thedialectic6346]

This is a great review and analysis of one of our modern maladies. As a deeply religious person, I kept feeling the argument towards my way of life. However, to fall short of the ideal is to be human. This is a great reframing of the need to worship, acknowledge that the love of the world is death, and live a contemplative life.

[@naomioba]

My entry to Han was psychopolitics, and some of his interviews. Been devouring others such as expulsion of the other and rituals since. Can also highly recommend those. Esp how play is becoming yet another tool for getting us to spend more time and "achieve more" on platforms hit a chord while real play is killed (such as poetry as play with words).

[@fadista7063]

I can certainly see why this philosophy book fits into your repertoire, as you bring so much contemplative energy to all your videos...which leads me to say I think many people find them very high value, and while I hope you continue to make these vids, not at the cost of the vita contemplativa....✨️ Your intermittent fasting analogy is perfect and accurate. The brain needs fasting from data, stimulation, artificial environments, etc. Fasting is an activity with passive elements, it is a seeking out of healing and elevation, which is why most religions require it. I have been in CorporateWorld for 30 years and hear exactly what you are saying about "optimization", and that way it can train our brains into a mechanistic production line...the training can cause our brains to create everything as a target of optimization...I have found meditation and microdosing to be two key ways (along with fasting) to disallow the complete transformation this brain training our culture seems to be intent on pursuing. So...always looking forward to your work...but take respites as needed!🌻

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Very, very generous compliments--thank you! To be clear, I have to give credit to Han, who actually stuck the analogy to fasting. :)

[@kapellmeister51]

Saying things I’ve held in the background of my mind for years, now making sense!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

There were so many times that I felt like he had been observing my life and articulating a problem that I had long felt but could never express.

[@Bob-kt6bi]

this one really shifted my gears, thankyou

[@LeafbyLeaf]

You’re quite welcome! 🙏

[@ceez3317]

Thats an impressive amount of books

[@GavinskisTutorials]

I love Byung-Chul Han and both these books, and I really enjoyed hearing you recapping the main themes and giving your own additional thoughts, thank you so much!

[@jt6563]

I have worked in IT all of my career, and I tell you, I am wholly burned OUT. I'm sick and tired of the corporate bullshit agenda. After so many years, you can see and hear the same patterns and language. I've been thinking a lot about Office Space (the movie) where Peter ends up working in construction and is happy with it.

[@jayb276]

Like Iain McGilchrist's critique of our "Left-Brain" Society. It's heartening to see these ideas springing up as a corrective.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I’ll have to check that out!

[@jackwheeler27]

@@LeafbyLeaf Ian McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary is truly a miraculous book. As eye-opening as Byung-Chul Han. I heartily second jayb276.

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

When the west went east they discovered eastern philosophy, a lot based on self introspection and putting away material thoughts. The only issue I could see was that the West was making progress and the East had been stagnant for centuries - by choice. He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his own ruin than his preservation, Machiavelli. Just a thought.

[@alex593-x5x]

This is a great video! One criticism I have is that I believe that neurological disorders like ADHD are often somewhat genetic (I and my mom who grew up in a very different society have ADHD). That said, I believe the many different symptoms of ADHD are experienced to a much lesser degree by people without it and the high engagement world we live in can create temporary (or not so temporary if lifestyle changes are not made) symptoms that mimic it. I don't have evidence for this, but just what I've anecdotally seen. But otherwise I think the observation that our leisure time is often a part of the productivity process is so accurate. Again anecdotal, but I think a lot of this need for rest from work is the persistent mental trauma from work and our resistance to it. I think the solution (given like you mentioned we're talking about a 40 - 50 hour work day and not 80 - 100 which for most is unsustainable) is acceptance and boundary setting. For me personally it changed my life when I started scheduling my day hour by hour and accepting that what I needed to do as those hours passed was what was best for me (scheduling both work and leisure in these hours). That removed a lot of the resistance and mental struggle that came with doing work and a lot of the need for rest from it.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Yeah, I had the same reaction, to be honest. And since I'm not totally clear on his implications, I didn't touch much on this specifically in the video. I'm not sure if Han is implying that the loss of the contemplative life is the _root_ of bipolar, ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc., or rather a factory that exacerbates it. For sure, genetics play a huge role. I, myself, am ADHD and was put on medicine as a child, which turned me into a zombie. Reading has, in many ways, been a huge help to me. Indeed, it's literally therapeutic. And you've nailed it about boundary-setting. This is absolutely key in a world where you will be constantly prodding to give more and more and more.

[@stanponkin9238]

I was very disturbed (in a good way) by his Disappearance of Ritual. I am going to order these two books now. Thank you for the video!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

And I am going to order the book you cited! Cheers!

[@leonardo75]

I experienced everything the Leaf is describing in this video. Thank God my life has changed.

[@elise_.y]

the idea of performance-based living due to our ego ideal and how that impacts our sense of identity sounds incredibly interesting! I feel like I’ve experienced this a lot in recent years where I seemingly can’t escape the compulsive desire to ‘optimise’ myself (my learning, my appearance, my digital self, everything really). Will definitely pick up some of his works! Do you know which one of his books talked about aesthetics? (Also, that intro video on philosophy was an incredibly helpful guideline for me on where to start haha, so thank you 😅!!)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Absolutely, the quest of self-optimization is something that really hit home for me, too. Soon we will be wearing gadgets (electronic wearables) from head to toe! Han also talks about how we've become producers (as in a movie producer) of ourselves. This topic, especially in light of this YT channel, really caught my attention. Good stuff. The book about aesthetics is called _Saving Beauty_ (Polity Books). (Thank you so much for the kind comments about the philosophy video!)

[@bjwnashe5589]

Excellent presentation. Always great to come across a new thinker/writer here. My first thought is that Han's thesis is perhaps limited to the bourgeois professional class. Lower class workers are still largely ruled by the old disciplinary model, enforced by cops and prisons. I look forward to reading Han. Sounds fascinating. Essential, even. Am curious if he discusses class struggle.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Excellent point, of course, because for the lower classes, not only are they largely still under the obedience model, they also rarely have the luxury of choosing a contemplative life. Of the few Han books I’ve read, I do think he at least addresses the class problem, but I read something relevant earlier this year in Henry at Work by John Kaag: he noted that the life Thoreau advocated isn’t realistic for most of our blue-collar workers. But it’s the mind set of the lower classes’ oppressors that really needs to change, and those are the people to who Han’s book is targeting.

[@asimplenameichose151]

Might be imagining it, but I think I hear a little Pieper in Han ... ('Leisure, the Basis of Culture' and 'A Theory of Festivity' in particular) - I don't know whether Han is Catholic, but if so that connection would make even more sense. Thank you for covering these books! I have also been recently getting into reading Han but haven't yet picked up his latest book. Looking forward to it.

[@Jared0203]

Han says in an interview that he is a Catholic, albeit a strange one. He talked about originally studying theology to become a priest, which he said he may still do. I think the Pieper connection may actually be the case. I feel like Han referenced him in his books but I can’t quite remember now.

[@christopherstrunk4540]

This is great. I feel like Byung-Chul Han's work kind of dovetails with Mark Fisher's work and Undoing the Demos by Wendy Brown, which are definitely worth checking out.

[@crypto_yes]

Funny - i found your channel from that philosophy video. I keep coming back because you choose some deep books.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Ah, well, in the end I'm thankful! :)

[@domm1341]

Byung-Chul Han is just brilliant!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and agree with you!

[@HorsefeatherTrout]

Sagely, concise, captivating hard to deliver any further constructive feedback.

[@alexhopewell449]

Perfect timing--halfway through Vita Contemplativa (have read most of Han's work already, and this one is resonating even more than his usual work) and am looking forward to your analysis.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Awesome! Are there any others that are standouts to you?

[@alexhopewell449]

​@@LeafbyLeaf Titles that stand out for me are: Infocracy, Absence, Philosophy of Zen Buddhism, Non-Things, and Disappearance of Rituals. He really doesn't miss, though, so I'd recommend just about anything of his. He can, however, get repetitive across some of his works, which isn't such a bad thing if you don't mind having his points driven home. Enjoy the journey!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

@alexhopewell449 thanks so much!

[@gregorspv]

I read The Burnout Society in the German original a couple of years ago. As a philosophical argument, I found it severely lacking in structure and persuasiveness. But it is often that I observe this about continental philosophy more generally. I originally read it because a friend, who was in med school, gave it a raving review-I think she was most likely just burned out!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Haha, yeah, I think most people in med school are constantly burned out. It's brutal. I definitely see The Burnout Society as a sketch of Han's framework for observing society, not as a rigorous philosophical system.

[@maxb7731]

Amazing video Chris! A lot of this sounds right on. Just curious though what you think about how people can/do deal with their minds during periods of inactivity because our minds have become conditioned so heavily by stimulation that boredom has become an intolerable torment. Like how do we reverse thrust in a practical way? It seems that our own minds might treat us more poorly in stasis than in hyperactivity. Stoicism? Curious to hear your thoughts!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I’ve never been a big fan of stoicism because I think our desires and feelings are beautiful things and shouldn’t be repressed or conquered. We need self-control, yes, but not suppression of what makes us human. Plus, I’m just not wired that way. Stoicism and Buddhism are a no go for me. I think what Han is pointing to is more in line with meditation and centering prayer in that these practices are all about suspending the busyness of our bodies and minds. But it could also be simply walking a trail and taking time to really look at the natural surroundings. There’s no goal other than not-doing.

[@nolandost3070]

The idea that the master becomes the slave of production, this desiring of production leading to neurosis, these are recurrent themes in Anti-Oedipus by Giles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. If you're interested in going deeper, you'd find a lot of insight there.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Ah, thanks for that! Anti-Oedipus first allured me with its proposition that the mentally insane are the only ones who are truly free. But I've only poked at the book from time to time.

[@jpmisterioman]

​@@LeafbyLeafYou should also check out Mark Fisher "capitalist realism". It deals with the same topics.

[@j.danielchristie2622]

I guess we're all just reading Byung-Chul Han now huh lol Just finished The Palliative Society, strongly recommend

[@LeafbyLeaf]

www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/the-internets-new-favorite-philosopher Indeed! :p

[@opencarrydrift6308]

Another great video, Thanks for all that you do!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

My pleasure! 🙏

[@lucastephen-sujdovic5090]

Do you think reading them both is important? Or does Vita Contemplative function as an updated restatement of The Burnout Society? Thanks for a great video.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I think Burnout Society articulates our currently societal model and then Vita Contemplativa defines what our living in this model has done to us as individuals while also pointing to the way out. To me, there is very little overlap. That said, VC could definitely stand on its own.

[@Ianjames1066]

You must then read Mark Fisher's texts (Capitalistic Realism; The eerie and uncanny, ghosts of my life)... the first text parallels BCH's The Burnout Society and actual yields a source of this global pathophysiology... both of these cogent authors changed my medical mind than any previous text I've ingested/digested... thank you for your posts

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I've seen that book from time to time and been curious. Thanks for recommending it!

[@Barklord]

Recommended non-fiction: *The social costs of neoliberalism: essays on the economics of K. William Kapp* -Book by Sebastian Berger

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks for the rec!

[@ollieboy117]

Do you think you'll ever talk about Georges Bataille and his work? You've already covered Blanchot (one of my favorite vids of yours) who is Bataille-adjacent, so I'd love to hear your thoughts on Bataille!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

You know, I read his most notorious work (Story of the Eye) a long, long time ago and it was just too off-putting for me. But I've since read The Impossible and Literature and Evil, and I thoroughly enjoyed those books. Still, that was back in 2012. I need to revisit him. Any suggestions?

[@ollieboy117]

@LeafbyLeaf you should check out Blue of Noon! It's not as off-putting as Story of the Eye, but it's still classic transgressive Bataille!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

@ollieboy117 thanks for the rec! 🙏

[@williambentley2802]

Brillient.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

🙏

[@JohnTravena]

Entrepreneurs of ourselves, or each of our ‘brands’.

[@Eyesayah]

Much appreciated. Perhaps you will find a way to bring the vita contemplativa as a yinish complement to egoic attention. I get the feeling that this is an inside job, where the kingdom of god is said to be. All the much speakers are likely to quash the project; boundaries might help.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Yeah, I agree that it's an inside job. External boundaries are key, too. But it's a personal, interior change.

[@kd-qx9us]

Hey man, I'm new to the channel and you mentioned a submission-selection of sorts, but this topic got me thinking to make a request out of left field...I happened across a book called "48 Laws of Power" and perusing it, thought yes this basically explains what I see today. It's almost as if people read this and decided I will henceforth live my life with this as my bible. Is it off base to say that in the world as it is now, this genre has the highest fecundity?

[@mercurious6699]

Great video thank you

[@abhishekmurarka159]

When your favourite under the radar book is about to go mainstream...

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Very kind of you to say! :)

[@elmarwolters2751]

Contemplation introduces ambiguitty that we need to negotiate ...

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Oh, I like that!

[@jdfromparis6230]

Excellent video, as usual. Here is a quote by Beckett to go with it taken from "Proust and Three Dialogues with Georges Duthuit": "Death has not required us to keep a day free." In today's world, it seems more and more likely that the only excuse one might have to stop working is to unexpectedly kick the bucket, while attending a funeral will get you looks for not showing up at work. Not only are we not living contemplativa vitae, we have basically forgotten what it means to do so, hence, as you said, the number of people who will end up working during their vacations because that's all they feel comfortable doing with their time. In our societies, a vast number of people unexpectedly die within the first year of retirement. Not because they are already too old or sick, but because they failed to acclimate to the drastic change of pace in their lives. But hey, soon we will all use our Apple Vision Pros to... to... to..., well, I don't know exactly, but we will you use them, so there.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

As usual, JD, your input is so truthful, resonant, clever, and, well, entertaining, too! I love this: "In today's world, it seems more and more likely that the only excuse one might have to stop working is to unexpectedly kick the bucket, while attending a funeral will get you looks for not showing up at work." And great point about the high percentage of people who pass away shortly after retirement. I have seen this first-hand with many, many colleagues over the years (I've worked for the same company for 20 years). That is really horrible: to work ourselves to the bones and pass away upon finishing.

[@elmarwolters2751]

You mention " hope " ..... check out what BCH says about hope in a society of fear .......

[@iforget6940]

How do have time to respond to every comment

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I guess I really don't have time, but I try to seize opportunities (such as right now) and _make_ time. All best!

[@michaljambor7772]

The language of Burnout Society was mostly impenetrable for me. Too abstract and academic, nothing came out of it for me, even if I might agree with the larger thesis.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Ah, sorry to hear that. Indeed, as I (think) I said in the video, like most philosophers, he does contrive his own vocabulary to more precisely present his framework. And I definitely see how that can get in the way: we essentially have to learn a bit of a new grammar before being able to really read the text. It could be because I had already done the work in Burnout Society, but Vita Contemplativa seemed way more accessible and less academic, for what it's worth. Bonne chance!

[@MaximTendu]

If you found Byung-Chul Han's way with word mostly impenetrable, I'm worried about what you would make of Heidegger . . . .

[@michaljambor7772]

@@MaximTendu Fair enough. Interestingly, there is plenty of Byung-Chul Han's speeches/interviews here on YT where he articulates things in plain “human” language, where the abstracion is served with examples of "on the ground" real life experience.

[@michaljambor7772]

@@LeafbyLeaf Yes. There is a lot more clarity when he talks in couple of interviews here on YT. And there is quite a few sections in the book that I underlined, which were good to revisit. The main points pretty much, emphasized by you and other reviewers.

[@theloniusmonk1263]

He's not a Catholic he's a Zen Buddhist

[@RookiesRookie]

Video is perfect at 1.5x speed.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Great tip! 🙏

[@jagriti0003]

@@LeafbyLeaf I normally listen to your videos at 1.5x speed but while I was doing it for this video I realized it is ironic to be doing so given what he is talking about.

[@elmarwolters2751]

Faster , faster ....

[@BardSonic]

The most overrated, overpriced philosopher alive.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I understand why you could say overrated, but why overpriced? Or are you implying overpriced because overrated?

[@zingai4015]

Your opinion is meaningless; nothing of value was stated. Emphasize your points.