David Brooks in Conversation with Jonathan Capehart

Writer, cultural commentator, and New York Times columnist David Brooks has some advice for how to develop a healthy family, company, classroom, community or nation in our deeply polarized society: make other people feel valued, heard, and understood. A Chicago Humanities favorite, Brooks offers this advice and more in his highly anticipated new book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. Sitting down for a conversation with MSNBC and Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart, Brooks will guide audiences through the intricacies of empathy, vulnerability, and the quest for genuine connection, asking us all how we can see something larger in our fellow human beings and, therefore, see something larger in ourselves.
This program is generously underwritten by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Donate now to support programs like this: www.chicagohumanities.org/don...
Explore upcoming events: www.chicagohumanities.org/
Connect on Twitter: / chihumanities
Connect on Facebook: / chicagohumanities
Connect on Instagram: / chihumanities

[@jzz1019]

Never ever miss these two on Friday nights. Harmony!

[@dwhitman3092]

Exactly!

[@kathysowers]

I could listen to these two all day! I admire David's wisdom and Jonathan's tenacity, even when things are 👎. Wonderful session, thank you!

[@mattbonna]

Yes agreed, what a treat! I am so glad this came out!

[@mattbonna]

Yes agreed, what a treat! I am so glad this came out!

[@donofon1014]

I hope you watched or became aware of Brooks declaration of his close personal friendship with Harlan Crow, Yes a guest on the same circuit as Leonard Leo and Clarence Thomas. He enjoys the generous hospitality of the American billionaire with a Garden of Totalitarian Statues ....

[@sherryberry2394]

I so agree with you! I love their Friday sessions on PBS.❤

[@ChineseJCVD]

Agreed! These two LIVE and EXEMPLIFY what they preach. Love it.

[@neonxfirefly]

An HOUR of "Brooks and capeheart" woohoo!

[@mymax43]

I am a WASP. David and Jonathan, every week, help me see outside of my bubble. Thank you.

[@nonayoung8177]

you are very brave😋to want to see outside your bubble

[@thaisoneon]

Thank you for doing that. I haven’t found an outlet I can handle for listening to the other side since Chris Wallace left Fox. I should try again though, so I can check in the way you are to alternate points of view.

[@mariabarr1286]

Two admirable sophisticated men, that captured my attention and respect. Watch them every Friday.

[@Logiconfire]

It's neat the way Brooks always plays the submissive.

[@claudehaynes6419]

There is joy in listening to this conversation because it gives me hope that we can overcome our differences.

[@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282]

I believe that the anger is actually fear. We are so isolated, so benumbed, so miserable....

[@Knurla1]

I don't always agree with David, but man, do I think he's right about this! Such a great conversation! Thanks so much to everyone involved

[@austonjames1]

I always love listening to you two talk to one another. Thank you!

[@MiddleAgedFox]

This was an excellent session. I learned many practical ways to encourage meaningful conversation and resist judgement of people with whom I have serious differences of opinion.

[@Diana-jx1ju]

Such an important subject to focus on during '24!

[@julioantoniocuauhtemocgarc813]

We always learn something with Mr. Brooks. An illuminator indeed to all, a perfect guest for this festival. Greetings from Mexico way in the south, he has followers here.

[@tomsaxton970]

Very interesting. I currently live in Ecuador. I noticed that my ecuadorian friends don't seem to have any curiosity about me. They never ask me about my life or the US, etc. I have learned that their culture considers it rude to ask personal questions. So, the culture would hinder following many of these concepts. I love Brooks and Capehart!

[@denise2169]

What could you do to change your relationship with your friends? 🙂

[@tomsaxton970]

@@denise2169 I don't need to change the relationship. My point is that different cultures may not fit the mold for how to communicate enumerated by David. I'm not saying he is wrong, it's just that if I ask questions like he suggests (in Ecuador) it may be considered rude and unlike David suggests for north Americans, not appreciated.

[@tracek]

​@tomsaxton970 my partner is from Bulgaria and he says they have a similar culture there. I've noticed it with his Bulgarian American friends here in the US.

[@marilynnyoung7026]

I always watch you both on PBS NewsHour, so an actual, entire hour of you both? Great!

[@crshuby]

Wonderful, every Friday on PBS news hour. I wouldn't miss you guys. Love this.

[@rosemaryowings5407]

I want to read his book. Brooks is wonderful as is Jonathan. 1:03:43

[@kathleenharrison1535]

We are here to love each other into the fullness of being.

[@ellenbruckermarshall4179]

Toppers find a word or subject they can relate to and then run the conversation all the way down the metaphorical court. Topper then shoots baskets till the team leaves the court in frustration. Good conversationalists set people up, pass the ball, signal readiness or approval. They invite others in, summarize, check for understanding.

[@jkrasney1]

A terrific conversation between David & Jonathan Capehart. I really find Jonathan's abilities to research the people he chooses to interview. Recently, I had the privilege of watching Jonathan interview Senator Jeff Merkley at Politics and Prose in Washington DC. I was amazed at Jonathan's moderating skills and listening abilities, while choosing to ask thr next question, blistering to thr response by Senator Merkley as he did with David Brooks.

[@denise2169]

“ Everything I say, I am either making you feel more safe or less safe.” Yes, this is so important, and I now try to look behind others’ words, to feel the emotions behind what they are saying, especially when they seem to be criticising me. What I start to see is that they have some history, like Brooks’ story of the factory manager, that I don’t know about. I often find people who are critical, were themselves likely highly criticised. People who are not curious, seem to be stuck in their own pain and experience, and by listening, we can better understand.

[@evelynramos445]

Being there without words

[@laurenwarwick6517]

I love the quote You can't have a healthy democracy on top of a rotting society.

[@jcharris6557]

Thank you 🙏 ❤️🦋🇺🇸🌈⭐️🌺

[@NickRichards]

My speculation of our loneliness is in part due to social media reaching so many more of us, with specific narratives based on your digital profile type casting you, and setting expectations for you of a specific sort of thinking. Kind of a trap .. it is like before you rebel from your parents as a teenager, where you hopefully start to think differently and realize that you want to break free from them, in some way realizing who you are. But social media is just reinforcing where you're at. I feel like it creates stagnation and breaks a number of basic human social behaviors. I think we've got to look carefully at our relationship with social media.

[@mirfir]

Storytelling is powerful! 😊

[@Jackie371]

I like David Brooks. I'm not in a financial position to buy his book right now, but I'm gonna see if the library has it.

[@mirfir]

Libraries are fabulous

[@bethsutherland9568]

WOW!

[@pattyklug1724]

Life coaching techniques for conversation. Powerful questions! Reflective questions.

[@kathleendriscoll2447]

I was excited to learn so much from these gentlemen❤

[@ellenfalls1330]

One of my best days: Respectfully listening to a stranger for two hours who was willing to talk because I acted kindly. He was a rabid Trump supporter. The conversation was just before the '16 election. It helped me cope with what was happening in our country, although I disagreed with many of his opinions.

[@upperechelon3456]

Excellent gentlemen. Never boring.

[@user-zy4pu8uh5n]

Excellent! Thank you both.

[@aricar325]

This conversation was beyond excellent. Thank you so much for facilitating it and posting it.

[@ernestintownandjackintheco1024]

And let’s not forget that after 1.6, David Brooks also wrote a column saying “this is when the fever breaks.“ Even I knew that wasn’t true.

[@daprovocateur]

I’d love to hear more about how Brooks’ and Jonathan’s relationship has evolved and how they’ve influenced each other. Two thoughtful smart compassionate men with very different life histories.

[@peterdavey8348]

Fantastic conversation. In Australia, in the early 90s, there was a guy called Andrew Urban who went out into the street with a microphone and cameraman and just talked to people and he drew out the most amazing and personal stories. He just let the conversation flow and was always respectful. I'm pretty sure that the people he interviewed found it to be a therapeutic experience.

[@brownmcpherson5724]

An hour of civility.

[@cjplay2]

I see some tech managers I work with needing this video.

[@suffolkid]

Greetings from Mumbai. Loved this conversation. I can totally relate to the illuminator/diminsher analogy at work. So much wisdom in an hour that will last me a lifetime.

[@patriciajump9511]

People don't have practice or even much experience talking like David recommends. If you meet one who doesn't talk as he is suggesting, try to guide them. People often don't know how (and often cognitively are unable) to retain their comment until the other stops speaking. If they wait, all they can say is, "That's nice." So try to trigger the person to respond to what you said. have forgot their response by the time you stop talking

[@Allen1029]

This is beautiful.

[@deborahpiquant2523]

This is a fabulous talk/discussion. But the wrong people are hearing it.

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Wonderful. Apply some of this thinking to Trump supporters, see Trump supporters not as flyover country but as valuable mainly but no necessarily White, mainly but not necessarily non-college, and if folks can get around how intelligent they are about their lives and their needs to be seen and treated as children of God.

[@netgenrb]

Best hour I've spent this week; thank you -

[@pattyklug1724]

I love this, and it essentially is rooted in coaching philosophy when listening to others. Active listening!

[@stevetownsend6556]

I LOVE David Brooks!

[@tracek]

Maybe we could have a prize like X Prize for someone who figures out how to convert diminishers to illuminators.

[@Allen1029]

The avoidance conversation reminds me of the "control dramas" described in The Celestine Prophecy.

[@joro8604]

Both gems! Sanity.

[@evelynramos445]

Reverence how we see all people and address them

[@LivinginCentralNewJersey-ep4bq]

My Coach stated; the strategies that you had in childhood those strategies won't get you through adulthood.

[@glenrotchin5523]

He’s describing Martin Buber’s I-Thou.

[@aaron2709]

Love to see these two smart guys in this more casual setting .

[@sharonjoy6234]

My Jonathan was going to go from scholarship to scholarship, although he was always smarter than his teachers. He was 17 when I was arrested and charged at 25 years and he he accepted a plea bargain (I didn't) and ae said he wouldn't hire himself without on his record so quit school. . Yet his Wall Street program probably caused Black Monday because he didn't trust those who hired him. His name was put on the patent of that of That which measures the emissivity of materials which probably helped win The Desert Storm war when he Opposed that war. . Intel had him hire top students from the best colleges when he didn't go to college himself. He still loves to learn and teach but I what pleases me is that he has never wasted time and money to pursue the love of money Or the ego thing . I'm ordering your book now. But just by thinking you're listening I realize I don't want to waste your time. Instead I will hire a college student to help me write a book so you can learn what I've learned the hard way if you choose to.

[@alrosano5786]

David has his own son fighting for the IDF , cool 😎!

[@timothyjohnson6258]

I am curious; when they record one of these conversations/debates, do they purposely look for venues with the absolute worst acoustics possible or do they just roll up and park their carcasses wherever they are let in?

[@shakthidhasan4544]

Brooks is never a waste of time❤

[@johna1160]

Surprised and disappointed that neither speaker factored in a broader audience than the one before them. Jonathan launched into introducing DB's latest book WITHOUT TELLING US THE TITLE! David then starts talking about his alma mater WITHOUT TELLING US THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL! Short sighted rookie mistakes.

[@ken_in_atx9619]

I miss Mark Shields, RIP.

[@Lyn777]

Not a good introduction because he didn't say the title of the book or raise it up so that we could see the title.

[@pattilunsford492]

That wouldn’t be absence island would it

[@evelynramos445]

Use a bowling aisle

[@niqkwhite595]

Who’s gonna tell David that “topping” means something different these days? 😅

[@charlypetra191]

IT IS CELL PHONE AND OTHER MAGNETIC RADIATION ON THE BRAIN.

[@rebeccapatterson649]

Oh neat, the columnist I’ve read for ten/fifteen years pops up on KZbin.

[@Ooo20024]

Never seen these dudes legs before.

[@carterwgtx]

I don’t want to be “that guy” but the people who most need to read this book…are the people least likely to do so.

[@evelynramos445]

Riding you, l call

[@paulmandelstein6531]

His philosophy is similar to Buddhism

[@rajachhatwal1266]

I hope Brooks had enough money for lunch.

[@ivanostry3359]

I remember very well David’s ‘both sides do it’ from about 10 years ago. I have no respect for him.

[@Puffsdad]

I’ve had many disagreements with Mr. Brooks over the years. I still respect him wholeheartedly.

[@Personalfinance_10174]

David Brooks was an early gardener for MAGA. Ploughing and watering the fields. Enjoy Dave!

[@wabisabi87]

A conversation about listening and respecting people yet chalks trumps supporters up to uneducated, poor, resentful people who hate all dem educated richies?! Unbelievable and condescending. I love a lot of what David Brooks is talking about and agree with most of it, but he sounds like he needs to practice it more.

[@titusp9488]

Healthy Democracy and rotting society .... WOW truth hurts Capehart as no real heart he is like the robot that is missing a heart

[@user-qm8hb6mr2b]

I like the Not Interested button on youtube

[@tracek]

It seems more men are toppers than women. I also notice many people, instead of topping, they "instruct" by having some sort of "insightful" truism.

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

I adore David Brooks and my very liberal friend hates him with a passion. Do not get it.