The Dark Side of Hustle Culture | Henry David Thoreau Walden

Hustle culture is an internet phenomenon that emphasizes the importance of hard work. It’s especially popular in the entrepreneur or self-help communities, however, the specific goal of this hard work isn’t usually specified. Henry David Thoreau writes in his book Walden about people in his time who waste large portions of their lives working. He notices the “superfluous” things that these people work for, and to escape this, he tries to live a life going after just the basic necessities. By considering Thoreau’s insights in a modern context we can raise up some questions about the nature of work and the desirability of those superfluous things. #thoreau #walden #hustleculture
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Video tags: henry david thoreau, walden, hustle culture, Thoreau, Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Hustle Culture, self help, grind, motivation, entrepreneur

[@jdc1957]

I have seen Everything under the Sun, and behold, All is Vanity, and a Striving against the Wind.

[@richiedurnal6242]

I think we are talking about an endless quest for more vs. finding satisfaction and enjoying the simple things. It seems like it’s an easy choice to pick the latter but boy, many of us go for the carrot.

[@PhilosophyToons]

It's not an easy task to not go for the carrot, in a sense, its the norm.

[@jmoa5758]

Clout chasing is dominating social media so yeah people brainwash to take that carrot

[@jdc1957]

Agreed, but I cannot except a 23yo to understand. (At that age, I wouldn't)

[@AshlynSmith-bp3rr]

Expect*​@@jdc1957

[@AshlynSmith-bp3rr]

​@create306💯agreed... Everyday should be used to help people, motivate the hopeless, and change the world for the betterment of Mankind, (all races UNLIKE AND alike) ONE LOVE💙 AND PEACE TO THE POPULOUS🫂🫶

[@siddharthgautam159]

my personal philosophy is, if you cannot use your money to explore the world, the people, cultures, cuisines and geography that it offers, and you'd rather have material objects, you've wasted it all.

[@PhilosophyToons]

Same for me. Material objects fade with time, and while memories can do they same, they're usually more long lasting and important

[@aljonserna5598]

Basically what materialism really about is chasing luxuries and showing them off

[@a.r.c8021]

I think this is easily approachable if one is responsible only for himself. The majority of people are willing to work long hours and engage in hustle culture not only to attain luxuries but to make sure they can provide for their family, especially their children. People are willing to sacrifice their time for the sake of others. But that doesn’t mean that it is necessarily a good thing. Some children probably wish that their parents worked less so that they could spent more time together even if it meant sacrificing some aspect of their current lifestyle. At the end of the day we should all work to live and not live to work.

[@PhilosophyToons]

That's very true. Working to make ends meet for you and those you love is very different.

[@Rynewulf]

Exactly! Thoreau relied on his mum to clean his clothes, his friends to deliver meals and his writing mentor to give him rent free land with a pre furnished cabin. He wasnt even responsible for himself!

[@J1M95]

I enjoy enjoyable luxuries, I don't need many though. Work takes a lot of time out of everyone's life so in my opinion having a nice job, even if it does not pay the best salary, is a luxury itself. Everyone has different tastes in luxuries and enjoyable things. Someone might like a nice suit or loves cars, some want to read or travel, some want to make bank or lift weights. Just live a life you enjoy, too many people spend all their life learning to live instead of just living it. Current work-life lacks soul and a lot of people grind for things that do not matter for them. Only to realize it later once they've grown old.

[@PhilosophyToons]

True, it's like that saying goes where if you work at a job you love you won't work a day in your life (I probably butchered that)

[@happyduck70]

Currently reading the Walden book and Thoreauxly enjoying it. I find the word choice Thoreaux fairly difficult, so this really clarifies. Thank you sir! You got a new subscriber!

[@eastonbolin1674]

Just subscribed!! Awesome videos man. Easy to digest philosophy delivered in an entertaining package with good commentary. Love it

[@sarinazianour2729]

you're the best processor of this information, being able to bring it to present life examples!

[@Cheirador123]

I'm glad I found your channel. Great video!!!

[@imperishablestuff8758]

Great video. Thank you !

[@jdc1957]

Perhaps.... The Greatest Book.

[@K1ngcrazy516]

Just bought Thoreu, I’ve read Emerson and I’m excited to start Walden. I’m actually going to study civil engineering, so hopefully one day I can build myself a little log cabin.

[@PhilosophyToons]

That would be awesome!

[@arjundurbhakula]

YOU'RE THE MAN KEEP MAKING VIDEOS BRO

[@Eternalised]

Your videos are always refreshing to watch! Appreciate the effort put in. Great work

[@PhilosophyToons]

Thanks bro!

[@PhilPhysics]

The beautiful model giving you a handy for the icon drop? Lolol

[@guillemhuguet5576]

Really nice video, as always. Keep it up!

[@PhilosophyToons]

Thanks Guillem

[@bilalahmad2402]

good stuff - subbed!

[@ChaosArtist]

Nice video. I'm currently reading Walden and working my way through Hustle Culture v Thoreau life. My day job is as a software engineer. I chose this career because it can pay well but also because I enjoy problem solving.

[@JoeyMentz]

Wow, I loved this

[@bluetoad2001]

i never got anywhere working hard. sometimes like Ivan Denisovich hard work made me happy, but not often. i’m 68, i do as i please, eat vegetarian and as much organic as i can get. life is good

[@thegreatlatinobambino5419]

GREAT VIDEO

[@zuperz6152]

amazing video

[@IncreasinglyGreasy]

this dude Thoreau really just wrote a book on BIG’s “Mo’ Money Mo Problems” smdh

[@PhilosophyToons]

lol in a sense

[@jaxong.2701]

Lol you went both ways on travel. Good, bc I agree that seeing new places helps to grow our perspectives

[@paddy1198]

good video

[@donerbude6380]

Nice work man, just subbed your channel now :y

[@PhilosophyToons]

Appreciate it! Like your pfp btw

[@donerbude6380]

@@PhilosophyToons lol thanks :D

[@Dragonfly0314]

Hustle Culture is a paradigm of belief that Thoreau was trying to thwart with his writing. In his day he was very unpopular, but as a man of deep understanding he still went against the grain to experience life to the fullest within nature. We’re only here for a blip of time in the great scheme of things. Life is precious. Our time is precious. What Thoreau was calling superfluous has been multiplied over the last century, while his name is glorified. I live near Walden and am still looking for folks who actually want to explore what simplifying actually means in our day. The pond itself is overrun now. The path around it is flanked with cattle fencing. The Thoreau Society is dedicated to preserving his writing, but I don’t see any promotion of simple living. I think he would be rolling over in his grave for the way he’s been elevated as a writer yet his meaning is still disregarded. Each one of us is unique and can offer something to society in a positive way by simply following healthy interests and taking good care of your physical, mental, and spiritual hygiene. Hustle Culture is a big lie sold to Americans, and we bought it.

[@jawvees2585]

Finally found my spirit channel 🍃✨️🚶‍♂️

[@operationsusfoods1354]

Found on reddit

[@mesmerino]

Nice video summation of Thoreau and Walden. He was hardly the first minimalist though.

[@saiganesh4109]

the commonality is the things that you get with money or the thoughts you get with time are impermanent, thoughts create more thoughts and the desire for things cant get satiated, so duck it

[@mascotts8275]

I have recently made drastic changes to my career, which in turn has given me vast amounts of time which was the purpose, although now i'm struggling to fill my days in meaningful ways, do you or anyone in the comments have resources or advice for finding purpose and fulfilment in this new to me lifestyle. Thank you. Also your videos and channel are great hope the quality absolutely represents a professional channel.

[@caesarpizza1338]

Whenever i have freetime, I usually use it to talk to friends and family. Sometimes I’ll also read a book.

[@ronnielee3402]

I've gone through a similar career shift lately too that's afforded me a lot of extra time, and I like to volunteer at a local ministry. I'm not religious by any means, but I support many of their programs for community enrichment, like reading to kids and feeding them lunches in the summertime, because I used to be one of those kids. It means a lot to someone who's parental figures are always working to have some kind of supportive adult in their life, even if it's only once a week for like 2 hours. They take that nourishment and seek it in other parts of their own lives, maybe not immediately and maybe not in ways you'd notice, but in their own time they'll seek growth because they'll remember the compassion a stranger showed them. Or if you don't like kids try out the SPCA, you could foster a cat or dog for them. Most clinics I know in my are are always filled to the brim and looking for help in any form. Even delivering spare dog food or toys, those dogs run through toys like crazy lol. Food banks and Goodwill/Salvation Army usually need volunteers to sort through donations and keep their facilities clean and orderly. These are only suggestions though, there's plenty more you could do other then volunteering, this is just my own experience with my newfound free time. I hope you find something that gives you your own sense of purpose, because you're the only one who can define what that is 😁

[@gaaraofthedesert5808]

Imagine not subscribing to amgalyavids

[@onfroyer5194]

That beautiful model 😂

[@PhilosophyToons]

IKR

[@unknowninfinium4353]

Thank god he dint change his channel to cartoon philosophy. Amygdala is way classier. Dude about philosophy you got to check Mike Tyson Hotboxin stuff man, his insights are super deep man. Its essential.

[@deviation7777]

Intro hit a little to close to home.. nice video tho :D

[@FutaConnoisseur]

Thoreau had some good points, but I think a lot of what he aimed at was out of reach of most people. In today's world, sure, there are accounts that portray #hustle #grind culture, but it's all corny bullshit. A lot of the people who hustle and work 2-3 jobs do so if they are desperate, and the state of the western world seems to be getting more desperate to me.

[@AP-dk9xt]

What are your goals for fulfilling experiences in light of these ongoing travel restrictions?

[@Thomk121]

I always say I work in order to live how I want. I do not live to work for my employer.

[@RavenclawFtW3295]

I work a job I'm not crazy about, because it makes me a more altruistic person. I am getting paid to do something that I otherwise wouldn't do. I maintain the beauty and scenery of a park, which enhances the lives of the people who visit. If I could choose any job I wanted knowing I could make a living off of it, I would probably choose landscape photographer. But reality doesn't care about my innermost desires and emotions. Very few people make any kind of living off of taking landscape pictures and selling them. Even people who do make a living as photographers are doing so largely by getting hired to take pictures of weddings, pets, and families. They don't do it by just wandering around, taking pictures of things they like, and then saying to people "please buy this." That'd be selfish. It's because I work this job that I can purchase some fishing gear, books, or what have you, and then satisfy my own desires by using these.

[@ndubstar]

Money is the meaning of hustle.

[@Rynewulf]

Its rich he talked a big talk about being independent and living in nature, but spent most his life as a working in the family factory, and lived rent free on friends land where he had food delivered and he was close enough to short walk to his mums house to get her to do laundry. He was delusional and no more a homesteader than someone living in a trailer in their parents garden who comes inside to have them cook and clean him while he complains about how everyone else lack independent living

[@sunkintree]

You didn't read the book and are just parroting talking points of other people who haven't read the book Just letting you know that to everyone who has read the book, they can see right through you. If you knew how transparent you were, I don't think you would have said what you said, because you would be aware how embarrassing it is. Cheers

[@opium884]

high ping but first

[@PhilosophyToons]

congratz

[@deannguyen57]

.

[@AndyLeeGraham]

Economic arbitrage - I have worked about 1-2 hours per day for 25 years, in 114 countries. 80 percent of the world earns less than 25 dollars per day, super easy to earn the USA, / Europe money, then get a better value living in one of the 200 normal countries, the over-developed countries are bad value for the buck. Plus the women abroad are better.