- The Generation Divide – Is it actually significant?Keg & Brew Hotel, Surry Hills
Are Millennials really entitled 'snowflakes'? Are Baby Boomers stealing their children's futures? Do Gen Zs have no work ethic or attention span? Furthermore, does history follow a repeating cycle of generational types creating periods of crisis, recovery, and renewal? Let’s try to find out in this month’s meetup.
Book: The Generation Divide: Why We Can't Agree and Why We Should (2021) by Bobby Duffy (Note that the book is also sometimes listed under two other titles: Generations: Does When You’re Born Shape Who You Are? and The Generation Myth: Why When You're Born Matters Less Than You Think)
In our book this month, Bobby Duffy, a professor of public policy at King’s College London, wages war with generational stereotypes. He believes they are distracting us from real generational differences shaped by actual events and hampering our progress against serious challenges such as the housing crisis and climate change. He explores what the evidence shows on how when we're born shapes our attitudes to things like money, sex, religion, politics and much more. Informed by data from over 40 countries, as well as his own research, Duffy casts new light on the endlessly fascinating issue of what links the generations and how they differ.
In addition, this meetup will also touch on the Strauss–Howe generational theory which posits that history unfolds in cycles, with each generation playing a specific role in shaping and responding to societal events. This cycle repeats every four generations, culminating in a period of crisis and transformation, which the authors say we are going through now, coined the "Fourth Turning". Duffy and most academic scholars regard this theory with significant skepticism, but it’s still interesting and has a popular following.
While reading the book for this meetup is not compulsory, it is strongly encouraged to enable more focal points in our discussion. But Duffy has also done some presentations on the book and these are linked below. There is no set book on the Strauss-Howe theory, but there are also links below on it.
So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6.30pm Monday, October 7th at the far-end of the 2nd floor at the Keg & Brew Hotel, Surrey Hills. The Keg & Brew is close to Central Station and the Light Rail.
Hope to see you there!
p.s. Millennials, please refrain from asking how this meetup contributes to your personal brand😊
p.p.s. PLEASE ADJUST YOUR RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to people if there is a waitlist.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are just some links to consider.Videos
- A TED-style talk by Duffy (20 mins):
Bobby Duffy – Bright Ideas Talk
- A presentation and Q&A with Duffy (1 hr):
Bobby Duffy - The generation myth
- A short summary video of the Strauss-Howe generational theory (4 mins):
The Fourth Turning: 4 Minute Summary
- Two critical looks at the Strauss-Howe generational theory:
Are Generations Real? The History, The Controversy
The Strauss-Howe Generation Theory (a.k.a. the Fourth Turning): Fact or Cap- SBS Insight - Boomers vs Millennials (on the housing crisis in Australia)
SBS Insight - Boomers vs Millennials
- Dr Phil episode - Boomers vs Zoomers (purely for amusement value.)
Boomers vs Zoomers - Dr Phil Episode
Written
- The Generation Divide book website. You can use this website to dig into the data on generational differences on various issues:
The Generation Divide book website
- New Republic – a long review of the book:
New Republic – End the generation wars
- Pew Research announcing that it will move away from generational framing:
How Pew Research Center will report on generations moving forward
- A review of the history of generational labels and theories (from a book chapter):
Generational labels and theories summary
- The Big Think on Strauss-Howe Generational Theory
Strauss-Howe generational theory: Is revolution coming to America?
- Stoicism – What is the modern appeal of this ancient philosophy?Keg & Brew Hotel, Surry Hills
For those of us who haven’t kept up with the Stoicism revival, let’s do a meetup to learn some of the basics of Stoicism and figure out whether this philosophy is for us. In recent years, Stoicism has seen a surge in popularity, with advocacy from entrepreneurs like Jack Dorsey, athletes like Tom Brady, and self-development gurus like Tim Ferriss and Ryan Holiday. However, as our book this month argues, Stoicism isn’t just for tech-bros, sport stars and influencers; it offers valuable insights for anyone seeking a more peaceful and balanced approach to life.
Book: Reasons Not to Worry – How to be Stoic in chaotic times (2022) by Brigid Delaney
Former Sydneysider and writer Brigid Delaney had the serendipitous timing of diving into Stoicism not long before the Covid lockdown began in Sydney. The closure to travel was soon after getting her dream travel-writing gig. D’oh! Her subsequent book is both funny and insightful, and documents her systematic exploration of key Stoics ideas, often through debating a fellow explorer friend on walks along the Bondi to Bronte shoreline during the outdoor exercise periods we were limited to at that time. Key thinkers such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius are all included, along with a lot of practical advice.
While there are many books on this subject, ours has been praised by, among others, Russell Crowe, and he was like a son to Marcus Aurelius…so ¯\(ツ)/¯. However, while this personal journey into understanding Stoicism makes the book accessible and less dry, it may not work for everyone, and you are welcome to try any of the many alternative books out there, some of them I’ve listed below. The main thing is to get a handle on the key principles and practices of Stoicism.
So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6.30pm Monday, November 4th at the far-end of the 2nd floor at the Keg & Brew Hotel, Surrey Hills. The Keg & Brew is close to Central Station and the Light Rail.
The American presidential election is one day after this meetup, and, depending on your political standpoint and the result, you may want a good dose of Stoic principles and practices to help reduce your despondency and doomscrolling!
Hope to see you there.
p.s. PLEASE ADJUST YOUR RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to people if there is a waitlist.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feel free to share any useful resources on Stoicism in the comments section. I mainly focus on Delaney here.Podcasts
- ABC Radio National interview with Delaney (54 mins):
Brigid Delaney on the gift of the Stoics
- The Guardian podcast interview with Delaney (52 mins):
Brigid Delaney on how the Stoics taught her not to worry
- The first 52 mins of the audiobook. A good way to tell if you will like the book. (And remember if you have Spotify Premium, you get 15 hrs of free audiobook time):
Reasons Not To Worry - Opening 1hr
Written
- Delaney summarizes 10 Stoic attitudes and practices that helped her life:
10 tools of ancient philosophy that improved my life
- Delaney’s top 5 insights in the Next Big Idea Club:
Stoic Wisdom for Living a Life Full of Meaning
- Stoicism 101 website by Massimo Pigliucci:
- Three articles critical of Stoicism:
3 reasons not to be a Stoic (but try Nietzsche instead)
Why I am not a Stoic by Mariana Alessandri
Why you shouldn’t be a Stoic by Julian Baggini- Alternative (audio)books:
- How to be a Stoic (2017) by Professor Massimo Pigliucci. Also available on audible by this author is the course: Think like a Stoic - Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World (2021). The PDF that comes with it is especially useful.
- Probably the two most well-known popular authors behind the current resurgence of Stoicism are Ryan Holiday (The Lives of the Stoics, 2021; The Daily Stoic, 2016) and William Irvine (A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, 2008).