Why Chasing The Good Life Is Holding Us Back With Lauren Berlant

For most Americans, the driving force in their personal and public life is a desire to attain the “good life”. But what if our attachment to that desire is the very thing holding us back? Lauren Berlant is a theorist and English professor at the University of Chicago and the author of “Cruel Optimism” a book about when you're attached to forms of life that fundamentally get in the way of the attachment you brought to them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Get on the list: Subscribe to the Big Brains Insider newsletter for access to special behind-the-scenes content and get a bigger bite from every guest. http://eepurl.com/iiMiI5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Story and Full Transcript: https://news.uchicago.edu/podcasts/bi... Berlant has been writing about finding attachment and belonging in America her entire career. But she says the Presidency of Donald Trump has completely shattered our understanding of what it means to have a public and a shared connection as citizens. But she wants to try and reshape things. Listen to the Big Brains Podcast stream on the web: https://news.uchicago.edu/podcasts/bi... You Can Subscribe to Big Brains on... Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2ICJ51L Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Stitcher: http://bit.ly/BigBrainsStitcherYT Spotify: http://bit.ly/BigBrainsSPTFYyt Have a great idea for a Big Brains podcast episode? Pitch it to us: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... *** ➡ Subscribe to UChicago on YouTube: http://bit.ly/UCHICAGOytSubscribe About #UChicago: Since its founding in 1890, the University of Chicago has been a destination for rigorous inquiry and field-defining research. This transformative academic experience empowers students and scholars to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. #UChicago on the Web: Home: http://bit.ly/UCHICAGO-homepage News: http://bit.ly/UCHICAGO-news Facebook: http://bit.ly/UCHICAGO-FB Twitter: http://bit.ly/UCHICAGO-TW Instagram: http://bit.ly/UCHICAGO-IG University of Chicago on YouTube:    / uchicago   *** ACCESSIBILITY: If you experience any technical difficulties with this video or would like to make an accessibility-related request, please email [email protected].