Episode
David Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
59:44
Published: Thu Nov 17 2022
Description
David Brooks became liberals' famous conservative by telling them what they wanted to hear. But ... why did they want to hear something that was lazy and wrong?Support us on PatreonWhere to find us: TwitterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources:A Reasonable ManDavid Brooks: Boo-Boos in ParadiseA Cartoon EliteDavid Brooks’s Conversion StoryDavid Brooks and the Endless Grift of the Conservative CommentariatHow The Bobos Broke AmericaDeath Of A Yuppie Dream: The Rise And Fall Of The Professional-Managerial ClassStuff the Professional-Managerial Class Likes: "Distinction" for an Egalitarian EliteDavid Brooks’s Search for MeaningThe facts vs. David Brooks: Startling inaccuracies raise questions about his latest bookDavid Brooks Is Not Buying Your Excuses, Poor PeopleThanks to Mindseye for our theme song!
Chapters
A discussion about David Brooks, a political opinion haver, whose appeal lies in his ability to effortlessly flit from topic to topic without acquiring any deep expertise.
00:00 - 02:24 (02:24)
Summary
A discussion about David Brooks, a political opinion haver, whose appeal lies in his ability to effortlessly flit from topic to topic without acquiring any deep expertise.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
This podcast episode features a discussion on David Brooks' latest book, wherein his thoughts and quotes are critiqued and analyzed.
02:24 - 05:59 (03:34)
Summary
This podcast episode features a discussion on David Brooks' latest book, wherein his thoughts and quotes are critiqued and analyzed.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The availability of mass education in the 1960s caused a flood of educated individuals into the workforce and a shift towards American culture based on their tastes.
05:59 - 14:59 (08:59)
Summary
The availability of mass education in the 1960s caused a flood of educated individuals into the workforce and a shift towards American culture based on their tastes. This post-New Deal realignment allowed the more educated upper middle class to associate themselves with the elite rather than the traditional middle class.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
David Brooks discusses his Atlantic article that explores the cultural divide between red and blue states, including his challenge to spend $20 on a meal in red America, which led him to frequent Red Lobster.
14:59 - 18:28 (03:29)
Summary
David Brooks discusses his Atlantic article that explores the cultural divide between red and blue states, including his challenge to spend $20 on a meal in red America, which led him to frequent Red Lobster.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
This transcript snippet features a conversation about David Brooks' proposal story and the mundane details of everyday life that we sometimes overlook.
18:28 - 22:46 (04:18)
Summary
This transcript snippet features a conversation about David Brooks' proposal story and the mundane details of everyday life that we sometimes overlook.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The speaker mocks the trendiness of some town's organic grocery stores and trendy furniture stores.
22:46 - 28:40 (05:54)
Summary
The speaker mocks the trendiness of some town's organic grocery stores and trendy furniture stores.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The speaker discusses the irony of selling extreme mountaineering gear to those who only use it for short hikes or simply as a fashion statement while driving a Subaru to their office job, and how this phenomenon is associated with a certain liberal demographic.
28:40 - 32:36 (03:55)
Summary
The speaker discusses the irony of selling extreme mountaineering gear to those who only use it for short hikes or simply as a fashion statement while driving a Subaru to their office job, and how this phenomenon is associated with a certain liberal demographic.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
David Brooks discusses the shift from traditional workplace aesthetics to modern workplace aesthetics and how CEOs are marketing work as self-actualization, leading to increased productivity but also making everyone work harder.
32:36 - 37:54 (05:18)
Summary
David Brooks discusses the shift from traditional workplace aesthetics to modern workplace aesthetics and how CEOs are marketing work as self-actualization, leading to increased productivity but also making everyone work harder.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
This podcast episode delves into the limitations of describing an entire generation without factoring in class and productivity.
37:54 - 42:15 (04:21)
Summary
This podcast episode delves into the limitations of describing an entire generation without factoring in class and productivity. The host criticizes David Brooks for his views on the early days of the internet and how he defines people by their formalist archetypes instead of considering their values.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The Bobos, as the new ruling elite, are setting up a new set of opaque and oppressive rules similar to the previous ruling class.
42:15 - 47:48 (05:32)
Summary
The Bobos, as the new ruling elite, are setting up a new set of opaque and oppressive rules similar to the previous ruling class. This is comparable to the modern discourse on cancel culture and the left's dislike of the authoritarian impulses of the right.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
A discussion on the evolution of conservatism and how the never-Trump movement eventually fell in line behind Trump's movement.
47:48 - 57:09 (09:21)
Summary
A discussion on the evolution of conservatism and how the never-Trump movement eventually fell in line behind Trump's movement. The speaker also touches on the concept of wokeness being more than just a social philosophy but also a strategy for personal advancement.
EpisodeDavid Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"
PodcastIf Books Could Kill
The speaker critiques David Brooks' "sandwich shop" metaphor, where Brooks encourages the audience to focus on small and less important issues instead of the obvious and measurable problems like the cost of living, university fees, and low-income jobs.
57:09 - 59:25 (02:15)
Summary
The speaker critiques David Brooks' "sandwich shop" metaphor, where Brooks encourages the audience to focus on small and less important issues instead of the obvious and measurable problems like the cost of living, university fees, and low-income jobs.