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Against Identity

The Wisdom of Escaping the Self

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Against Identity

By: Alexander Douglas
Narrated by: Alexander Douglas
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Brought to you by Penguin.

Modern life encourages us to pursue the perfect identity. Whether we aspire to become the best lawyer or charity worker, life partner or celebrity influencer, we emulate exemplars that exist in the world – hoping it will bring us happiness. But this often leads to a complex game of envy and pride. We achieve these identities but want others to imitate us. We disagree with those whose identities contradict ours – leading to polarisation and even violence. And yet when they thump against us, we are ashamed to ring hollow.

In Against Identity, philosopher Alexander Douglas seeks an alternative wisdom. Searching the work of three thinkers – ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, Dutch Enlightenment thinker Benedict de Spinoza, and 20th Century French theorist René Girard – he explores how identity can be a spiritual violence that leads us away from truth.

Through their worlds and radically different cultures, we discover how, at moments of historical rupture, our hunger for being grows: and yet, it is exactly these times when we should make peace with our indeterminacy and discover the freedom of escaping our selves.

© Alexander Douglas 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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This is an exceptionally well-written, thoughtful book that truly changed my perspective on identity and why we cling to constructed ideals and values. The narration is clear and easy to listen to.

Fascinating & thought-provoking

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