Wanting

Luke Burgis's application of René Girard's mimetic desire theory to modern life — arguing that most of what we want, we want because others want it, and this has profound consequences for business, relationships, and meaning.

Mimetic desire made actionable: Burgis explains how mimetic desire shapes startup fundraising (investors want what other investors want), hiring (candidates become more attractive when others are pursuing them), career choice (people pursue prestige rather than fulfillment), and consumer behavior. The practical framework: distinguish 'thin' from 'thick' desires, identify your 'models' (people whose desires you're imitating), and cultivate genuine wants. A synthesis of Girard's Violence and the Sacred and Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World into a business book.