When you think about someone having a midlife crisis, you probably think of a man getting divorced, stepping out with a younger woman, and buying a sports car. But my guest today says the often jokey, mockable trope of the midlife crisis we have in our popular culture discounts the fact that the sense of dissatisfaction people can feel in their middle years is quite real, and that the questions it raises are profond, philosophical, and worth earnestly grappling with.
His name is Kieran Setiya, and he's a professor of philosophy and the author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide. Kieran and I first discuss what researchers have uncovered about whether the midlife crisis really exists, how it might be better described as a kind of midlife malaise, and how Kieran's own sense of life dissatisfaction began when he was only in his mid-thirties. We then explore the philosophical reframing that can help in dealing with the existential issues that the journey into midlife often raises, including feeling like you've missed out on certain possibilities and feeling regret over your mistakes and misfortunes. We also talk about how to shift out of one primary cause of the midlife malaise — the sense that your life is merely about putting out fires and checking off boxes.
Resources Related to the PodcastPhysical Benchmarks Every Man Should Meet, At Every Age
The Value of Learning New Skills in Adulthood
Stop Living on Autopilot and Take Responsibility for Your Life
The Humble, Narcissistic Leader
How to Land Your Dream job
The Complex Coolness of Steve McQueen
How to Do the Impossible This Year
How to Lose Weight, and Keep It Off Forever
Begin the New Year by Reflecting on These 3 Life-Changing Questions
How to Tell Better Stories
The Hidden Tragedy of Male Loneliness
A Change IS a Rest
Outdoor Competence With an Expert Backcountry Hunter
Bringing More Soul (and Poetry) Into Your Work
The Power of Brevity in a Noisy World
#665: How Childhood Shapes Adulthood
#664: The Masters of the Art of War
#448: Your Son Isn’t Lazy — How to Empower Boys to Succeed [RE-BROADCAST]
#663: How to Achieve Physical Autonomy
#662: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Tucker Carlson Show