Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

Wanting explores why people desire what they desire and offers strategies for pursuing more intentional wants. Luke Burgis draws on the work of French polymath René Girard to examine mimetic desire—the psychological force that drives human wanting. According to this theory, humans do not desire independently; instead, they imitate what others want. This mimetic process shapes choices in partners, friends, careers, clothing, and leisure activities, and plays a role in identity formation. Burgis argues that conflict arises not from human differences but from sameness. Because people learn to want what others want, they often compete for identical things while emphasizing minor differences. The book explains phenomena ranging from the enduring appeal of Shakespeare's plays to Peter Thiel's early investment in Facebook, and examines how increased connectivity has deepened social division. Drawing on experience as an entrepreneur, teacher, and student of classical philosophy and theology, Burgis presents tactics for converting unconscious wanting into deliberate wanting. Rather than eliminating desire, the approach involves desiring differently—achieving greater independence from trends and finding increased meaning in work and life.