Cover of Strangers Drowning

Book · 2016 · Psychology

Strangers Drowning

Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and the Urge to Help

by Larissa MacFarquhar · Recommended by 1 person on 1 podcast

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There's a great book called strangers drowning that's about what happens when you enter this space and how it is so infectious and fact that it can destroy you once you start to realize how many people could use help.
Mark Duplass · The Rubin Report · Apr 2017 Listen at 1:04:07

Why people recommend it

Strangers Drowning by Larissa MacFarquhar is a captivating and deeply reported non-fiction book that examines the lives of extreme altruists who dedicate themselves entirely to helping others, regardless of the personal cost. On an episode of The Rubin Report titled On Bridging the Divide Between the Left and Right | Mark Duplass | POLITICS | Ru, which aired on April 14, 2017, guest Mark Duplass brought up the book during a discussion about human empathy and generosity. Duplass explained his foundational belief that giving is inherently infectious and that once an individual opens their eyes to the suffering of others, it changes their perspective entirely. To illustrate this phenomenon, he referenced the publication, noting that it details what happens when people enter that sphere of extreme selflessness. He pointed out how the book explores the all-consuming nature of radical altruism, explaining that realizing just how many people desperately need help can ultimately overwhelm and even destroy a person. Through this compelling reference, Duplass used MacFarquhar's work to anchor a nuanced philosophical conversation about the heavy emotional toll, profound moral obligations, and contagious nature of radical compassion in the modern world.

Every mention

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Mark Duplass there's a great book called strangers drowning that's about what happens when you enter this space and how… 2
Recommended
“there's a great book called strangers drowning that's about what happens when you enter this space and how it is so infectious and fact that it can destroy you once you start to realize how many people could use help”
Recommended
“my true belief in all of this and it's just based on my own experience is that giving is infectious and that once you start to open your eyes to the space there's a great book called strangers drowning That's about what happens when you enter this space and how it is so infectious and fact that it can destroy”