Episode · EconTalk · 2026-01-12
Books mentioned on The Mattering Instinct (with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein)
Philosopher and author Rebecca Newberger Goldstein discusses her new book, The Mattering Instinct, which argues that our lives are a quest to validate our inherent self-centeredness.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Mattering Instinct
The Mattering Instinct by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein is a thoughtful exploration of how our deepest human longings drive both connection and division in society.
Discussed“Her latest book and the subject of today's episode is The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us.”
Where to get it
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The Ethics
Discussed“His his magnum opus is called the ethics. And you know when I when I would teach it to students it was”
Where to get it
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The Theory of Moral Sentiments
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith is a foundational work of moral philosophy and economics that explores the psychological and emotional underpinnings of human behavior, sympathy, and social order.
Discussed“And Smith in the theory of moral sentiments when he wrote that meant us by loved, he didn't mean just romantic love.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Own book The Mind-Body Problem
“Gosh, it the first book I ever wrote which happened to have been a novel um and uh was called the mindbody problem very philosophical novel”