“More & more people are “ravenous for admiration” and have “little or no commitment to others… people have “illusions about their importance & fail to recognize their own shortcomings?”
Christopher Lasch, The Culture of Narcissism, 1978
ON THIS EPISODE
We dive deep into research about self-absorption and its impact on community, inspired by Dr. John E. Hallwas’s insightful book “On Community.” Join Mr. Brewer and Cuba High School students Amber Cannon, Courtney Churchill, Tyson Markley, and Braxton Humphrey as they shed light on the significant obstacles to community-building efforts that a rise in narcissism may cause.
We invite listeners to reflect on these challenges with us. Please share your thoughts and questions about this episode on our Forgottonia Facebook page and/or website.
OBJECTIVES
- Are We Really More Narcissistic Than Ever?
- How has Narcissism Impacted Community Development?
- What factors are contributing to increased narcissism?
- How are leaders impacting this problem? Are they making it better or worse?
- What ideas are there to overcome the problem of self-absorption?
RESOURCES
- John Hallwas Webpage (Further info on Dr. Hallwas, his books, and more)
- On Community: A Crucial Issue, a Small Town, and a Writer’s Experience (Amazon Book Page)
- Western Illinois Archives (Where you can access hundreds of Dr. Hallwas’s articles, lectures, and books)
- Christopher Lasch Feature, America Magazine
- Jean Twenge, Books and Research
“By remembering the past of our communities and identifying with its people, we contribute to its emerging future — we can avoid alienation, deepen our true identity, & rescue ourselves from the meaninglessness that plagues so many contemporary Americans.”
John Hallwas, On Community: A Crucial Issue, a Small Town, and a Writer’s Experience
The Forgottonia Project 