Nilesh Jasani's Reviews > Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

Wanting is a thought-provoking book in parts, but its most significant utility is its knack for compelling introspection. That our desires are not as original as we credit them with is not a massively original message by itself. Introducing mimetic desire as a revolutionary idea feels like a rebranded take on what we've long intuited. One is still forced to think about which of one's yearnings result from others' influences, and in those self-reflections, many readers could find their joys or utility.

Mimetic desires are a social phenomenon. In its simplest form, it means we often want what others want. In cruder terms, we're prone to coveting what our neighbors prize. As parents have lectured children from time immemorial across cultures, these things lead to an insidious cycle of competition and rivalry, which can spiral into conflict, violence, and even war at the darkest depths. More common manifestations are self-destructive behaviors, addiction, and consumerism. Of course, at times, they can also be a force of good.

This reader found the section on scapegoating particularly striking - not for its originality, but for its resonant echoes of memories past, casting them in a new light. For other readers, different chapters may stir their depths; the book's breezy narrative is sure to inspire a reflective pause.