The "Quiet Desperation" of the Modern Rich

Anxiety has doubled as we've gotten wealthier. Here is the 170-year-old diagnosis of exactly why that is happening (and how to opt out).

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Lately, we’ve covered cardio machines, endurance, and exercise psychology—tactical stuff that helps you make better decisions about your health and performance.

That stuff matters. But every so often, it’s worth zooming out and asking a bigger question: What’s this effort actually for?

All the exercise and healthy eating in the world isn’t worth a damn if you’re building it on top of a broken (or nonexistent) philosophy of living. You can do all the right things for your health and still be a tongue-chewing idiot (trust me, I accomplished this from age 23 to 28).

This post is about the psychology of life and how to live it. The right big-picture frameworks create the foundation for everything else. When those are sound, your health practices compound into a life that’s actually worth extending.

Which brings us to one of my favorite philosophers.

He died more than a century ago. But when I revisit his work, it’s wild how clearly he diagnosed modern malaise—as if he had a crystal ball for the 21st century.

Consider this: Anxiety and depression rates have doubled in the United States since 1990, despite us having access to more therapy, more medication, and more self-help content than any civilization in history. For the first time, fewer than half of people in developed countries are satisfied with their lives.

This guy was onto why that’s happening.

Even better, he also had solutions.

Today you’ll learn:

• Why doing what society expects often leads to a flat life.

• The critical difference between being alone and feeling lonely (and why you need both).

• How my favorite philosophy saved his family business—and what it teaches us about “just doing stuff.”

• Why the person with the least stuff is often the most free.

• How to use modern conveniences without becoming a “tool of your tools.”

Quick housekeeping

• Submit questions for Friday’s AMA here.

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5 Lessons for Living