On Giving Up
In this special episode, hosts Medaya Ocher, Kate Wolf, and Eric Newman discuss the case for and against giving up\u2014on life, vices, dreams, creative pursuits, jobs, relationships, exercise, and work. Their conversation is inspired by Adam Phillips\u2019s recent book On Giving Up, in which the psychoanalyst observes that \u201cwe give things up when we believe we can change; we give up when we believe we can\u2019t.\u201d The hosts discuss what is acceptable to give up, their own fears of failure, both fictional and real-life inspirational quitters, and whether Bartleby was onto something when he said he\u2019d prefer not to.