#057 - John Koenig on Sorrow, Identity, Contradiction, & The Human Experience

Audience of One

John Koenig is the author of The New York Times' Best Seller Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a dictionary of made-up words for emotions that we all feel but don't have the words to express. We talk about his book, identity and individuality, contradiction, writing, the human experience, fatherhood, and more.

—

(00:44) Why use "sorrows"?

(02:51) Did he ever expect the dictionary to be what it is now?

(05:48) Existential wonderment and loss

(08:50) Truth, internal dialogue, and contradiction

(14:00) Contradiction of definitions

(17:02) Is introspection valuable? Can you know who you are?

(20:43) Not focusing on the present

(24:18) Self-actualization vs. contentment

(30:26) How you perceive people vs. how they really are

(35:57) Next book: Sonder

(39:03) Does sensitivity make life more difficult?

(41:54) Career identity & pigeonholing

(44:24) Writing vs. video

(47:32) How fatherhood changes work & focus take on his work; finding meaning in community & ritual

(51:25) Where does meaning reside?

(53:27) Creative process takeaways for kids; self-expression and art

(55:15) John's final questions for listeners

—

John’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/obscuresorrows

Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Obscure-Sorrows-John-Koenig/dp/1501153641

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/obscuresorrows

Spencer’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R

Spencer’s Blog: https://spencerkier.substack.com/