How have smartphones contributed to the decline in dating and romantic relationships among young people?

Smartphones make asking someone out anxiety-inducing, as rejection is more personal. Furthermore, the prevalence of ghosting and the lack of taught breakup conversation skills lead to distrust and hesitancy in forming relationships, as people often feel 'burned' and lack the practice in romantic engagement.

Are smartphones 'kryptonite' to human faculties like attention and judgment?

While not strictly 'kryptonite,' smartphones offer irregularly timed rewards, fostering addiction. They can be a tool to enhance cognitive abilities if used intentionally, but overuse often leads to a 'shot' attention span. Banning phones in schools has shown positive effects on student and teacher well-being.

Can AI help or hinder human intellectual development?

AI can be a powerful tool if used to enhance thinking, but it poses a threat by enabling 'totalistic cheating' where students have AI do their work, robbing them of education. While AI can solve complex problems in technical fields, its utility in the humanities is currently limited due to the quality of internet data it processes.

Why has the cultural impact of novels diminished compared to the past?

The novel is no longer as central because prominent outlets for book reviews have decreased, making it hard for new authors to gain recognition. Furthermore, the cultural landscape is now dominated by faster media like TikTok and YouTube, and there's a perceived 'loss of audacity' in contemporary literature and the humanities.

What is 'audacity' and why is it considered scarce in modern culture?

Audacity refers to bold, original, and influential creative acts that shape perception and culture, seen in past art, literature, and music. The speaker believes this quality is now scarce, replaced by professionalism and commercialism, particularly within the humanities.

What qualities define a good mentor, based on your experiences with Bill Buckley and Milton Friedman?

Good mentors like Buckley and Friedman embody dedication, continuously striving to influence the world even in old age. They hire based on potential and provide constructive feedback, and crucially, they know when to let go, allowing their mentees to develop their own independent thought.

How does your view on human rationality differ from Milton Friedman's?

Unlike Friedman's belief in rational models, I emphasize that humans are less rational and often respond to incentives in non-logical ways. I believe passions and emotions, when well-trained, are often wiser than pure reason, and that initial aesthetic judgments heavily influence downstream thought processes.

What journalistic epistemology do you advocate for, as opposed to academic data analysis?

Interviews are a powerful and valid mode of knowing. While academics focus on population data, interviews offer life-changing insights and capture the nuances of individual experience and living history, which can be overlooked in purely quantitative research.

In your view, has neoconservatism been proven right about policy, despite the criticisms of occupation?

Neoconservatives were right about the importance of analyzing a society's moral fabric and the idea that internal regime types influence foreign policy. However, they were wrong about the feasibility of externally exporting democracy. I now root for figures like Obama and Biden, indicating a shift from traditional neocon positions.

What is the fundamental difference between your current political views and those of Milton Friedman?

Friedman's strength lies in his internally consistent logical systems, while I believe human beings are far less rational and much more influenced by passions and aesthetic judgments. I don't adhere to strict assumptive models and lean towards a more emotional and perceptual understanding of decision-making.

What are the core social and cultural problems facing America today?

The core issues are sociological, cultural, psychological, and moral, stemming from the destruction of 'secure bases' like family, community, and a shared moral order. This leads to social suffering disproportionately affecting those with less education and stable family structures.

What political agenda could promote large-scale change by addressing America's social ills?

Focusing on rebuilding social trust is key. The path to renewal involves three phases: a cultural renaissance (moving from hyper-individualism to a social gospel), a civic renaissance (creating organizations for coordination), and political reform to clean up government, mirroring the successful period from 1880-1910.

Given the current societal ills, should America consider major involvement in a war to reinvigorate the national spirit?

No, war and pandemics tend to make countries uglier and do not reliably bring them together. Instead, national renewal would come from citizens forming mass movements to articulate principles, organize, and create alternative visions, fostering a bottom-up rebuilding of trust and civic structures.

What is the primary driver of motivation and desire on a human level?

We vastly overvalue intelligence and know less about 'conation' – where desires come from. According to Augustine, we are primarily desiring creatures, and what we desire determines our beliefs. Stamina and determination, or being a 'force of nature,' are crucial.

Has the US reached or passed peak broad-based human intellect?

While AI may introduce a new form of intelligence that could make us smarter, the speaker believes we may have passed the peak for a single individual possessing broad, Gerta-like intellect due to increasing specialization. However, being a generalist journalist who can synthesize across fields remains an advantage.

What makes Japan a unique example of social cooperation?

Japan paradoxically demonstrates both extreme social cooperation (returning a forgotten water bottle) and a lack of broad civic-mindedness. This duality challenges conventional thinking about community and social organization.

What are the key differences between New York City and London as cultural centers?

While New York is still a cultural center, London is currently perceived as more dynamic. New York operates at a unique pace, but London offers a greater mix of cultures and perhaps a more universally appealing cosmopolitan feel, though recent trends may be shifting this balance.

Key Moments

David Brooks on Audacity, AI, and the American Psyche (Live at @92ndStreetY)

Conversations with Tyler

News & Politics4 min read75 min video

Aug 20, 2025|10,094 views|187|18

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Key Moments

TL;DR

David Brooks on cultural decline, AI's impact, and the search for meaning in America.

Key Insights

Young Americans are experiencing unprecedented levels of sadness and loneliness, despite increased academic competition.

The pervasive use of smartphones contributes to anxiety in relationships and a decline in face-to-face social interactions.

AI presents a double-edged sword, posing risks of educational shortcuts while also offering potential as a cognitive tool.

American culture has experienced a loss of audacity, with a decline in the impact of novels and a shift towards professionalism and commercialism.

David Brooks reflects on his intellectual journey, finding himself on the 'rightward edge of the leftward tendency' and rooted in a sense of moral order.

The erosion of a 'secure base'—family, community, and moral order—is a primary driver of societal malaise and individual unhappiness.

THE PARADOX OF YOUNG AMERICA: SADNESS AND STRIVING

David Brooks highlights a stark contrast in the lives of young Americans today: while facing record levels of sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness, they are also subjected to an intensely competitive academic and professional landscape. This intense pressure to succeed, exemplified by astronomical rejection rates for elite schools and internships, contributes to widespread anxiety and a "rejection factory" mentality. Conversely, students at less exclusive, mid-tier institutions often exhibit greater happiness, suggesting that hyper-competitiveness at the top strains mental well-being and social connections.

TECHNOLOGY'S TOLL ON RELATIONSHIPS AND ATTENTION

The conversation probes the impact of technology, particularly smartphones, on social interaction and relationship formation. Brooks posits that the constant availability of digital communication leads to a decline in essential relationship skills, such as initiating contact or handling breakups gracefully. This digital mediation creates anxiety and distrust, making young people hesitant to engage in romantic pursuits. He likens smartphone addiction to an 'irreguarly timed reward' system, diminishing attention spans and potentially eroding crucial cognitive faculties.

AI: A TOOL OR A THREAT TO HUMAN INTELLECT AND EDUCATION

Brooks views Artificial Intelligence not as a definitive kryptonite but as a potent tool with significant implications. While acknowledging AI's capacity to solve complex problems in fields like astrophysics and economics, he expresses concern about its application in education, where students might bypass the learning process entirely. He distinguishes between using AI as a tool to enhance thinking, like his own use of an iPhone for reading, and allowing it to think for us. Brooks emphasizes that AI lacks genuine understanding, judgment, and emotion, qualities that define human intelligence.

THE EROSION OF AUDACITY AND THE NOVEL'S DECLINING ROLE

A significant theme is the perceived loss of 'audacity' in contemporary American culture. Brooks laments the diminished role of the novel as a cultural mirror, contrasting it with historically influential works that shaped public imagination and moral understanding. He suggests that the current media landscape, dominated by shorter-form content, alongside a rise in professionalism and commercialism, has stifled the bold, perspective-shifting creativity exemplified by writers like Charles Dickens or George Eliot. This, he argues, leaves a void in addressing the present era's complex interior and public traumas.

MENTORSHIP AND INTELLECTUAL EVOLUTION: BROOKS'S JOURNEY

Brooks reflects on his formative mentors, William F. Buckley Jr. and Milton Friedman, emphasizing their profound influence and their shared, relentless drive. He details Buckley's mentorship in fostering journalistic skills and offering crucial early career opportunities, while highlighting Friedman's intellectual rigor. Brooks situates himself ideologically at the "rightward edge of the leftward tendency," a position distinguishing him from the more traditional conservatism of his early mentors, particularly in his embrace of some New Deal policies and his less purely rationalist approach to human behavior.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE 'SECURE BASE' AND THE PATH TO RECOVERY

The core of Brooks's diagnosis lies in the destruction of a 'secure base'—a stable foundation of family, community, and moral order—that once provided existential security. He argues that societal problems are primarily sociological and moral, not economic. The decline of two-parent families and the privatization of morality have left many, particularly those without higher education, vulnerable to social suffering. Brooks believes national renewal comes through 'rupture and repair,' similar to historical periods of civic and cultural renaissance, emphasizing the bottom-up rebuilding of social trust through local 'trust merchants.'

RETHINKING INTELLIGENCE, MOTIVATION, AND COMMUNITY

Brooks's upcoming book focuses on 'conation'—the drive and desires that shape human behavior, suggesting it is more fundamental than intelligence. He critiques the overemphasis on cognitive skills while neglecting 'non-cognitive' aspects like motivation and resilience, essential for navigating challenges. He admires lifelong learners like Warren Buffett who continuously incorporate new perspectives. The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of cultural centers, with a debatable shift away from traditional hubs like New York City, and the potential for AI to influence, though not solely dictate, societal and political realignments driven by lived experience.

Mentioned in This Episode

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Common Questions

Young people face immense academic and internship rejection rates, fostering a sense of being the 'most rejected generation.' This, coupled with the anxieties introduced by digital communication and a perceived decline in values regarding relationships, contributes to widespread sadness and hopelessness.

Topics

Political Philosophy Novels Social Trust Civic Renewal Human Intellect

Mentioned in this video

personKenneth Clark

An art critic whose work identified high points in Western art by their audacity, suggesting a current lack of this quality in culture, particularly in the humanities.

personPhilip Roth

An author whose novel's release was a significant cultural event during the speaker's college years, highlighting the past cultural impact of novels.

personAlexander Hamilton

Described as a 'Puerto Rican hip hop star from Washington Heights' and one of Brooks' heroes, representing the belief in using government energetically to create opportunities for social mobility.

personGertrude Himmelfarb

A historian and wife of Irving Kristol, whose work on the evolution of morality across civilizations is considered profoundly true and essential for understanding societal changes.

personJohn Leonard

A book critic mentioned as someone hired by William F. Buckley Jr. based on writing ability, illustrating Buckley's mentorship style.

personDavid Robertson

A conductor who was a guest on the host's podcast, discussed for his use of short musical snippets to gauge immediate listener preference, illustrating the power of quick aesthetic judgments.

personValentina Kosva

A 93-year-old woman in Moscow during the 1991 coup who shared her life story of enduring immense hardship throughout Soviet history, serving as an example of living history and the power of interviews.

personDaniel Bell

Mentioned as part of the cohort that influenced David Brooks' understanding of neoconservatism, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the moral fabric of society.

personJames Q. Wilson

Author of 'The Moral Sense,' a book highly recommended by David Brooks for its insights into the moral fabric of society, a key tenet of neoconservatism.

personWilliam F. Buckley Jr.

Founder of National Review, discussed as a mentor to David Brooks and others, known for his rapid writing pace and influence on the modern conservative movement.

personKatherine Graham

Owner of The Washington Post, she mentored Warren Buffett in his 50s by introducing him to social circles alien to him, demonstrating Buffett's adaptability.

personGeorge Marsden

A historian whose insights on Martin Luther King Jr.'s rhetoric are cited, emphasizing the power derived from a belief in an inherent moral order and natural law.

personSusan Engel

Researcher who studied the high rate of questioning in three-year-olds and observed how early education systems can repress curiosity, contrasting with the host's sustained curiosity.

personJohn Ruskin

A 19th-century art critic quoted for stating that the ability to 'see' reality is rarer than the ability to think or talk, highlighting the importance of deep perception, often found in art and literature.

personNathan Glazer

Part of the intellectual cohort that shaped David Brooks' views on neoconservatism, focusing on societal moral fabric and skepticism of certain 1960s liberal programs.

personTom Wolfe

An author whose novel 'Bonfire of the Vanities' was a major cultural event and captured the essence of New York City in the 80s. The speaker suggests a lack of modern novelists with his social realist audacity.

personAugustine of Hippo

His quote 'We're not primarily thinking creatures. We're primarily desiring creatures' is used to emphasize the importance of desires in shaping human beings and their beliefs.

personJackie Gleason

A comedian interviewed by David Brooks, whose interview was characterized by two hours of jokes and humor, highlighting a memorable and funny interview experience.

personIrving Kristol

A key figure in the neocon movement, who, like many in his cohort, grew up in a specific intellectual milieu and became suspicious of 1960s counter-culture.

personR. H. Tawney

Author of 'Two Cheers for Capitalism,' cited as representing a perspective that was skeptical and sophisticated about capitalism, influencing Brooks' views.

personRichard Hofstadter

Author of 'The Age of Reform,' whose work highlights the historical convergence of populist and progressive movements, suggesting a similar potential for contemporary political unity.

personGary Wills

Mentioned as someone William F. Buckley Jr. hired based on writing ability alone, showcasing Buckley's hiring approach.

personCharles de Gaulle

His memoir's opening line, 'All my life I've had a certain idea about France,' is used as a parallel to David Brooks' lifelong 'idea about America.'

personDavid Wignall

A young man from Williams College who observed that current generations feel like the most rejected due to massive rejection rates in college and internship applications.

personRobert Bartley

A former boss at The Wall Street Journal, described as a Midwestern farm boy comfortable with long silences, teaching Brooks about working with people from different cultural backgrounds.

personWalter Lippmann

Author of 'The Public Philosophy' (1955), which is cited for its warning that if right and wrong are determined solely by individual feelings, civilization is on shaky ground.