{"product_id":"against-identity-the-wisdom-of-escaping-the-self-9781802063318","title":"Against Identity: The Wisdom of Escaping the Self","description":"Modern life encourages us to chase the perfect identity. Whether we aspire to be the best lawyer or charity worker, life partner or celebrity influencer, we emulate the exemplars around us--hoping it will bring us happiness. But this pursuit often leads to a complex game of envy and pride. We may achieve these identities, only to crave admiration from others. We clash with those whose identities oppose ours--fueling polarization and even violence. And when their blows land, we're left feeling hollow. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In \u003ci\u003eAgainst Identity\u003c\/i\u003e, philosopher \u003cb\u003eAlexander Douglas\u003c\/b\u003e seeks a different kind of wisdom. Drawing on the ideas of three great thinkers--ancient Chinese philosopher \u003cb\u003eZhuangzi\u003c\/b\u003e, Dutch Enlightenment thinker \u003cb\u003eBenedict de Spinoza\u003c\/b\u003e, and twentieth-century French theorist \u003cb\u003eRené Girard\u003c\/b\u003e--Douglas explores how identity can become a form of spiritual violence that pulls us away from truth. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ​Across their worlds and radically different cultures, we see how, in times of historical upheaval, our hunger for a fixed sense of self grows stronger. Yet it is precisely in these moments, Douglas argues, that we must make peace with uncertainty--and discover the freedom that comes from escaping the confines of identity itself.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alexander Douglas\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Penguin Group\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/11\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781802063318","brand":"Penguin Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46836620951689,"sku":"9781802063318","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_ae30e990-5817-4549-af4d-41a07a848393.jpg?v=1780441191","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/against-identity-the-wisdom-of-escaping-the-self-9781802063318","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}