Byung-Chul Han

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In The Burnout Society, philosopher Byung-Chul Han dissects the silent epidemic plaguing 21st-century life: burnout, depression, and chronic fatigue. Moving beyond the 20th-century immunological model—shaped by Cold War us-versus-them divisions—Han argues we’ve shifted to a meritocracy where relentless positivity and the mantra “you can do anything” drive self-exploitation far more insidious than external oppression. Unlike the disciplinary society of hospitals and prisons, today’s world rewards constant productivity, turning individuals into their own jailers and taskmasters. Han exposes how this hyper-activity erodes deep attention, the foundation of creativity and contemplation, replacing it with scattered “super attention” that mimics survival mode in the wild. He laments the loss of festive time—moments of unproductive joy and connection—and critiques how neoliberalism reduces life to mere survival and health obsession. Ultimately, Han calls for a return to contemplative rest, arguing that only by embracing stillness and rejecting the tyranny of endless productivity can we reclaim our humanity from the burnout crisis.