TED Talk: "Should You Live for Your Resume...or Your Eulogy?"

(Brooks)

In David Brooks' “Should You Live for Your Resume… or Your Eulogy?” Brooks displays the two sides of human nature, by describing two different characters and their differences. Brooks begins his speech by defining the difference between resume virtues and eulogy virtues. Resume virtues are the virtues brought to the marketplace, while eulogy virtues are the virtues are much more personal, describing your relationships and personality. Additionally, he depicts the two sides to human nature: Adam I and Adam II. Adam I, according to Brooks, is the worldly, ambitious individual. He values success and accomplishment, while learning more about the world. Adam II is the humble, loving side to human nature. He constantly works to live in a way that honors God, while wanting to be good and do good in the world. David highlights the fact that both natures are polar opposites, at war with each other. 

("Lifes.")

Furthermore, Brooks assesses the problem with society today, mentioning that Adam I, the more practical nature is favored, while Adam II, the creative side, is neglected.  David Brooks obviously forces his audience to think about what they believe to be important in their life by describing two very different sides to human nature, and asking them to choose who they would like to be in life.

David Brooks’ “Should You Live for Your Resume… or Your Eulogy?” accurately displays the two opposite parts of human nature to his audience, forcing viewers to ponder what is really important in life. In the beginning of his speech, Brooks’ mentions Joseph Soloveitchik, an American Orthodox rabbi, who served as a religious leader for tens of thousands of Jews until his death in 1993 (“Joseph”). Joseph Soloveitchik aids David in his thoughts, through his book, "The Lonely Man of Faith", introducing the thought of Adam I and Adam II. 

("Yeshiva.")

He explains the more logical side of human nature with Adam I, “Adam I is the worldly, ambitious external to human nature… he builds, creates, and innovates… Adam I savors accomplishment…and enjoys asking how things work” (Brooks). A modern example of an “Adam I type” is Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple Inc., and one of the most revolutionary inventors of the century. 

("Apple.")

Though Jobs helped to innovate the technology used by people across the world, many believe that he was less than kind, “As he would with others, he would occasionally focus on them [his daughters], but just as often would completely ignore them when he had other things on his mind. 'He focuses on his work, and at times he has not been there for the girls,' Powell [Jobs’ wife] said” (“All”). Jony Ive, Senior Vice President of Apple Inc., once complained about Steve stating, “There are other times, I think honestly, when he's very frustrated, and his way to achieve catharsis is to hurt somebody. And I think he feels he has a liberty and a license to do that. The normal rules of social engagement, he feels, don't apply to him. Because of how very sensitive he is, he knows exactly how to efficiently and effectively hurt someone. And he does do that” (“All”). Additionally, Brooks mentions Soloveitchik’s second side to humanity, “Adam II is the humble, good side to everyone...he wants to live in a way that honors God...while savoring the consistency of strength...and asking why we’re here” (Brooks). Brooks seems to believe that in modern society, it is harder to find someone like Adam II, than Adam I; yet, an eighteen year old girl named Claire Davis taught the Arapahoe High School community how to be more like Adam II. Claire constantly inspired people during her life, and continues to do so even after passing away on December 22, 2013, after being shot December 13, 2013 during the shooting that occurred at Arapahoe. Many who did not know her soon learned her name, and she became famous for her kind heart and gentle spirit. 

("Claire.")

She wrote in a college essay, “The sound of laughter is more contagious than a cough, yawn, or a sneeze. I’m generally a little shy, but I love to make people laugh when they are sad...A laugh gives me more self-confidence, which has helped me to be less self-conscious and more comfortable reaching out to other people that I don’t know.” Claire brought an entire community together, by embracing life; rather than worrying about her resume virtues, she was concerned with her eulogy virtues.* The purpose of David’s speech is to encourage his audience to find the Adam II inside of them. He explains, “You find your signature sin… You fight that sin and you wrestle with that sin. And out of that wrestling, that suffering, then a depth of character is constructed” (Brooks). Brooks then goes onto demonstrate why humanity chooses to embrace their Adam I, rather than grasping their Adam II, “We live in a culture with an Adam I mentality, where we’re inarticulate about Adam II...We’re often not taught how to recognize the sin in ourselves, in that we’re not taught in this culture how to wrestle with it, how to confront it, and how to combat it” (Brooks). Brooks finishes his speech by referencing Reinhold Niebuhr, an American theologian, public intellectual, and ethicist, known for his interesting thoughts about religion (“Reinhold”). David Brooks quotes Reinhold, leaving his audience to reevaluate what is important in their life, “Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we must be saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as it is from our standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness” (“A”). David Brooks meticulously presented the two opposite parts of human nature, encouraging people to be a little less like the robotic Adam I, and little more like Adam II, or rather, a little more like Claire Davis.

*I do not mean this in any offensive way, nor am I insinuating that Claire was living just to die. I just used this as a reference to Brooks’ point. I knew Claire at Platte River Academy and would never dishonor her memory in any way.

Works Cited

"Apple After Steve Jobs: 10 Hits And Misses - InformationWeek." InformationWeek. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/mobile-devices/apple-after-steve-jobs-10-hits-and-misses/d/d-id/1106614>.

"A Quote by Reinhold Niebuhr." Goodreads. N.p., 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/60143-nothing-that-is-worth-doing-can-be-achieved-in-our>.

Brooks, David. "Should You Live for Your Resume ... or Your Eulogy?" David Brooks:. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <https://www.ted.com/talks/david_brooks_should_you_live_for_your_resume_or_your_eulogy#t-273055>.

"Claire Davis Celebration of Life to Be Held at National Western Stock Show." 7NEWS. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/claire-davis-celebration-of-life-to-be-held-at-national-western-stock-show>.

"Joseph B. Soloveitchik." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_B._Soloveitchik>.

"Lifes Too Good." Lifes Too Good. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://lifestoogood.net/money-money-money/>.

"Reinhold Niebuhr." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhold_Niebuhr>.

"Yeshiva University, and MTA, Commemorate The Rav’s 20th Yahrtzeit." Yeshiva University High School for Boys. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://blogs.yu.edu/mta/2013/04/21/yeshiva-university-and-mta-commemorate-the-ravs-20th-yahrtzeit/>.

"All about Steve Jobs.com." All about Steve Jobs.com. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. <http://allaboutstevejobs.com/persona/steveathome.php>.