Ideas worth spreading

Should you live for your résumé ... or your eulogy?

2,959,258 views | David Brooks • TED2014

Within each of us are two selves, suggests David Brooks in this meditative short talk: the self who craves success, who builds a résumé, and the self who seeks connection, community, love -- the values that make for a great eulogy. (Joseph Soloveitchik has called these selves "Adam I" and "Adam II.") Brooks asks: Can we balance these two selves?

Within each of us are two selves, suggests David Brooks in this meditative short talk: the self who craves success, who builds a résumé, and the self who seeks connection, community, love -- the values that make for a great eulogy. (Joseph Soloveitchik has called these selves "Adam I" and "Adam II.") Brooks asks: Can we balance these two selves?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

David Brooks

Op-ed columnist, author

See speaker profile

Writer and thinker David Brooks has covered business, crime and politics over a long career in journalism.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.