Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” by Brian Lowery Summary
Overview of Selfless: The Social Creation of “You”
"Selfless" shatters the myth of fixed identity, revealing how our 'self' is constantly shaped by social forces. Named among 2023's top psychology books, Lowery's work gives language to that strange feeling when parts of your past feel like another lifetime. Who are you without others?
Similar books to Selfless: The Social Creation of “You”
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
The Mirror That Creates You
Imagine waking up tomorrow to discover that everyone treats you completely differently than they did today. Your family acts as if you're a stranger, colleagues doubt your competence, and friends respond to you with suspicion rather than warmth. How long would it take before you began questioning your own identity? This scenario illuminates the radical premise at the heart of Stanford professor Brian Lowery's groundbreaking work: there is no "authentic self" waiting to be discovered because we are entirely created through our relationships with others. The quest to "find yourself" misses the fundamental truth that your self isn't something you uncover-it's something continuously constructed through social interaction. In a world obsessed with individual authenticity, this perspective challenges our most cherished assumptions. We experience ourselves as coherent, autonomous beings-a little "you" managing the controls of your life. Yet this intuitive understanding crumbles under scrutiny. The person you become when hanging out with college friends differs fundamentally from who you are in professional settings or family gatherings. These aren't masks you wear-they're different versions of you activated by social context. What if the self isn't something you possess but something perpetually created between you and others?
The Illusion of Independence
Multiple Selves in Action
Reality as Social Construction
The Freedom Paradox
Identity Beyond Biology
The Power of Co-Creation
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” Summary in 9 Minutes
Break down key ideas from Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 10 Insights from Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” in a Nutshell
Distill Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” Lessons Told Through 19-Min Stories
Experience Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the Selfless: The Social Creation of “You” summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.