John Koenig is the author of The New York Times' Best Seller Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a dictionary of made-up words for emotions that we all feel but don't have the words to express. We talk about his book, identity and individuality, contradiction, writing, the human experience, fatherhood, and more.
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(00:44) Why use "sorrows"?
(02:51) Did he ever expect the dictionary to be what it is now?
(05:48) Existential wonderment and loss
(08:50) Truth, internal dialogue, and contradiction
(14:00) Contradiction of definitions
(17:02) Is introspection valuable? Can you know who you are?
(20:43) Not focusing on the present
(24:18) Self-actualization vs. contentment
(30:26) How you perceive people vs. how they really are
(35:57) Next book: Sonder
(39:03) Does sensitivity make life more difficult?
(41:54) Career identity & pigeonholing
(44:24) Writing vs. video
(47:32) How fatherhood changes work & focus take on his work; finding meaning in community & ritual
(51:25) Where does meaning reside?
(53:27) Creative process takeaways for kids; self-expression and art
(55:15) John's final questions for listeners
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John’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/obscuresorrows
Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Obscure-Sorrows-John-Koenig/dp/1501153641
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/obscuresorrows
Spencer’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R
Spencer’s Blog: https://spencerkier.substack.com/
