The Burnout Society

Philosophy · 2015

Byung-Chul Han


The Burnout Society

Read Dec. 22, 2025

Summary

The Burnout Society argues that the global human society has moved from a state of being defined by an immunological “negativity”, to one of “positivity”. This shift to “positivity”, or the vast span of possibilities a life could be, pushes people into a state of hyper-activity, always working, moving faster, making impulsive decisions, all in the pursuit of a more fulfilled life, or a desire to fulfill your potential. Han believes this has created a form of mental slavery, more effective than any dictatorship ever could be, that wears people down and has created the mental health crises we see today.


Notes

Boredom Is A Fundamentally Human State Of Being

Many Of Today’s Problems Stem From Positivity Rather Than Negativity

The Immunological Society

Vita Contemplativa