Stop Being a Follower
Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life
by William Deresiewicz
Society & Education
TL;DR
This book isn't about what to think, but how to think for yourself when everyone else is telling you to follow the herd. It's a guide to unplugging from the matrix of expectations set by fancy schools and society. You'll learn to question the "success" narrative, cultivate genuine self-reflection, and forge your own damn path instead of just checking boxes. Basically, it's about finding your own damn voice and figuring out what actually matters beyond prestige and perfect GPAs.
Action Items
Spend 15 minutes thinking about one thing you actually want to do, not what you should do, and then do one tiny step towards it.
Find 30 minutes today to be completely alone with your thoughts, no screens, no music, just you.
Write down three things you genuinely value in life, not what you think you should value.
Do one small thing today that goes against a minor social expectation, just for the hell of it (e.g., wear mismatched socks, order something weird at a coffee shop).
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Key Chapter
Chapter - The Grindset Trap: Why Being "Accomplished" Is Overrated
Ever feel like you're just collecting achievements like Pokémon cards, but deep down, you're still empty? This chapter hits hard on how the constant chase for external validation – perfect grades, fancy internships, prestigious jobs – can totally screw with your internal compass. It's like society tells you to build this super impressive resume, but forgets to tell you to build a soul. We get so good at jumping through hoops, we forget to ask if those hoops even lead anywhere we actually want to go. It's a wake-up call to stop being a human doing and start being a human being, prioritizing genuine curiosity and self-discovery over just looking good on paper.
Key Methods and Approaches
Ditching the "Perfect Resume" Fetish
(AKA: The Cult of Accomplishment)
Description:
Stop chasing every shiny award or internship just because it looks good on paper.
Explanation:
Imagine your life is a video game. Society tells you to grind for all the "achievement unlocked" badges, even if they're for boring side quests you hate. This method is about realizing those badges don't make the game fun if you're not enjoying the actual gameplay. It's like collecting rare NFTs that nobody cares about in real life.
Examples:
Taking a gap year to travel or work a weird job instead of going straight to grad school.
Choosing a major you're genuinely passionate about, even if your parents think it's "useless."
Saying no to a prestigious but soul-crushing internship to pursue a creative project.
Today's Action:
Spend 15 minutes thinking about one thing you actually want to do, not what you should do, and then do one tiny step towards it.
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