To Have Or To Be? by Erich Fromm Summary
Overview of To Have Or To Be?
In "To Have or to Be?", Fromm challenges our consumerist culture, arguing we've chosen possessions over authentic living. This 1976 masterpiece inspired Germany's Green movement and continues to haunt us with one unsettling question: are you defined by what you own or who you are?
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Key takeaways
The Having vs. Being Dilemma: Our Modern Existential Crisis
Imagine waking up one morning and realizing that despite all your possessions, achievements, and social status, you feel strangely empty. This emptiness isn't a personal failing - it's the inevitable result of living in a society that has elevated having over being. In a world where we define ourselves by what we own rather than who we are, Erich Fromm's revolutionary analysis offers a profound alternative. The distinction between having and being isn't merely philosophical; it manifests in how we speak, love, learn, and relate to everything around us. When someone says "I have a problem," they've transformed their experience into an object possessed, when in reality, the problem possesses them. Our language increasingly substitutes nouns for verbs - "having love" instead of "loving," "making a decision" instead of "deciding" - reflecting our tendency to transform experiences into possessions. The having mode centers on possession, acquisition, and control. It defines us by what we own, collect, and accumulate - not just material goods, but knowledge, relationships, and even memories that we treat as collectibles. Consider how we approach flowers: do we pluck them to possess their beauty (killing what we seek to preserve), or do we appreciate them without needing ownership? The being mode focuses on aliveness, authentic experience, and productive activity. It defines us by who we are, how we engage with others, and our moment-to-moment lived experience. When identity is rooted in "I am who I am" rather than "what I have," external circumstances and material losses cannot fundamentally threaten our core sense of self. Unlike possessions that depreciate with use, our essential human powers of reason, love, creativity, and wisdom actually expand through their expression.
The Failed Promise of Industrial Progress and Its Social Impact
The Emotional Dimensions: Joy vs. Pleasure
Wisdom Traditions and the Having-Being Distinction
Creating a New Society Based on Being
Reclaiming Our Humanity in a World of Things
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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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"
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