“The self is incompatible with freedom, the way most people understand it, because the self is a constraint,” says social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/brian-lowery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Brian Lowery</a>. “The ‘you’ you’re talking about is actually the relationships you have, the social interactions you have and the cultural context you exist in."In this Quick Thinks episode of&nbsp;Think Fast, Talk Smart, Lowery sits down with podcast host and lecturer in strategic communications Matt Abrahams to talk about his new book,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/selfless-brian-lowery?variant=40560171745314" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Selfless: The Social Creation of You</a>.&nbsp;Lowery argues&nbsp;that there is no essential “self” — our selves are creations of those we interact with — exploring what that means for who we can be and who we allow others to be. He also shares research on how asking deeply personal questions can be a tool for deepening relationships.&nbsp;Brian Lowery is the co-director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://news.stanford.edu/report/2022/12/15/stanfords-new-institute-race-names-founding-faculty-co-directors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stanford Institute on Race</a>&nbsp;and the host of the podcast,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.knowwhatyousee.com/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Know What You See.&nbsp;</a>Resources:https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/brian-lowery<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/selfless-brian-lowery?variant=40560171745314" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Selfless: The Social Creation of "You" by Brian Lowery</a><a href="https://www.knowwhatyousee.com/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Know What You See Podcast</a>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

Quick Thinks: How Others Define Us

Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he sits down with experts in the field to discuss real-world challenges. How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I write emails to get my point across? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I manage my reputation?&nbsp;Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life.Think Fast, Talk Smart provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help you communicate more effectively.