The Power of Being Relaxed: A Conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert

🌟The book 'City of Girls' is set in 1940s New York City and celebrates women who are free to explore their sensuality without being ruined by it.

✨New York City in the 1940s was a moment of glamour and freedom for women, as social mores were temporarily lifted during the war.

💃The book is a coming-of-age story about a young girl moving to New York City, searching for her tribe, and discovering herself.

🌙The author's greatest aspiration is to be the most relaxed person in every room she's in, as relaxation is a rarity in today's anxious world.

🤗The conversation highlights the power and radicalism of being relaxed, especially for women who are often under constant pressure.

What is the book 'City of Girls' about?

—'City of Girls' is a novel set in 1940s New York City and follows the story of a young girl who moves to the city, explores her sensuality, and learns to embrace herself.

Why did Elizabeth Gilbert choose the 1940s as the backdrop for her book?

—The author was fascinated by the glamour and freedom of 1940s New York City, particularly for women during the war when social mores were temporarily lifted.

What is the main aspiration of the author?

—Elizabeth Gilbert aspires to be the most relaxed person in every room she's in, challenging societal expectations and embracing relaxation as an antidote to anxiety.

Why is relaxation important, especially for women?

—Relaxation is important because it allows women to be at ease and just be themselves without conforming to societal pressures. It is a radical and powerful state of being.

What is the main insight from the conversation?

—The conversation emphasizes the power and radicalism of being relaxed in a world that constantly demands us to be something else, particularly for women who are often under pressure to conform.

00:00Introduction to The Chase Jarvis Live Show and guest Elizabeth Gilbert, author of 'City of Girls.'

08:58Discussion about the inspiration behind 'City of Girls' and the celebration of promiscuous women in the book.

19:35Exploration of the 1940s New York City setting and the emancipation of women during that time.

26:20Conversations about the aspiration to just 'be' and the importance of relaxation in a world filled with anxiety.

35:50Elizabeth Gilbert shares her personal journey towards relaxation and emphasizes the need for women to find their own way to be comfortable in their own skin.

44:15Highlighting the power and radicalism of being relaxed in a world that constantly demands us to be something else.