Unplugging from Manufactured Values: Nietzsche, Nguyen, and Simone Weil

I recently stumbled across three book recommendations on Instagram: Twilight of the Idols by Friedrich Nietzsche, The Score by C. Thi Nguyen, and an Anthology of Simone Weil’s work. At first glance, they might seem unrelated, but when you look at them practically, they form a clear 3-step checklist for making better decisions and avoiding mental traps.

Here is how the three books connect in plain English.

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The 3-Step Practical Link

Step 1: Nietzsche - Questioning Societal Standards

Nietzsche gives us the first filter: testing default assumptions. Before adopting a goal or career path just because everyone else is doing it, tap it with a “tuning fork”. Ask yourself: “Is this something I genuinely value, or am I just following a societal default?”

Step 2: C. Thi Nguyen - Spotting Metric Traps

C. Thi Nguyen explains how modern platforms and institutions turn those defaults into addictive numbers. When we let follower counts, app streaks, or short-term metrics redefine what success looks like, we suffer from value capture. We stop playing for our actual purpose and start playing someone else’s game.

Step 3: Simone Weil - Fighting Confirmation Bias & Staying Grounded

This is where Simone Weil fits in. Some of her terminology (like “decreation”) can sound like spiritual fluff, but her practical point is very simple: kill your ego so you can see facts clearly.

When you’re trying to solve a problem or evaluate an investment:

• Don’t let your ego get attached to being right (sunk cost fallacy).
• Don’t rush to conclusions based on what you want to be true (confirmation bias).
• Get out of the spreadsheet / echo chamber and verify how things actually work in the real world.

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Practical Summary

Thinker	Mental Trap	Plain English Meaning	Action Step
Nietzsche	Blindly following norms	Accepting rules without checking if they’re hollow	Tap default assumptions with a “hammer”
C. Thi Nguyen	Metric obsession	Letting artificial numbers overwrite your real purpose	Audit your metrics and goals
Simone Weil	Confirmation bias & ego	Letting pride or distance from reality blind your judgement	Remove ego from decision-making

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My Takeaways

1. Don’t play games you didn’t choose: Make sure your goals serve your own purpose, not an algorithm’s ad revenue.
2. Keep your ego out of your decisions: Being wrong is fine; refusing to update your views when the facts change is what gets you killed in business and investing.
3. Check reality on the ground: Never rely purely on clean numbers or theories without testing them against real life.

Disclaimer: The ideas presented in this post are solely my personal perspective and have not been substantiated by any verifiable evidence. Please form your own opinions on such matters. I’m merely reflecting on my current thought processes.