In this interview, PLEB took a fireside chat with author Nathan J. Murphy, discussing his process as an author and what it took to write his latest book: The Ideas That Rule Us.
Nathan J. Murphy didn’t set out to write just another book. The Ideas That Rule Us: How Other People’s Ideas Shape Our Lives and How to Change It is an exploration of how the forces around us—society’s norms, political ideologies, and even pop culture—shape the very decisions we make, the beliefs we hold, and the lives we lead. It’s a book that challenges readers to reexamine the world they think they know and offers a path toward greater awareness and self-agency. Whether you’re someone looking to better understand the ways social environments influence who you are, or a political activist searching for tools to decipher the invisible forces behind public opinion, Murphy’s work offers an enlightening key to unlocking those hidden powers.
Murphy’s own journey is as fascinating as the ideas he writes about. With a background that blends political theory, entrepreneurship, and an eclectic range of life experiences, his insights come from both intellectual rigour and real-world applications. He’s not just a thinker; he’s a doer. As the founder and Lead Researcher at Prepolitica, a groundbreaking research group with a science-first approach to political theory, Murphy has spent years exploring the fundamental ideas that shape political discourse.
But his path to political theory wasn’t straightforward. Before this chapter of his life, Murphy had already invented and patented medical products, lobbied government officials for prison reform, and founded three technology businesses. He’s been a sponsored rock climber, amassed a dedicated social media following, sold tens of thousands of books, created online courses, and even renovated a crumbling house by himself. His vast array of experiences informs the unique perspective he brings to his writing, allowing him to draw connections between the political and personal in ways few can.
In The Ideas That Rule Us, Murphy draws from half a decade of political, cognitive, and sociological research, weaving these threads into a compelling narrative that feels both relatable and deeply intellectual. He reveals how other people’s ideas—whether through politics, media, or cultural trends—steer our choices, from the products we buy to the political parties we support. By unpacking these invisible influences, Murphy invites readers to take control of their lives, offering them not just understanding, but a roadmap to change.
What inspired your latest book?
Two questions that kickstarted this book. One was personal and relevant to my life at the time; Why do we make the decisions we make, when there are so many other options?
And, the second; What is the value, and social-purpose, of art?
How does your personal experience influence the themes in your writing?
Because of these questions, I became interested in how the ideas of our environment affects our. Throughout my youth, I noticed that I have held ideas and values—often in an emotional form—that were not my ideas. Ideas that were imbued into me by my social and media environment and affected my behaviour and decisions. It was clear that the power of the ideas of our socialisation can hold incredible sway over our lives and because of this, I had a strong desire to understand them.
Can you walk us through your writing process for this book? Did it differ from your previous work?
I started off writing papers and essays, I had no intention to write a book. However, when eventually, it seemed logical to produce a book, the major work started.
My process was to hash out a first draft—it was pretty awful—but I had a structural editor look at it anyway and give me early feedback. Then I spent about two years—twelve to fifteen hour—days, working non-stop. This phase was exhausting and, although I did not realise it at the time, I was cooking myself a little and it exhausted me.
Then, I went through the drafts in big sweeps. Every time, it felt like hacking through a jungle. This was a demoralising and arduous process. Eventually, I was ready for my line editor, a process of back-and-forth which took the best part of a year.
To be honest, I often wished I never started. Hopefully, the book can deliver enough value to others to make it worth the sacrifice.
What kind of impact do you hope this book will have on your readers?
The thinking presented in The Ideas That Rule Us is useful at both a personal and political level.
On an individual basis, it helps us understand the reality of our minds—especially how we have been, and continue to be, influenced by ideas and ideology. Realising that many ideas and beliefs we hold—and the behaviours they provoke—are not necessarily of us, allows us to be more empathetic to ourselves and others.
The underlying theme of the book is the dichotomy that underlies the human experience—the abstract and the emotional—and understanding how we interact with both provides us with a direction toward living more satisfying lives.
On the political side, the result of its exhaustive examination of scientific literature on human social nature, helps us to understand the form our societies should take to create stable political systems. I am currently working on the development of a political pamphlet that explicitly examines stable political form.
Why is this important? Well, the reality is that the political philosophers and theorists in the 16th to 19th centuries had precious little science on which to base their thinking. Not only that, but these periods were awash with pseudoscience, for example, Social Darwinism, which had an incredible impact on social thought and influenced many of the great thinkers of the time.
In the past fifty years, behavioural biology, neuroscience—and a host of adjacent sciences—have seen not only massive advances but often the formation of these fields. We should base our base-level political thought on the more settled understandings in these fields, not on the imaginations of 17th-century ideologues.
The book is probably most valuable to those interested in social change. Primarily because it provides a framework for understanding how ideologies work, how to break them down, and develop strategies to change them. To help with this, I discuss what social change actually is, how long it takes, and how to bring other people along.
Were there any particular challenges you faced while writing this book?
The book is fairly ambitious in its scope—so defining the boundaries of the project was very difficult—and in order to produce such an interconnecting work it required a vast amount of the reading. It took years of research to develop the book’s core thesis.
Are there any hidden messages or layers in the book that you hope readers will discover over time?
The meta-layer of the book, which is not explicitly communicated, is that it provides a science-led vision for the fundamental basis for society.
The next phase of this project is the development of a more explicit political text that will look at the fundamental purpose of society and—based on the properties of the human material that makes it—how best to create stable political systems.
How do you define success as an author?
My primary aim is to usefully impact people’s lives.
This might be at an individual level, where a realisation or crystallisation of thought, can enable someone to live a more fulfilling life, or at a social level where we move toward better forms of political expression.
Critical acclaim, fame, or otherwise, is of practically zero value if it does not come with a beneficial impact. The ideal situation is that I can continue to produce work that adds value because people value my work enough to pay for it.
What are some themes or ideas that consistently appear in both your writing?
As I am a product of the environment in which I was raised—therefore, the experiences of my life, and how I have interacted with the ideas and values of my society are reoccurring themes.
What’s next for you? Are you exploring new themes or projects?
I am currently working on a book about wealth. This follows on from the core thinking in The Ideas That Rule Us and the understanding of the dichotomy of human existence; the abstract and the emotional. I think this work can provide an antidote to hustle culture and—for people who have grown up with the pervasive influence of social media and hyper-consumerism—it should be useful for readers.
Anything else you would like to add?
If you are looking to understand the forces that guide your life, this book is for you.
It is available as eBook, Audiobook and Paperback from most retailers.
Author: Nathan J. Murphy
Website: njmurphy.com
Substack: @nathanjmurphy
Instagram: @nathanjmurphy
Buy the book: Amazon
PR Contact: Tracy Lamourie at [email protected]
Location: UK
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