Performative Intellectualism: See through signals and incentives—Replace clout chasing with Structures that surface the best ideas by Marek Berg

A clear, unsparing guide to spotting showy “smartness” and replacing it with inquiry that actually finds the truth. Performative Intellectualism maps the mask of knowing, the signals and incentives that reward noise, the jargon trap and citation pageant, and the way algorithms amplify spectacle. From classrooms and meetings to “thought leader” circuits, taste cultures, and debate-as-theatre, Marek Berg shows how confidence often outruns competence and what it costs. The second half delivers practical reforms: habits of intellectual humility, better questions that build better rooms, teaching and leading by example, communities of inquiry with real correction loops, writing that works, time-and-attention design, and governance and metrics that reward truth over performance.

Written in calm, precise prose, this field guide turns frustration into architecture. You’ll leave with language, tools, and rituals that make curiosity audible again and make good thinking visible.

What you will learn
• How to recognize performative cues (status talk, citation pageants, jargon fog) and replace them with clarity and checks
• How incentives and algorithms distort discourse and how to design rooms, classes, and meetings that resist the pull
• How to separate confidence from competence, reduce bullshit, and keep debate from becoming theatre
• Practical frameworks for intellectual humility, correction loops, and writing that carries signal without spectacle
• How to manage time, pace, and attention so careful thinking can win in public and inside teams
• Governance ideas and simple metrics that reward truth-seeking, not clout

Who this book is for
• Leaders, educators, researchers, and operators tired of smart-sounding dysfunction
• Students, writers, and creators who want plain language, real learning, and accountable dialogue
• Team leads and community moderators designing healthier forums, meetings, and classrooms
• Anyone who cares about curiosity, standards, and building cultures where better ideas win