The Cost of Ambition

How Striving to Be Better than Others Makes Us Worse

By: Miroslav Volf

Narrated by: Tom Parks

Many people believe that ambition, understood as striving to be better than others, improves us as individuals and advances society. But what if the opposite is true?

In The Cost of Ambition, world-renowned theologian and award-winning author Miroslav Volf argues that striving for superiority actually makes us worse.

Working his way backward in time, Volf explores what three influential thinkers—Søren Kierkegaard, John Milton, and the apostle Paul—say about the cost of ambition. He also explores what the teachings of Jesus and the stories in Genesis say on the matter. Volf explains that striving to be better than others, though widely accepted as part of modern life, devalues our achievements, things that surround us, and relationships because it makes them into mere means to an empty goal. He reveals ambition's negative consequences in all domains of life, showing that it is at odds with the key convictions of Christian faith.

After unpacking the toxicity of ambition, Volf uses contemporary examples to guide listeners to a better goal: striving for excellence.

©2025 Miroslav Volf (P)2025 Christian Audio

Excellence Without Superiority

I grew up in environments of constant competition. I think a lot of us did—sports, neighborhood games, academics, board games, video games. So much of my formative years were shaped by winning and losing. My drive was to be the best. I really believed that if I pushed myself to my limits, I’d succeed. And for me, that focus wasn’t about beating other people—it was about my own development.

What Miroslav Volf’s The Cost of Ambition helped me do was sort through that experience. He gave me language for something I’d felt for a long time but hadn’t fully named. He makes an important distinction between striving for excellence and striving for superiority—and that mattered to me. Wanting to become the best version of yourself doesn’t mean you want to be better than others. That’s a rare message in a culture built on comparison.

His section on comparison especially stood out to me. For me, comparison hasn’t usually looked like wanting to outdo someone else. It’s looked more like shame—this quiet sense that I’m not as good as I could be. Reading Volf helped me see that I’m often my own harshest critic, and that comparison, even when it turns inward, can still become a heavy burden.

What I appreciated most is that Volf doesn’t tell you to abandon ambition. Instead, he offers a healthier way to pursue growth—without stepping on others, and without letting shame or comparison define your worth. I found the book thoughtful, grounding, and surprisingly freeing. I’d recommend it to anyone trying to pursue excellence without losing themselves—or the people around them—in the process.

Very convicting

A solid book with lots of great insights. Very sharpening and helpful on a number of levels.