Episoder
-
In this fourth episode of the second season, Alex and Steven delve into Sigmund Freud's seminal work, "Civilisation and its Discontents." They navigate the realms of civilisation's promise and its inherent discontent, exploring the psychological tapestry Freud weaves to elucidate human suffering in the face of social evolution.
Topics discussed include:
To what extent has civilisation become both a problem and a solution to our suffering?The nature of guilt and how it is related to our socialisation.What, according to Freud, might be the 'right amount' of civilisation that allows for harmonious human existence as well as individual happiness?Further Resources:
Freud’s "Civilisation and its Discontents" is available for purchase at Amazon UK: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-Great-Ideas-Civilisation-Discontents/dp/0141018992/ref=sr_1_1?crid=278WXM8WNYXXX&keywords=civilisation+and+its+discontents&qid=1696868160&s=books&sprefix=civilisation+and+its+discontents%2Cstripbooks%2C342&sr=1-1]For a deeper dive into Freud’s life and the evolution of his thoughts, this recent intellectual biography offers a compelling read: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freud-Intellectual-Biography-Joel-Whitebook/dp/110882904X/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=freud+biography&qid=1696868203&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1]"The Freud Reader", edited by Peter Gay, provides a robust exploration of Freud's most significant works and is a useful companion for those keen on delving deeper into psychoanalytic theory: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freud-Reader-Peter-Gay/dp/0099577119/ref=sr_1_1?crid=KU3Y6R4MHCEE&keywords=the+freud+reader+peter+gay&qid=1696868270&s=books&sprefix=the+freud+reader+pet%2Cstripbooks%2C752&sr=1-1]The book "Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought" by Stephen A. Mitchell and Margaret J. Black offers a comprehensive examination of psychoanalytic theory post-Freud: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freud-Beyond-History-Psychoanalytic-Thought-ebook/dp/B06XBVPQGS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=B9E9TMT4AX8A&keywords=freud+and+beyond&qid=1696868307&s=books&sprefix=freud+and+beyo%2Cstripbooks%2C565&sr=1-1]Remember to subscribe to "The Reading Cure" for more insightful discussions connecting literature, psychology, and the intricate realms of the human experience.
-
In this thought-provoking bonus episode, Alex and Steven journey through the landscapes of Alexander Payne's 2013 film, "Nebraska." Join them as they navigate the complex world of Woody, a character on a quest that speaks to universal human experiences. Topics discussed include:
Woody is on a determined quest to claim his million dollars in the promised land of Nebraska. What kind of quest is this? Is there a sense in which we are all on a quest like Woody?How do we understand what we could call Woody's 'gullibility'? Is it a sign of incipient dementia or more to do with him being a decent person who innocently trusts others to keep their word in what is, in reality, a mendacious world?This movie, in many ways, is about family. What does it say about marriage, about the relationship between parents and their children, and between siblings and wider relations? In particular, how do Woody and David, as father and son, come closer together as they go on their journey?Woody seems to have been a guy hollowed out by his inability to say 'no' to helping people out. What does the movie say about altruism and about people's gratitude?Further Resources:
A Blu-ray copy of the movie can be purchased at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/nebraska-blu-ray-blu_ray-Italian-bruce/dp/B00IG1Z014/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3H0L4Y15HBHTY&keywords=nebraska&qid=1691001413&s=dvd&sprefix=nebraska%2Cdvd%2C122&sr=1-1The film critic David Denby provides an engaging analysis of Payne's work in this piece: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/11/18/american-gothic-4For those interested in some of Alexander Payne's interviews: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexander-Payne-Interviews-Conversations-Filmmakers-ebook/dp/B00OAFN2NI/ref=sr_1_2?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=alexander+payne&qid=1691001743&s=books&sr=1-2&unfiltered=1A short interview with Bruce Dern about the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azIuoXIZ6rg&ab_channel=HitFix
-
Mangler du episoder?
-
In this third episode of the second season, Alex and Steven delve into Paula Fox's captivating novel, Desperate Characters. They explore the intricacies of the characters and their interactions with the world around them, as well as the socioeconomic conditions of New York at the time. Topics discussed include:
In what sense are the characters desperate?To what extent are the characters' sense of being vulnerable/under attack due to their affluence, the socioeconomic conditions of New York at that time, or alternatively, is it more due to their particular individual flaws/neuroses?How does one consider their future relationship prospects?Is the depiction of poorer people at that time grimly realistic or misanthropic and/or somewhat prejudicial?What constitutes the value of this novel - either in terms of its literary qualities or its psychological acumen?Further Resources:
Paula Fox's novel can be found at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desperate-Characters-Paula-Fox/dp/0007150385/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683207347&refinements=p_28%3Adesperate+characters&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1To learn more about Paula Fox and her writing, this New York Times article provides a comprehensive look into her life and work: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/books/paula-fox-dead.htmlFor a broader understanding of New York's socioeconomic conditions during the time period in which Desperate Characters is set, you might enjoy this book by Jonathan Mahler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Gentlemen-Bronx-Burning-Baseball/dp/0312424302/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683207606&refinements=p_27%3Ajonathan+mahler%2Cp_28%3Aladies&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1Although focused on the horror genre, this book gives an insightful analysis of how art can reflect cultural anxieties (in this case, those of American culture): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Projected-Fears-Horror-American-Culture/dp/0275983536/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683208004&refinements=p_28%3Aprojected+fears&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1 Karen Horney's book "The Neurotic Personality of Our Time" characteristically gives an insightful analysis of the mid-twentieth century psyche: -
In this second episode of the second season, Alex and Steven discuss Anthony Storr's insightful and humane work called Solitude. Topics discussed include: Has the world of therapy almost pathologized the need for solitude? What are the main benefits of solitude? Are there ways in which solitude could be detrimental? To what extent is a lack of solitude a contributing factor to mental health issues in the modern world?
Further Resources:
A copy of Storr's book can be found at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solitude-Flamingo-Anthony-Storr/dp/0006543499/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=anthony+storr+solitude&qid=1676460525&sprefix=storr+sol%2Caps%2C1148&sr=8-1For those who wish to explore further Storr's thoughts on creativity, you can find his book The Dynamics of Creation here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NBJOLYS/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i4For a nice overview of Storr’s eclectic and very productive professional and intellectual life, this obituary from the Guardian Newspaper (23.3.01) is helpful: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/mar/20/guardianobituaries.highereducationA more recent work on the need for solitude is Susan Cain's work Quiet: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking-ebook/dp/B0074YVW1G/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1676460682&refinements=p_27%3Asusan+cain&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1David Vincent provides a historical overview of how solitude has changed and evolved over the last few centuries: https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Solitude-David-Vincent/dp/1509536590/ref=sr_1_6?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=solitude&qid=1676461437&s=books&sr=1-6&unfiltered=1&asin=1509536590&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1The philosopher Lars Svendsen examines the nature of loneliness, which might help in distinguishing loneliness from solitude: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philosophy-Loneliness-Lars-Svendsen-ebook/dp/B073Q59SJ5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&asin=B073Q59SJ5&revisionId=ead2b4f6&format=1&depth=1If you enjoy classic comedy, here is what Hancock is up to when not donating blood: trying to enjoy some solitude by getting through his Bertrand Russell reading (audio -
In this first episode of Season 2, Alex and Steven discuss the film version of Edward Albee's iconic play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf starring two of the great actors from the Golden age of Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Topics explored include: the reasons behind the antagonism between the couple; was the playwright making a social and political critique of America with his portrayal of Nick, the ambitious young academic?; why have the couple clung to the illusion of having a son and is Albee right about the death of grand narratives leading to either fantasy or an examination of the self?; was the relinquishing of the illusion a positive step forward for the couple?
Further Resources:
The movie version can be watched on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVyZ6cooxc&ab_channel=TheKremlin A copy of the play can be found here on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Afraid-Virginia-Woolf-Vintage-Classics/dp/009928569X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=who+s+afraid+of+virginia+woolf&qid=1671048823&s=books&sprefix=who%27s+afraid+of+virginia+%2Cstripbooks%2C508&sr=1-1Michael Bennett examines in his book some of the influences that shaped this work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edward-Albees-Afraid-Virginia-Fourth-ebook/dp/B07FF832DV/ref=sr_1_2?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1671048983&refinements=p_28%3Aedward+albee&s=books&sr=1-2&unfiltered=1A 2005 interview with Edward Albee surveying his life and work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEKgDWTitpA&ab_channel=ManufacturingIntellect
-
In this bonus episode, Steven and Alex, with a loving yet critical eye, take a look at one of the most iconic movies of all time: Stephen King's Shawshank Redemption. Topics explored include: What are Andy Dufrene's character qualities that allow him to endure the arbitrary cruelties of prison life and aid him in his successful plot to escape?; What can we learn from this movie about how power and authority corrupts institutional life?; Is this movie a critique of prison life itself?; What kind of redemption is achieved at the end of the movie, given Andy's innocence?
Further Resources:
A DVD copy of the movie can be purchased from Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shawshank-Redemption-DVD-Tim-Robbins/dp/B07YMFVQ7F/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LYYW2OKFX5T1&keywords=shawshank+redemption+dvd&qid=1665489375&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjA4IiwicXNhIjoiMS43MCIsInFzcCI6IjEuNzYifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=shawshank+rede%2Caps%2C569&sr=8-1Stephen King's original novella can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rita-Hayworth-Shawshank-Redemption-Stephen-ebook/dp/B08GPQ3JL4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=shawshank+redemption+book&qid=1665489415&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjI3IiwicXNhIjoiMS41MCIsInFzcCI6IjEuNjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=shawshank+redemption+%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1An excellent study of how the movie was made: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shawshank-Redemption-Revealed-Story-Keeps-ebook/dp/B07TWB7MFF/ref=sr_1_4?crid=V06JQ33BQQK9&keywords=shawshank+redemption&qid=1665489476&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjA4IiwicXNhIjoiMi42MiIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjgifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=shawshank+redemption+%2Cstripbooks%2C305&sr=1-4&asin=B07TWB7MFF&revisionId=&format=2&depth=1A short but incisive analysis of the movie by renowned critic Mark Kermode: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shawshank-Redemption-BFI-Film-Classics/dp/0851709680/ref=sr_1_5?crid=V06JQ33BQQK9&keywords=shawshank+redemption&qid=1665489590&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjA4IiwicXNhIjoiMi42MiIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjgifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=shawshank+redemption+%2Cstripbooks%2C305&sr=1-5
-
In Episode 12, Alex and Steven explore the horror classic "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by R.L. Stevenson. Topics discussed include: why is this novel so iconic?; in what ways might the typical reaction to Hyde reveal the nature of evil?; how can we understand the narrator, Utterson, from a psychological point of view?; how might Jekyll have dealt with his conflicts in a more constructive fashion and are there problems with his dividing the psyche into good and evil?; and finally, what might be the problems with viewing human nature as subject to irreconcilable conflicts between good and evil?
Further Resources:
Copies of the novel in paperback and kindle versions can be found on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strange-Jekyll-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199536228/ref=sr_1_15?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1659531446&refinements=p_28%3Adr+jekyll+and+mr+hyde&s=books&sr=1-15&unfiltered=1The best film adaptation stars the peerless Fredric March who won an Oscar for his portrayal in the early thirties. The DVD can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jekyll-Hyde-1931-1941-DVD/dp/B0001EYSWQ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=jekyll+and+hyde&qid=1659531980&s=dvd&sr=1-3. Clips from the movie can also be viewed on YouTube, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUsdTgfokdo. A fascinating student thesis on the possible homosexual dimensions of the tale can be found here: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2537&context=honorsthesesStephen King's discussion of horror fiction in general and of "Jekyll and Hyde" in his book "Danse Macabre" can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Danse-Macabre-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B003BVFZ96/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1659532332&refinements=p_28%3Adanse+macabre&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1A good documentary by Professor Christopher Frayling on the novel can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b04aSxzD4Xo
-
In this eleventh episode, Alex and Steven discuss Viktor Frankl's iconic work 'Man's Search for Meaning'. Topics explored include: In what ways did Frankl's concentration camp experiences help him understand the pivotal role of meaning in a human being's life?; What is the essence of logotherapy and how does it differ from other psychotherapy approaches?; Is the will to meaning the quintessential human motivation?; What kind of clients might be best suited to logotherapy?
Further Resources:
A copy of Frankl's book can be found at Amazon UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mans-Search-Meaning-classic-Holocaust-ebook/dp/B00EKOC0HI/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1655064247&refinements=p_28%3Aman%27s+search+for+meaning&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1For those interested in learning more about logotherapy as a psychotherapy approach, Frankl's book 'Doctor and the Soul' is most helpful: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A6UCDZ4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i9The most thorough philosophical exploration of meaning in life is Thaddeus Metz's 'Meaning in Life': https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Life-Thaddeus-Metz-ebook/dp/B00GC253BQ/ref=sr_1_2?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1655064437&refinements=p_27%3Athaddeus+metz&s=books&sr=1-2&unfiltered=1Thaddeus Metz and David Benatar are two of the most distinguished living philosophers to explore the meaning of life question. In this book, they debate some of the key questions: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conversations-about-Meaning-Life-Philosophy-ebook/dp/B0986JD6J7/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1655064512&refinements=p_27%3Athaddeus+metz&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1An engaging and thought-provoking interview with Frankl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlC2OdnhIiQ
-
In this bonus episode, Alex and Steven explore Alfred Hitchcock's examination of the American psyche and of the nature of cinema in his 1954 masterpiece, Rear Window. Topics discussed include: is Jeffries' voyeuristic behaviour 'normal' or 'unhealthy' (or perhaps both!) and what is its ethical status?; what does Jeffries' desire to watch his neighbours' private lives say about the nature of cinema?; and does the film portray romantic relationships in a cynical fashion or does it allow for the possibility of love?
Further Resources:
A DVD copy of the movie can be purchased at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rear-Window-DVD-James-Stewart/dp/B078FHJKPJ/ref=sr_1_7?crid=ZPH09396BM59&keywords=rear+window&qid=1652990571&sprefix=rear+window%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-7 The film critic Robin Wood was one of the first to take Hitchcock seriously as an artist. Here is his insightful and stylishly written analysis of the master of suspense's oeuvre: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HitchcockS-Films-Revisited-Robin-Wood/dp/0231914482/ref=sr_1_19?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1652991177&refinements=p_27%3Arobin+wood&s=books&sr=1-19&unfiltered=1 A series of thoughtful essays on Rear Window specifically: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alfred-Hitchcocks-Window-Cambridge-Handbooks/dp/0521564530/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1652991294&refinements=p_28%3Arear+window&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1Hitchcock's TV interviews were, like his movies, always entertaining, even if he never gave much of himself away. Here is an interview he did with the gentle, yet insistently curious interviewer Dick Cavett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpiLi40I_eE
-
n their tenth episode, Steven and Alex explore the trials and tribulations of the autumnal stage of life in their discussion of Barbara Pym's Booker Prize short-listed novel, 'Quartet in Autumn'. Topics examined include: Does the office quartet, with their hesitancy about getting involved in each other's lives, suggest that human beings in general are somewhat reclusive?; What is each character's blind spot and how does it relate to the themes of loneliness, isolation and moral responsibility?; How does Pym portray the challenges of retirement and why might it be a difficult phase of life for so many?; How does the theme of self-deception relate to the ethical question of our responsibility towards others?; What is the significance of the novel's conclusion? How realistic was she in portraying the characters' futures?
Further Resources:
A copy of the novel (with an excellent introduction by Alexander McCall Smith) can be purchased from Amazon UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quartet-Autumn-Picador-Barbara-Pym-ebook/dp/B00XUELE8K/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1649792459&refinements=p_27%3Apym%2Cp_28%3Aquartet&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1A recent good biography of Pym: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Miss-Barbara-Pym-ebook/dp/B08KFVRCQP/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1649792552&refinements=p_28%3ABarbara+Pym&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1An academic study that shows how Pym's humour undermines the orthodoxies of patriarchal society: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rhetoric-Barbara-Fiction-Studies-Literatures-ebook/dp/B08WKFCFH7/ref=sr_1_9?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1649792649&refinements=p_28%3ABarbara+Pym&s=books&sr=1-9&unfiltered=1 Here is an opportunity to hear Pym discuss her Desert Island choices: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mykr
-
In this episode of The Reading Cure, Steven and Alex explore one of Alan Watts' key works, namely The Wisdom of Insecurity. This book is a wise reminder of the mental health costs of trying to achieve lasting security in a world defined by change and lack of permanence. Indeed, Watts views this clinging to the myth of permanence as a seeking of security that, in a seemingly paradoxical fashion, only makes us more insecure and more anxious. Topics they explore include: What does Watts mean by insecurity and why does he see it as desirable compared with seeking security?; What did he mean by an 'age of anxiety' and in what ways does it manifest itself nowadays?; How therapeutic (i.e. mental health enhancing) are his ideas on tackling insecurity?; Why does he advocate being present in the moment as the antidote to anxiety and a vain seeking after some form of lasting security?
Further Resources:
A copy of his book can be found on Amazon UK :https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wisdom-Insecurity-Message-Age-Anxiety-ebook/dp/B008S9YTFW/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1646318432&refinements=p_28%3Athe+wisdom+of+insecurity&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1 Monica Furlong's biography of Alan Watts: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zen-Effects-Watts-SkyLight-Lives-ebook/dp/B01HT6DWDO/ref=sr_1_17?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1646319179&refinements=p_28%3AAlan+watts&s=books&sr=1-17&unfiltered=1An Alan Watts talk on the wisdom of insecurity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhAareENqbgGreg Goode and Tomas Sander's book on 'nonduality', which is similar in outlook to Watts' view on interconnectedness: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emptiness-Joyful-Freedom-Greg-Goode-ebook/dp/B01CRUB1DA/ref=sr_1_2?crid=HEKYV24VV0ZY&keywords=greg+goode&qid=1646319761&s=books&sprefix=greg+goode%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-2
-
In this episode, Steven and Alex explore one of the most iconic American novels of the 20th Century, J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Some of the themes include: Is this novel fundamentally a portrayal of teenage angst, or is Holden a more complicated character than an alienated youth?; Why is Holden so preoccupied with accusing most people as being 'phonies', especially when he recognises his own duplicities?; What is the significance of the role of Catcher in the Rye for Holden and for the novel itself?; While Holden ends up in an institution, is it possible that it is the society that he belongs to that is more 'unwell'?; Is this novel a coming-of-age tale or if not, what does that mean about the story?
Further Resources:
- A copy of the novel can be bought at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catcher-Rye-J-D-Salinger-ebook/dp/B07W5FQLDP/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1642680367&refinements=p_28%3Athe+catcher+in+the+rye&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
- If you want to explore how great thinkers like Kant, Heidegger and Kierkegaard would've have reacted to Holden's tale, the book Cather in the Rye and Philosophy is a good collection of essays: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catcher-Rye-Philosophy-Bastards-Popular/dp/0812698002/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZOH6CFHHJS3F&keywords=the+catcher+in+the+rye+and+philosophy&qid=1642680393&s=books&sprefix=the+catcher+in+the+rye+and+philosophy%2Cstripbooks%2C102&sr=1-1
- The reclusive author was not an easy subject for a biographer to 'catch' but one of the most sympathetic biographies is Kenneth Slawenski's work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/J-D-Salinger-Kenneth-Slawenski/dp/1400069513/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2TFWCFSORS5HX&keywords=jd+salinger+kenneth&qid=1642680522&s=books&sprefix=jd+salinger+kenneth%2Cstripbooks%2C82&sr=1-1
- The author's son gave a recent interview about his father: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2iYrFGeT3s
- The filmmaker John Hughes has been called a J.D. Salinger for the eighties. Here is a collection of his movies and a book that analyses them: https://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Hughes-5-Movie-Collection-DVD/dp/B082PQTRCY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=9ELT7Z33RFJL&keywords=john+hughes+collection&qid=1642681158&s=dvd&sprefix=john+hughes+collection%2Cdvd%2C108&sr=1-3 and
-
In their first bonus episode, Alex and Steven explore the psychological, political and moral dimensions of an iconic movie from the classic Hollywood period called 'It's a Wonderful Life' starring the peerless Jimmy Stewart. Topics they examine include: what has made this movie a family Xmas classic?; how much is George Bailey's character a result of his innate character and how much is it to do with the culture of Bedford Falls?; in psychological terms, how could we explain the malice and miserliness of Mr Potter?; what does Potter suggest about Capra's vision of the good American life?; to what extent should we see George Bailey as a role model of how to be a good person?; what does the ending of the movie say about Capra's moral vision and should we have any reservations about that?
Additional Resources:
A DVD copy of the movie can be bought from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Wonderful-LIfe-Lionel-Barrymore/dp/B00H37J7GG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1V3BRXZ4IILVM&keywords=its+a+wonderful+life&qid=1640895475&sprefix=its+a+wonderful+life+%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1This biography of the director Frank Capra shows that his life was more complicated and tragic than a straightforward American success story: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frank-Capra-Catastrophe-Joseph-McBride/dp/1604738383/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1640895534&refinements=p_28%3Afrank+capra&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1 Although out-of-print, Barbara Deming's examination of 1940's cinema is well worth reading: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Running-away-Myself-Barbara-Deming/dp/0670610895/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LF7TYLMC1GR5&keywords=barbara+deming+running+away+from+myself&qid=1640895626&s=books&sprefix=barbara+deming+runnung+away+from+myself%2Cstripbooks%2C86&sr=1-1Here is a candid interview with Jimmy Stewart about his life as an actor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=970nWlbT1Bc
-
In this episode on the seminal psychoanalyst Karen Horney, Alex and Steven explore her theory on the nature of neurosis and how an individual can potentially overcome their inner conflicts. Particular topics they examine include: How common are these inner conflicts, as Horney defines them?; What does Horney mean by the 'basic conflict' and what is its role in the creation of neurosis?; What part does the idealised self and the defence mechanism of externalisation play in the maintenance and worsening of a neurosis?; Why Horney is optimistic about a resolution to our inner conflicts.
Further Information:
Her two main theoretical works, Neurosis and Human Growth and Our Inner Conflicts, can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neurosis-Human-Growth-Self-Realization-Self-realization/dp/0393307751/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1639689953&refinements=p_27%3Akaren+horney&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1 and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Inner-Conflicts-Constructive-Neurosis/dp/0393309401/ref=sr_1_4?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1639690038&refinements=p_27%3Akaren+horney&s=books&sr=1-4&unfiltered=1Bernard J Paris wrote an excellent biography of Karen Horney: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Karen-Horney-Psychoanalysts-Search-Self-understanding/dp/0300059566/ref=sr_1_8?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=Karen+Horney&qid=1639690063&s=books&sr=1-8&unfiltered=1Paris also wrote a wonderful Horneyian analysis of Shakespeare's works called Bargains with Fate: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bargains-Fate-Psychological-Conflicts-Shakespeare/dp/1412808731/ref=sr_1_8?qid=1639690177&refinements=p_27%3ABernard+J+Paris&s=books&sr=1-8&text=Bernard+J+Paris I. Theodore Rubin wrote a Horney-inspired account of how self-hate arises and the ways in which compassion can be the antidote: -
In this sixth episode, Steven and Alex look at a seminal play by the Nobel Laureate, Harold Pinter, called The Birthday Party as a way of understanding how society can oppress us as individuals and coerce us into a stultifying conformity. Pinter's first play is a brilliant depiction of how a patriarchal, authoritarian society trades one kind of immaturity for another, as Stanley Webber's 'coming of age' involves replacing his feeble, yet somewhat exploitative resistance with a soulless subjection to society's 'duties' and norms. Topics they discuss in the podcast include: to what extent is Stanley a victim and to what extent are his oppressors also victims?; why is Stanley ultimately unable to resist these autocratic forces and what kind of society and upbringing might have saved him?; why is love seemingly so elusive in the world that Pinter depicts?; does this play have a moral message that can help us in our lives?
Further Resources
The best (in our opinion) recorded performance of this play is William Friedkin's production, as all the actors are unsurpassable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhbrpWlSZRAPinter's play can be found in the following collection: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plays-Birthday-Hothouse-Examina-Examination/dp/0571178448/ref=sr_1_7?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1638371539&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&refinements=p_27%3Aharold+pinter&s=books&sr=1-7&sres=0571305482%2C0571160786%2C0571193838%2C0571349919%2C0571288405%2C057120497X%2C0571178448%2C3499123711%2C0573021481%2C0571244807%2C0571203248%2C0571207332%2C0571203191%2C0573042101%2C0571160808%2C080215087X&unfiltered=1Michael Billington wrote an excellent biography of this great playwright, showing both the complexity of his character and his great humanitarian focus: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harold-Pinter-Michael-Billington/dp/0571234763/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=michael+billington&qid=1638371593&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&s=books&sr=1-5&sres=1783350318%2C1350214779%2C0750987898%2C057121049X%2C0571234763%2CB00P37KS2A%2CB084WK9BTL%2C0571190650%2C0356065510%2C1854596608%2C0571171036%2C0333489896%2C0413458601%2C0241893453%2C0241020948%2CB00124MDP8 Pinter's Nobel prize speech, which is as unsparing as his plays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH96tuRA3L0 Alex, the co-host, wrote his PhD on Pinter's work, primarily from a psychoanalytic perspective: -
In this fifth episode, Alex and Steven explore the question of normality using an excellent collection of essays called 'What is Normal? as a prompt for their reflections. Some of the issues that they cover are: why do we find the issue of 'being normal' so compelling?; can we construct social norms that don't oppress and other certain groups?; how much do we want to be normal, instead of, say, special?; how healthy is it to be preoccupied with being 'normal'?
Further Resources
The essay collection on normality, edited by Roz Caroll and Jane Ryan, can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Normal-Jane-Ryan/dp/1913494209/ref=sr_1_2?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1637162925&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&refinements=p_28%3Awhat+is+normal&s=books&sr=1-2&sres=0753555352%2C1913494209%2CB08RC5RGBC%2C0894864858%2CB0915YNGS4%2CB099BYQPT7%2CB0991LHP75%2CB096TQ73D9%2C0768439612%2C1661862071%2C1508511799%2C613789956X%2CB084GHHF9W%2CB084FC19JB%2C1406995339%2C1777225620&unfiltered=1The eminent clinical psychologist and truly humane man, David Smail, discusses the 'myth of normality' in his book Illusion and Reality: The Meaning of Anxiety: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Illusion-Reality-Meaning-David-Smail-ebook/dp/B07CYS2DBL/ref=sr_1_3?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1637162994&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&refinements=p_27%3Adavid+smail&s=books&sr=1-3&sres=1898059713%2C1782202870%2C1782202854%2C1782202862%2C1841193496%2C1782202889%2C0802808107%2C1720211663%2C2700728262%2CB00RWNA30A%2CB01K058VBO%2CB08JKLVKHZ%2CB07TXJZQNZ%2CB07NYWLD5Y%2CB07MX4BKPD%2CB07L7635PG&unfiltered=1&asin=B07CYS2DBL&revisionId=&format=2&depth=1Mark Edwards in his Tao of Bowie: 10 Lessons from David Bowie's life to help you live yours is a good guide to embracing and cultivating your offbeat self using the example of a great artist who never let the idea of the normal stifle his spirit: -
In their fourth episode, Alex and Steven explore Simon Gray's tragicomic masterpiece Butley about an ageing, disillusioned English lit. tutor and his vexed relationships. Topics they examine include why do people in general, and Butley in particular, play games in their relationships?; does Butley's evasiveness and game playing render him inauthentic and rule out any connection with others?; and finally, how can a sensitive, intelligent person like Butley avoid a self-destructive path?
Further Resources:
Simon Gray's Butley can be found as part of a collection on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Gray-Butley-Spoiled-Sleeping/dp/0571254721/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1635440733&sr=8-1Alan Bates' brilliant performance in the film version directed by Harold Pinter can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a784UV0gamkPeter Wolfe has written one of the first critical studies of Gray's oeuvre: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simon-Gray-Unbound-Journey-Dramatist/dp/078646299X/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&qid=1635337945&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&refinements=p_28%3Asimon+gray+unbound&s=books&sr=1-1&sres=078646299X&unfiltered=1Eric Berne's book on relationships as 'games': https://www.amazon.co.uk/Games-People-Play-Psychology-Relationships/dp/0241257476/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=games+people+play+eric+berne&qid=1635338057&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&s=books&sprefix=games+pe%2Cstripbooks%2C172&sr=1-1&sres=0241257476%2CB08SR86NW1%2CB00I60YDOK%2CB000E7RTNU%2CB002F76HIU%2CB0722SFN1L%2CB06XWFLJ7G%2CB09JVPYF5W%2CB08J8F3FTS%2CB002K55F2G%2C8301141395%2C0552176222%2C0553814826%2C009955755X%2C1529032172%2C161427844X&srpt=ABIS_BOOKW. Thomas Boyce's book on how sensitive individuals-'orchids'-can thrive in an often harsh world: -
In their third episode, Alex and Steven explore Scott Barry Kaufman's summary and reworking of Abraham Maslow's seminal account of self-actualization, which he details in his excellent work, Transcend. Alex and Steven examine questions such as: in what sense is Maslow/Kaufman's theory of human nature optimistic?; what is the nature of self-actualization and how can we achieve it?; how does self-actualization differ from ego enhancement and aspiration?; to what extent might social media hinder our self-actualization?; and what are peak experiences and how might they be essential to our mental health?
Further Resources:
Scott Barry Kaufman's Amazon UK page can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scott-Barry-Kaufman/e/B00415YDNU/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1 Two prominent intellectuals, Scott Barry Kaufman and Sam Harris, discuss SBK's book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE5tLIEH4Zw&ab_channel=SamHarrisScott Barry Kaufman's website with information about his psychology podcast: https://scottbarrykaufman.com/One of the most thorough presentations of Maslow's ideas is his book, Motivation and Personality: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motivation-Personality-H-Maslow-ebook/dp/B07VWP9X6J/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=motivation+and+personality&qid=1634038597&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&s=books&sr=1-1&sres=B07VWP9X6J%2C0060419873%2C0060442417%2C1513672703%2CB09FC6C2K8%2C0521089735%2C3030539237%2C1841690244%2C1847691277%2C162755467X%2C1462536034%2CB09HFXWV6W%2C1633880702%2C0395798671%2C0367172909%2C0593083318&srpt=ABIS_BOOKColin Wilson dedicated his life to the study of peak experiences, and in his book New Pathways in Psychology: Maslow and the Post Freudian Tradition, he shows how radical a thinker Maslow was at the time: https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Pathways-Psychology-Maslow-Post-Freud/dp/0800855132/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Colin+wilson+maslow&qid=1634038864&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&s=books&sr=1-2&sres=B01LPCP38A%2C0575027967%2CB0070YHFIY%2C1906787093&srpt=ABIS_BOOKIn his book Order of Assassins, Wilson also wrote about how acts of violence can be construed as the price we pay in a society that doesn't foster self-actualization, leading to boredom and frustration: -
In their second episode, Alex and Steven look at Albert Camus' final novel, The Fall, and use it to explore questions centring around moral responsibility and mental health; for example, how should we judge ourselves without feeling punitive guilt, how can we avoid falling prey to a bitter, misanthropic cynicism and what kind of integrity can we achieve given our moral frailty.
Further Resources:
Books by Albert Camus are available on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=albert+camus&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss_2Brian T. Fitch's 'The Fall: a matter of guilt' is a very readable, yet thorough engagement with the central themes of the novel; in particular, Fitch is excellent at examining the ambiguities both moral and textual: https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Matter-Twaynes-Masterwork-Studies/dp/0805744525/ref=sr_1_4?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&dchild=1&qid=1631977168&refinements=p_27%3Afitch%2Cp_28%3Athe+fall&s=books&sr=1-4&unfiltered=1 Robert Zaretsky's 'A Life worth Living: Camus and the Quest for Meaning' describes the key themes that Camus was wrestling with as he tried to live as meaningful and as committed a life as possible: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Worth-Living-Albert-Meaning/dp/0674970861/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+life+worth+living+camus&qid=1631977471&s=books&sr=1-1An excellent Camus podcast: Albert Camus Radio • A podcast on AnchorDick Keyes' 'Seeing Through Cynicism: A Reconsideration of the Power of Suspicion' is written from a religious perspective, but even for secular readers, it is an insightful examination and expose of the limitations of cynicism: https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Through-Cynicism-Reconsideration-Suspicion/dp/0830833889/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T39BR7ISTNTO&dchild=1&keywords=seeing+through+cynicism&qid=1631977698&sprefix=seeing+through+cyni%2Caps%2C240&sr=8-1Karen Horney's seminal work of neo-psychoanalysis, 'Neurosis and Human Growth' includes her explanation of the 'tyranny of the should' and how our moral ideals can become too perfectionistic and cause self-hate: https://www.amazon.com/Neurosis-Human-Growth-Struggle-Self-Realization/dp/0393307751/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B5EPTL1KGGHH&dchild=1&keywords=neurosis+and+human+growth&qid=1631977954&sprefix=neurosis+and+%2Caps%2C242&sr=8-1John Carroll's 'On Guilt: The Force Shaping Character, History and Culture' looks at guilt as a psychological, social and historical phenomenon,... -
In their debut episode, Steven and Alex use Sam Harris's thought-provoking short book / long essay Free Will as a starting point to delve into this fascinating issue. They consider what the lack of free will might mean for our mental health and the broader goal of living an authentic, happy and meaningful life.
Further Resources:
Books by Sam Harris available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Harris/e/B001H6UFQ0/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1Sam Harris's website (and home of the Making Sense podcast): https://samharris.org/An outstanding and very readable article by the late American philosopher Brand Blanshard about free will: http://www.anthonyflood.com/blansharddeterminism.htmAn episode of Sam Harris's Making Sense podcast in which he and Daniel Dennett discuss their conflicting views and public disagreements on the issue of free will: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sueFi0F8ynE&ab_channel=CriticalThoughts A recent episode of Sam Harris's Making Sense podcast about free will: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u45SP7Xv_oU&ab_channel=SamHarrisSteve Taylor’s blog post in the Scientific American critiquing the methodology of the Libet experiments: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/how-a-flawed-experiment-proved-that-free-will-doesnt-exist/
