Atomic Habits is clearly one of my favorite books from 2022, it’s not only a breeze to read but it inspired concrete improvements in my life.
If you’re on the self-improvement journey, little will help you more than understanding the psychology of habit-building and habit-disrupting. See what James Clear’s method can do for you.
Real Books that belong in the Restricted Section Most of you will be familiar with the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library. The books within contain dark magic, and you will need a professor’s written permission to gain access. The Catholic Church also had a List of Prohibited Books. The Church selected books that went against Catholic beliefs; both theological and secular. Most notably this list butted heads with growing scientific discoveries, like the heliocentric astronomical model in the 17th century. I’m sure you’ve also heard of Banned Books Week. A special week consecrated by libraries across America as a… Read More »Real Books that belong in the Restricted Section
In Facing the Climate Emergency Margaret Klein Salamon starts with an impressive call to arms. She invokes the hero’s journey and states quite clearly how much the climate crisis matters and that you have a calling in life. It seems a bit dramatic at first, but in light of the global climate crisis, she’s probably right.
Another sprawling magical-realism book by Rushdie – sign me up!
The Golden House recounts ~10 years of a transplanted Indian family in contemporary New York City; mostly sandwiched between 2008-2018. Rene, a neighbor, friend, and almost member of the family narrates the story as he films the ‘Goldens.’
The “Eye of the World” starts in the sleepy village of Emond’s Field in the Two Rivers region. You are introduced to a handful of villagers on the day before the yearly Bel Tine celebration (more or less spring equinox.) These villagers become the main characters of the series. Everything is idyllic and tranquil, even with the hard winter just ending. And then, suddenly, the lives of everyone are upended by a surprise attack. The villagers’ expected life trajectory is pulled away from them and their stories become much more interesting.
Henrich argues that it was first the Catholic Church’s strange practices of reducing the power of extended kin-groups in Europe and then various other protestanty-based ideals which further changed the social psychology of Europeans. And then how the habits of European social psychology bore fruit by encouraging higher rates of education, technological advancement, sharing with strangers, and trust in non-related others.
Humans are making enormous progress against global poverty and diseases, we’re living longer, more children are going to school. You name the area of concern (except global warming) and we’re improving. That’s been the case since roughly the end of the Second World War. Perhaps it isn’t so evident in the ‘West.’ But most people don’t live in the ‘West’ anyway.