The Reading Cure

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=1
• An Alan Watts talk on the wisdom of insecurity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhAareENqbg
• Greg 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 https://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Hughes-Eighties-Cinema-American/dp/186171436X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Y45Q0W9RQM2D&keywords=john+hughes&qid=1642681018&s=books&sprefix=john+hughes%2Cstripbooks%2C96&sr=1-1

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=8-1
• This 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=1-1
• Here 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=1
• Bernard 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=1
• Paris 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: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Compassion-Self-Hate-I-Rubin-Theodore/dp/0684841991/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=1639690347&refinements=p_28%3Acompassion+and+self-hate&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
• A YouTube presentation on how Horney's theory can impact our understanding of culture:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlEBIg2ft9o

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=NhbrpWlSZRA
• Pinter'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=1
• Michael 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: https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/7484190/PhD_thesis.pdf

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=1
• The 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=1
• Mark 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: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tao-Bowie-Lessons-David-Bowies/dp/1911630865/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=self&qid=1637163557&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&refinements=p_28%3Adavid+bowie&s=books&sr=1-2&sres=0816634181%2C1911630873%2C1770415521%2C1250239435%2C1627310371%2C3030158799%2CB08L1QQRYZ%2C1784880736%2CB09758KLBN%2CB09CTLPXSC%2C1782204903%2C0826416845%2C8418524065%2CB09HH8RV33%2CB096LPRXCL%2CB08TSK53V6&unfiltered=1
• Mark Fisher's excellent and unnerving book, Capitalist Realism: Is there no alternative? explains how, in his view, the current socioeconomic structure has 'normalized' itself, which helps us understand our own current sense of what is normal: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Capitalist-Realism-there-alternative-Books-ebook/dp/B008H3WB36/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=1637163273&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&refinements=p_28%3Acapitalist+realism&s=books&sr=1-2&sres=1789049334%2C1846943175%2C0810142481%2C1789048540%2C0648840530%2C160938234X%2C1501383213%2C3863353331%2C1608059774%2C3938666102%2CB011839B70%2C9080620777&unfiltered=1

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=8-1
• Alan Bates' brilliant performance in the film version directed by Harold Pinter can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a784UV0gamk
• Peter 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=1
• Eric 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_BOOK
• W. Thomas Boyce's book on how sensitive individuals-'orchids'-can thrive in an often harsh world: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Orchid-Dandelion-People-Struggle-Thrive-ebook/dp/B07BDL7TTP/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+orchid+and+the+dandelion&qid=1635338186&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&s=books&sprefix=orchids+and+%2Cstripbooks%2C162&sr=1-1&sres=1509805176%2CB094J57MSY%2CB091DYRS1T%2C9571360007%2CB093BC3Q1M%2C099895800X%2C0241257492%2CB08FP5NTZP%2CB096LTWMD7%2C1529068460%2C3952506907%2CB0884H7N1S%2C1913871096%2CB086SCHSBR%2C0007163932%2C0471370878&srpt=ABIS_BOOK

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=SamHarris
• Scott 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_BOOK
• Colin 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_BOOK
• In 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: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Order-Assassins-Modern-Society-Wilson/dp/0586039996/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=colin+wilson+criminal&qid=1634038904&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&s=books&sr=1-5&sres=B087WVBJ5W%2CB01N46P5GF%2C1903582784%2C1854873164%2C0586039996%2C0881849626%2CB0168SDYPA%2C0446361631%2C0881848557%2C162731010X%2C0753513218%2CB087WTPKKF%2CB00AFA4T7A%2CB00LWHW3QO%2C0233002669%2C1854870564&srpt=ABIS_BOOK 
• Will Storr's book Selfie has an excellent chapter on 'the digital self', which is helpful in understanding the distinction between the self in self-actualization and the imaginal self: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Selfie-How-West-Became-Self-Obsessed-ebook/dp/B01N7EU0BO/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=social+media+narcissism&qid=1634039082&qsid=262-7832069-2751859&s=books&sr=1-16&sres=0757324290%2CB08QDP2PD1%2CB07Q47616L%2C0415979226%2C0578971178%2CB08K5Y7WRN%2C0230229522%2C3030063763%2CB08FVL7TCP%2C0367206080%2C3030415341%2CB09GZPF9RZ%2C144728366X%2C0061582336%2C1416575995%2C0999593528&srpt=ABIS_BOOK&asin=144728366X&revisionId=&format=4&depth=2

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_2
• Brian 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=1-1
• An excellent Camus podcast: Albert Camus Radio • A podcast on Anchor
• Dick 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=8-1
• Karen 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=8-1
• John Carroll's 'On Guilt: The Force Shaping Character, History and Culture' looks at guilt as a psychological, social and historical phenomenon, so we can understand it not only as an internal state, but a dynamic force shaped by wider cultural factors: https://www.amazon.com/Guilt-Shaping-Character-History-Morality-ebook/dp/B084T794VH/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=on+guilt+john+carroll&qid=1631978155&sr=8-1

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_1
• Sam 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.htm
• An 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=SamHarris
• Steve 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/