book reviews
Book reviews by and for those seeking to understand the human mind for all its strengths, quirks and shortcomings.
Civilized Terrorist 'Terror Redefined' by Musaib Malik
Since time immemorial, people have been guilty of terror. Back in the Jurassic era, humans were threatened by large, horrible animals. Then the biggest threat to human civilization was habitat. You might think how habitat was one of the greatest threats to human civilization? The answer is simple, today we see big algae in the oceans that can grow up to 100 meters in length known as kelps. These kelps are modified versions of their forefathers. So you can imagine what it would have been like millions of years ago.
By Zeeshan Mushtaq Lone5 years ago in Psyche
Book Review: "Drug Use for Grown-Ups" by Dr. Carl Hart
When I first heard of this book I expected it to be someone simply teaching us how marijuana can help and heal us like many other people are trying to teach us. CBD, weed etc. But I was so very wrong. Instead, this is a book about how the history of drugs is so very different to the modernisation of drug culture. How it was once a free choice and now is overtly policed. It is about how 'drug' has been turned into a derogatory term and how the socio-economic factors surrounding 'junkie culture' has impacted the overall view of drugs. The argument: should adults with their own choices, with their own human rights, be allowed to put something into their body that they choose? The answer in terms of alcohol and cigarettes is 'yes'. But if we are to look at drugs, the answer is exclusively 'no'. This book is mainly about this argument and its history.
By Annie Kapur5 years ago in Psyche
Mental Health in Literature
Perpetuating the stigma of mental illness The stigma shrouding mental illness is a prevailing one. This stigma breeds distrust of mental health professionals, reducing them to the term "shrink." People in therapy are seen as weak. People who can’t handle their emotions. This stigma is especially detrimental for men and people of color.
By Cynthia Varady5 years ago in Psyche
Book Review: Brown, Brene — Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice
Rising Strong, is a book about overcoming adversity, but it is much more than that. Brown has an accessible writing style that explains her own detailed research in a way that helps people to make sense of difficult emotions. Brown’s writing style is relaxed, informal, honest and at times, humorous. It is down to earth, with an anecdotal approach but references other peoples work as well as her own studies, in a clever and different way. Priests, screenwriters, and scholars are given equal billing, among others.
By JoJoBonetto5 years ago in Psyche
Book Review: Sane New World: Taming the Mind, Ruby Wax
I remember Ruby Wax from her TV interviews in the 1990s with various celebrities. The Madonna interview was like watching a ship go down. The one with Pamela Anderson doing pelvic floor exercises in her Baywatch swimsuit was not much better. Ruby Wax is a bit like Marmite, you either love her or hate her. I find her funny, but she has a habit of what I would call “over acting” and this book is not really that different in style.
By JoJoBonetto5 years ago in Psyche
"Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life"
I'll start by saying, I was shocked at how much I was able to relate to this story, having never partaken of group style therapy myself. What made this story so relatable for me were the overarching issues which sent Christie to therapy in the first place: an overwhelming sense of loneliness beginning at a young age, an eating disorder, a dysfunctional family dynamic, being sexually assaulted. I personally relate to each of these topics in some way.
By Emily Goswick5 years ago in Psyche
4 Must-Read Psychology Books That Most People Have Never Heard Of
I experience mixed feelings whenever someone recommends a book or a song that came out years ago and which I’m just discovering now. One part of me is grateful for the recommendation, but another part of me says, “This came out years ago and I’m only just discovering it now?!”
By Matt Karamazov5 years ago in Psyche
9 Books To Help you Process and Heal From Your Anxiety
When the history books are written about 2020, I’m betting the word “anxiety” will come up a lot. Whether it’s the panic buying of toilet paper or the nagging worry that even a much-needed hug is potentially dangerous, there’s a lot to be anxious about, from the slightly frivolous to the downright depressing. But of course, even without the pandemic, there would have been plenty of causes for anxiety in 2020 — the U.S. election, yes, but also in the general course of being human and loving other humans. As with so many things, though: part of the solution is books! Here’s a selection of books about anxiety to help you manage it and begin to heal.
By Claire Amy Handscombe5 years ago in Psyche
