The best example of human madness is found across the ages.

'Extraordinary Popular Delusions & The Madness Of Crowds' by Charles Mackay is a mammoth examination of the most ridiculous crazes across history, whether they be funny, bad or horrendous. Charles details some of the more well known financial bubbles (South Sea, Mississippi, Tulip Mania) but also catalogues well known alchemists/magnetisers & mob activities (The Crusades, Witch Hunts, etc). The book is split into 15 chapters and I consider it a historical document of sorts.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:32) Themes/Questions
(00:28:09) Author & Extras
(00:35:36) Summary
(00:38:31) Value 4 Value
(00:39:26) What's Coming Up

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What was I reviewing again?

'A Primer For Forgetting' by Lewis Hyde is a collection of intimate thoughts, stories, poems, mythological tales & quips. The primary theme is around forgetting & how this can be beneficial for an individual or groups, particularly when it relates to trauma. It's split into 4 parts (that he calls notebooks) about myth, self, nation & creation.

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(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:40) Themes/Questions
(00:14:04) Author & Extras
(00:17:08) Summary
(00:20:11) Value 4 Value
(00:21:21) Join Live!

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Boy are cockroaches gross!

'Metamorphosis & Other Stories' by Franz Kafka is a collection of prose poems, short stories, sketches, allegories, and novelettes. The longest is of Gregor Samsa, the travelling salesman who wakes up in his bed as a cockroach. You'll find others about conflict on a ship, dealing with annoying people on the street, etc. All are told in the surreal style he is known for, along with his dry humour.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:51) Themes/Questions
(00:15:30) Author & Extras
(00:21:49) Summary
(00:24:34) Value 4 Value
(00:26:01) Join Live!

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I'm jacking into cyberspace for some pain and pleasure.

'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is a sci-fi classic that was right at the beginning of the cyberpunk genre. We follow Case in a futuristic techno world where he is hired to hack into a wealthy family's lair. He is part of a motley crew each with their own specialty, hired by an AI to free itself from it's restrictions. Think of Japan, robots, drugs, implants, space, fashion, tech, culture, violence and sex to get a good idea of the new world.

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(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:02) Themes/Questions
(00:17:30) Author & Extras
(00:23:05) Summary
(00:25:42) Value 4 Value
(00:26:07) Join Live!

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We've got it all wrong, there's no good guys & bad guys .... they're all bad!

'Peter Pan' by J.M. Barrie is a classic story of a child who never grows up. Peter lives in Neverland, a mystical island where pirates, Indians and wild beasts roam. He commands a gang of Lost Boys and takes them on adventures along with Wendy, Tinkerbell, John & Michael.

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(00:02:58) Themes/Questions
(00:12:44) Author & Extras
(00:18:50) Summary
(00:21:51) Value 4 Value
(00:22:43) Join Live!

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Strategies to accept your suffering & heal yourself with compassion.

'Radical Acceptance' by Tara Brach is a guide of various meditation & framing practices to recognise the root cause of emotional distress. These are derived from Buddhist principles and serve to help accept the current pain & suffering. There are 13 chapters that begin with a story followed by an explanation of the intent before a final guided meditation.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:35) Themes/Questions
(00:15:33) Author & Extras
(00:24:26) Summary
(00:27:20) Value 4 Value
(00:28:40) Join Live!

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You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

'The Tao Of Pooh & The Te Of Piglet' by Benjamin Hoff is a light read interpreting Taoism through the lens of A. A. Milne's 'Winnie The Pooh' characters. Core concepts such as The Way & Wu Wei are explored and why certain characters embody various aspects of the religion. It's told via the author interacting with the characters & recounting passages both from the original Pooh stories but also the 3 main Taoist teachers.

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Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:35) Themes/Questions
(00:18:56) Author & Extras
(00:25:06) Summary
(00:27:20) Value 4 Value
(00:29:00) Join Live!

Connect with Mere Mortals:
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