Read: The Ultimate Hidden Truth of the World… by David Graeber (posthumously)

Recommended

This is a fine collection of Graeber’s essays, covering a variety of periods and topics, but building a robust overview of his work.

Though I have read some of these essays before, the quality of Graeber’s analysis, storytelling, and writing means that I was happy to read them again, and gained additional insights.

The essay “Are You an Anarchist?” reminds me of the “everyday anarchism” series I’ve oft considered writing. E.g. “When you do (thing), anarchism is among you.” ( Secret hint: you usually are an anarchist, or at least act like one.)

Note: I do not recommend the audiobook format.

Read: Dopamine Nation by Anna Lemke

Recommended

There was not much here that was completely new to me, but the stories were well-told, and it was a useful collection of reminders.

For example, I am reminded once again by the fact that having some self-directed misery in our lives helps us feel much better the rest of the time. Cold baths, ascetic practices, hard exercise, primitive camping, etc. can all help with our balance, perspective, and our physiological state of pain and pleasure.

And also again: leaning into survivable, copeable challenges is often the best way through, and leads to the most growth.

My Reading Highlights and Notes

From the Summary:

1. The relentless pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain leads to pain
2. Recovery begins with abstinence
3. Abstinence resets the brain’s reward pathway, and with it our capacity to take joy in simpler pleasures
4. Self-binding creates literal and metacognitive space between desire and consumption, a modern necessity in dopamine-overloaded world
5. Medications can restore homeostasis, but consider what we lose by medicating away our pain
6. Pressing on the pain side resets our balance to the side of pleasure
7. Beware of getting addicted to pain
8. Radical honesty promotes awareness, enhances intimacy, and fosters a “plenty” mindset
9. Prosocial shame affirms that we belong to the human tribe
10. Instead of running away from the world, we can find escape by immersing ourselves in it