Man's Search for Meaning
by viktor-e-frankl
A Holocaust survivor's memoir that argues the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of meaning.
psychology
(5)The Optimism Bias: A Tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain
by tali-sharot
Explores why humans systematically overestimate positive outcomes and underestimate negative ones, revealing how this neural tendency shapes decisions, memories, and wellbeing.
Wintergespräch mit Florence Gaub: Über Zukunft und deutschen Pessimismus
LANZ & PRECHT • Guest: florence-gaub
Futurist Florence Gaub argues that difficult times create space for utopian thinking, while examining why Germans seem culturally predisposed to pessimism despite positive personal outlooks.
No Longer Human
by osamu-dazai
A haunting semi-autobiographical novel exploring alienation, shame, and the struggle to connect with society through the confessions of a man who feels fundamentally disconnected from humanity.
Awareness
by anthony-de-mello
A collection of talks exploring how to wake up from the illusions that cause suffering through self-observation and detachment from identification.