The Reading Cure

In this fourth episode of the second season, Alex and Steven delve into Sigmund Freud's seminal work, "Civilisation and its Discontents." They navigate the realms of civilisation's promise and its inherent discontent, exploring the psychological tapestry Freud weaves to elucidate human suffering in the face of social evolution. Topics discussed include: To what extent has civilisation become both...

In this thought-provoking bonus episode, Alex and Steven journey through the landscapes of Alexander Payne's 2013 film, "Nebraska." Join them as they navigate the complex world of Woody, a character on a quest that speaks to universal human experiences. Topics discussed include: Woody is on a determined quest to claim his million dollars in the promised land of Nebraska. What kind of quest is this...

In this third episode of the second season, Alex and Steven delve into Paula Fox's captivating novel, Desperate Characters. They explore the intricacies of the characters and their interactions with the world around them, as well as the socioeconomic conditions of New York at the time. Topics discussed include: In what sense are the characters desperate? To what extent are the characters' sense of...

In this second episode of the second season, Alex and Steven discuss Anthony Storr's insightful and humane work called Solitude. Topics discussed include: Has the world of therapy almost pathologized the need for solitude? What are the main benefits of solitude? Are there ways in which solitude could be detrimental? To what extent is a lack of solitude a contributing factor to mental health issues...

In this first episode of Season 2, Alex and Steven discuss the film version of Edward Albee's iconic play  Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf  starring two of the great actors from the Golden age of Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Topics explored include: the reasons behind the antagonism between the couple; was the playwright making a social and political critique of America...

In this bonus episode, Steven and Alex, with a loving yet critical eye, take a look at one of the most iconic movies of all time: Stephen King's  Shawshank   Redemption . Topics explored include: What are Andy Dufrene's character qualities that allow him to endure the arbitrary cruelties of prison life and aid him in his successful plot to escape?; What can we learn from this movie about...

In Episode 12, Alex and Steven explore the horror classic "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by R.L. Stevenson. Topics discussed include: why is this novel so iconic?; in what ways might the typical reaction to Hyde reveal the nature of evil?; how can we understand the narrator, Utterson, from a psychological point of view?; how might Jekyll have dealt with his conflicts in a more constru...

In this eleventh episode, Alex and Steven discuss Viktor Frankl's iconic work 'Man's Search for Meaning'. Topics explored include: In what ways did Frankl's concentration camp experiences help him understand the pivotal role of meaning in a human being's life?; What is the essence of logotherapy and how does it differ from other psychotherapy approaches?; Is the will to meaning the quintessential...

In this bonus episode, Alex and Steven explore Alfred Hitchcock's examination of the American psyche and of the nature of cinema in his 1954 masterpiece,  Rear Window . Topics discussed include: is Jeffries' voyeuristic behaviour 'normal' or 'unhealthy' (or perhaps both!) and what is its ethical status?; what does Jeffries' desire to watch his neighbours' private lives say about the nature of...

n their tenth episode, Steven and Alex explore the trials and tribulations of the autumnal stage of life in their discussion of Barbara Pym's Booker Prize short-listed novel, 'Quartet in Autumn'. Topics examined include: Does the office quartet, with their hesitancy about getting involved in each other's lives, suggest that human beings in general are somewhat reclusive?; What is each character's...

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 fash...

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 reco...

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 w...

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...

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...

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, sp...

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 a...

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...

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:...

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.co...