26 Books like Saving the Modern Soul

Selfie

by Will Storr • 2017

How centuries of individualism, guilt, and competition built a self that can never feel good enough.

3.91

4k+

🏛️ History Of The Self 🌍 Western Individualism 📉 Perfectionism Critique 🪞 Narcissism And Culture 📈 Self-Esteem Movement

Selfie 95%

How centuries of individualism, guilt, and competition built a self that can never feel good enough.

by Will Storr 2017

3.91

4k+ ratings

🏛️ History Of The Self 🌍 Western Individualism 📉 Perfectionism Critique 🪞 Narcissism And Culture 📈 Self-Esteem Movement

Great Thinkers

by The School of Life • 2016

From Plato's cave to Freud's couch: the ideas that built our world, made practical for yours.

4.35

2k+

🏛️ Western Philosophy ☸️ Eastern Philosophy 🛠️ Practical Philosophy 📜 Intellectual History ⚖️ Political Theory

Great Thinkers 95%

From Plato's cave to Freud's couch: the ideas that built our world, made practical for yours.

by The School of Life 2016

4.35

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Western Philosophy ☸️ Eastern Philosophy 🛠️ Practical Philosophy 📜 Intellectual History ⚖️ Political Theory

A Human History of Emotion

by Richard Firth-Godbehere • 2021

Your six basic emotions are a modern Western fiction, and projecting them backward changed history.

3.71

701

🎭 History Of Emotions 🌍 Cultural Psychology 🧱 Constructed Emotion ⚖️ Emotional Regimes 👥 Social History

A Human History of Emotion 95%

Your six basic emotions are a modern Western fiction, and projecting them backward changed history.

by Richard Firth-Godbehere 2021

3.71

701 ratings

🎭 History Of Emotions 🌍 Cultural Psychology 🧱 Constructed Emotion ⚖️ Emotional Regimes 👥 Social History

Heaven and Hell

by Neel Burton • 2015

Feelings built for the savanna now decide your career, your politics, and your love life.

3.62

250

🏛️ Philosophical Psychology 🧬 Evolutionary Psychology 🌌 Existential Psychology ⚖️ Moral Emotions 🧘 Emotion Regulation

Heaven and Hell 95%

Feelings built for the savanna now decide your career, your politics, and your love life.

by Neel Burton 2015

3.62

250 ratings

🏛️ Philosophical Psychology 🧬 Evolutionary Psychology 🌌 Existential Psychology ⚖️ Moral Emotions 🧘 Emotion Regulation

Anger

by Carol Tavris • 1983

Venting anger doesn't cool you down; it fuels the fire. The evidence against catharsis.

3.81

257

👥 Social Psychology 😤 Anger Management 🧠 Emotion Regulation 💭 Cognitive Psychology 🔍 Myth-Busting Psychology

Anger 95%

Venting anger doesn't cool you down; it fuels the fire. The evidence against catharsis.

by Carol Tavris 1983

3.81

257 ratings

👥 Social Psychology 😤 Anger Management 🧠 Emotion Regulation 💭 Cognitive Psychology 🔍 Myth-Busting Psychology

The Art of Being

by Erich Fromm • 2013

The self-help industry sells you more having disguised as being. Here is the harder path.

4.04

6k+

🧠 Humanistic Psychology 🛒 Anti-Materialism 🌿 Authentic Living 🧘 Meditation Practices 🪞 Narcissism And Self

The Art of Being 94%

The self-help industry sells you more having disguised as being. Here is the harder path.

by Erich Fromm 2013

4.04

6k+ ratings

🧠 Humanistic Psychology 🛒 Anti-Materialism 🌿 Authentic Living 🧘 Meditation Practices 🪞 Narcissism And Self

Radical Curiosity

by Seth Goldenberg • 2022

Retrain your curiosity to reclaim your attention, bridge divides, and build a future worth wanting.

3.61

103

🧐 Questioning Culture 📚 Critical Pedagogy 📱 Attention Economy ⚡ Social Polarization 🔄 Unlearning

Radical Curiosity 94%

Retrain your curiosity to reclaim your attention, bridge divides, and build a future worth wanting.

by Seth Goldenberg 2022

3.61

103 ratings

🧐 Questioning Culture 📚 Critical Pedagogy 📱 Attention Economy ⚡ Social Polarization 🔄 Unlearning

Scripts People Live

by Claude M. Steiner • 1974

Three childhood scripts are the engine behind depression, madness, and addiction.

4.05

1k+

🧠 Transactional Analysis 🕊️ Humanistic Psychology 🧒 Childhood Conditioning ✅ Emotional Validation 🔗 Codependency

Scripts People Live 94%

Three childhood scripts are the engine behind depression, madness, and addiction.

by Claude M. Steiner 1974

4.05

1k+ ratings

🧠 Transactional Analysis 🕊️ Humanistic Psychology 🧒 Childhood Conditioning ✅ Emotional Validation 🔗 Codependency

To Have or To Be?

by Erich Fromm • 1976

Two modes of existence divide us: one treats everything as property; the other, as living encounter.

4.18

14k+

🧠 Humanistic Psychology 📖 Critical Theory 🏛️ Frankfurt School 🛒 Anti-Consumerism 🏡 Voluntary Simplicity

To Have or To Be? 94%

Two modes of existence divide us: one treats everything as property; the other, as living encounter.

by Erich Fromm 1976

4.18

14k+ ratings

🧠 Humanistic Psychology 📖 Critical Theory 🏛️ Frankfurt School 🛒 Anti-Consumerism 🏡 Voluntary Simplicity

On Kindness

by Adam Phillips • 2009

How kindness went from virtue to embarrassment. A compact history of what self-interest cost us.

3.54

707

📖 Intellectual History 🛋️ Psychoanalytic Thought 🤝 Altruism And Empathy 🪢 Human Interdependence 🔍 Cultural Criticism

On Kindness 94%

How kindness went from virtue to embarrassment. A compact history of what self-interest cost us.

by Adam Phillips 2009

3.54

707 ratings

📖 Intellectual History 🛋️ Psychoanalytic Thought 🤝 Altruism And Empathy 🪢 Human Interdependence 🔍 Cultural Criticism

Future Tense

by Tracy Dennis-Tiwary • 2022

Anxiety isn't the problem. It's an ancient tool for facing the unknown. Suppressing it is.

3.70

672

🧠 Evolutionary Psychology 🪞 Reframing Anxiety 🧭 Uncertainty Navigation 🎨 Anxiety And Creativity 💊 Medicalization Critique

Future Tense 94%

Anxiety isn't the problem. It's an ancient tool for facing the unknown. Suppressing it is.

by Tracy Dennis-Tiwary 2022

3.70

672 ratings

🧠 Evolutionary Psychology 🪞 Reframing Anxiety 🧭 Uncertainty Navigation 🎨 Anxiety And Creativity 💊 Medicalization Critique

The Ritual Effect

by Michael Norton • 2024

Why a pregame ritual and a funeral tap the same psychology, and how to design yours.

3.40

1k+

🧪 Behavioral Science 🌟 Positive Psychology 🕯️ Everyday Rituals 🔄 Habit Design 🎭 Emotional Regulation

The Ritual Effect 94%

Why a pregame ritual and a funeral tap the same psychology, and how to design yours.

by Michael Norton 2024

3.40

1k+ ratings

🧪 Behavioral Science 🌟 Positive Psychology 🕯️ Everyday Rituals 🔄 Habit Design 🎭 Emotional Regulation

Anxiety

by The School of Life • 2020

Evolution built you to worry. Modern life turned up the volume. Anxiety is the result.

4.28

527

🧬 Evolutionary Psychology 🏛️ Modern Stoicism 🕳️ Unconscious Mind 🏙️ Modernity And Anxiety 💗 Self-Compassion

Anxiety 94%

Evolution built you to worry. Modern life turned up the volume. Anxiety is the result.

by The School of Life 2020

4.28

527 ratings

🧬 Evolutionary Psychology 🏛️ Modern Stoicism 🕳️ Unconscious Mind 🏙️ Modernity And Anxiety 💗 Self-Compassion

12 Commandments

by Hanzi Freinacht • 2022

The problem isn't you, it's the pursuit of excellence. Here's how to thrive in mediocrity.

4.40

🚫 Anti-Self-Help 🌑 Shadow Work 🛑 Anti-Perfectionism 🏛️ Modern Stoicism 🧘 Body-Mind Connection

12 Commandments 94%

The problem isn't you, it's the pursuit of excellence. Here's how to thrive in mediocrity.

by Hanzi Freinacht 2022

4.40

42 ratings

🚫 Anti-Self-Help 🌑 Shadow Work 🛑 Anti-Perfectionism 🏛️ Modern Stoicism 🧘 Body-Mind Connection

Happy Ever After

by Paul Dolan • 2019

Wealth, marriage, parenthood: sold as happiness guarantees. A behavioral scientist checks the data.

3.66

993

🧠 Behavioral Science 😊 Happiness Research 📊 Behavioral Economics 📜 Life Scripts ⚖️ Social Comparison

Happy Ever After 94%

Wealth, marriage, parenthood: sold as happiness guarantees. A behavioral scientist checks the data.

by Paul Dolan 2019

3.66

993 ratings

🧠 Behavioral Science 😊 Happiness Research 📊 Behavioral Economics 📜 Life Scripts ⚖️ Social Comparison

Morality

by Jonathan Sacks • 2019

Loneliness rivals smoking. Broken politics. Amoral markets. All from one trade: community for self.

4.34

2k+

🔗 Social Capital 🫂 Loneliness Epidemic 🧍 Individualism Critique 🏘️ Communitarianism 🪞 Self-Help Critique

Morality 94%

Loneliness rivals smoking. Broken politics. Amoral markets. All from one trade: community for self.

by Jonathan Sacks 2019

4.34

2k+ ratings

🔗 Social Capital 🫂 Loneliness Epidemic 🧍 Individualism Critique 🏘️ Communitarianism 🪞 Self-Help Critique

The Sorrows of Work

by The School of Life • 2019

Work fulfillment is nearly impossible by design. The reasons are structural, not personal.

3.84

505

🏭 Sociology Of Work 💰 Capitalism Critique 🧠 Workplace Psychology 🔍 Anti-Self-Help 🔨 Meaningful Work

The Sorrows of Work 94%

Work fulfillment is nearly impossible by design. The reasons are structural, not personal.

by The School of Life 2019

3.84

505 ratings

🏭 Sociology Of Work 💰 Capitalism Critique 🧠 Workplace Psychology 🔍 Anti-Self-Help 🔨 Meaningful Work

Freud and Beyond

by Stephen A. Mitchell • 1995

One founder, many heirs: how psychoanalysis splintered into rival schools after Freud.

4.18

2k+

📜 History Of Psychoanalysis ⚖️ Comparative Psychoanalysis 🧸 Object Relations 🛡️ Ego Psychology 🪞 Self Psychology

Freud and Beyond 94%

One founder, many heirs: how psychoanalysis splintered into rival schools after Freud.

by Stephen A. Mitchell 1995

4.18

2k+ ratings

📜 History Of Psychoanalysis ⚖️ Comparative Psychoanalysis 🧸 Object Relations 🛡️ Ego Psychology 🪞 Self Psychology

Hard-Core Romance

by Eva Illouz • 2013

A sociologist explains why Fifty Shades conquered the world: BDSM solves what modern romance cannot.

3.51

283

📚 Sociology Of Literature 🎭 Cultural Criticism ⚡ Sexual Politics 💕 Modern Courtship 🛠️ Self-Help Culture

Hard-Core Romance 94%

A sociologist explains why Fifty Shades conquered the world: BDSM solves what modern romance cannot.

by Eva Illouz 2013

3.51

283 ratings

📚 Sociology Of Literature 🎭 Cultural Criticism ⚡ Sexual Politics 💕 Modern Courtship 🛠️ Self-Help Culture

The Happiness Industry

by William Davies • 2015

The push to measure your happiness was never about your well-being. It was about control.

3.64

1k+

🏛️ Political Economy 👁️ Surveillance Capitalism ⚖️ Utilitarianism 🧪 Behaviorism 🧠 Behavioral Economics

The Happiness Industry 94%

The push to measure your happiness was never about your well-being. It was about control.

by William Davies 2015

3.64

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 👁️ Surveillance Capitalism ⚖️ Utilitarianism 🧪 Behaviorism 🧠 Behavioral Economics

The Sane Society

by Erich Fromm • 1955

Entire societies can be mentally ill and call it normal. A psychoanalyst delivers the diagnosis.

4.24

3k+

🏛️ Critical Theory 🛋️ Humanistic Psychoanalysis 📚 Frankfurt School 🔀 Freudo-Marxism 🔗 Alienation Studies

The Sane Society 94%

Entire societies can be mentally ill and call it normal. A psychoanalyst delivers the diagnosis.

by Erich Fromm 1955

4.24

3k+ ratings

🏛️ Critical Theory 🛋️ Humanistic Psychoanalysis 📚 Frankfurt School 🔀 Freudo-Marxism 🔗 Alienation Studies

Hacking Life

by Joseph M. Reagle Jr. • 2019

Life hacking promised control. A critic traces what the optimization movement cannot measure.

3.62

🖥️ Digital Culture 🔍 Self-Help Critique ⚙️ Optimization Culture 📊 Quantified Self 🧘 Digital Minimalism

Hacking Life 94%

Life hacking promised control. A critic traces what the optimization movement cannot measure.

by Joseph M. Reagle Jr. 2019

3.62

97 ratings

🖥️ Digital Culture 🔍 Self-Help Critique ⚙️ Optimization Culture 📊 Quantified Self 🧘 Digital Minimalism

The Key to Happiness

by Meik Wiking • 2017

Three-fourths of the happiness gap comes down to six factors; a leading researcher unpacks them.

3.99

20k+

📊 Happiness Studies 😊 Positive Psychology 🤝 Social Connection 🇩🇰 Nordic Lifestyle ⚖️ Work-Life Balance

The Key to Happiness 94%

Three-fourths of the happiness gap comes down to six factors; a leading researcher unpacks them.

by Meik Wiking 2017

3.99

20k+ ratings

📊 Happiness Studies 😊 Positive Psychology 🤝 Social Connection 🇩🇰 Nordic Lifestyle ⚖️ Work-Life Balance

The Empathy Effect

by Helen Riess • 2018

Your brain misfires with strangers. A clinician's seven-part method for fixing the empathy circuit.

3.81

275

🧠 Emotional Intelligence 🧬 Interpersonal Neurobiology 🎯 Empathy Training 🎭 Cognitive Bias 💖 Self-Compassion

The Empathy Effect 94%

Your brain misfires with strangers. A clinician's seven-part method for fixing the empathy circuit.

by Helen Riess 2018

3.81

275 ratings

🧠 Emotional Intelligence 🧬 Interpersonal Neurobiology 🎯 Empathy Training 🎭 Cognitive Bias 💖 Self-Compassion

Standpoints

by Svend Brinkmann • 2018

Modernity wants a use for everything. Ten old ideas that refuse to earn their keep.

3.77

787

🚫 Anti-Self-Help 🧠 Existential Philosophy 🏛️ Virtue Ethics 🏙️ Modernity Critique 🤝 Ethics Of Care

Standpoints 94%

Modernity wants a use for everything. Ten old ideas that refuse to earn their keep.

by Svend Brinkmann 2018

3.77

787 ratings

🚫 Anti-Self-Help 🧠 Existential Philosophy 🏛️ Virtue Ethics 🏙️ Modernity Critique 🤝 Ethics Of Care

Breakfast with Socrates

by Robert Rowland Smith • 2009

Waking up, getting dressed, sitting in traffic: every mundane moment hides a philosophical question.

3.28

2k+

Breakfast with Socrates 94%

Waking up, getting dressed, sitting in traffic: every mundane moment hides a philosophical question.

by Robert Rowland Smith 2009

3.28

2k+ ratings

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