A Need To Read

Matt Smith is a former professional surfer and sailor, now he spends his time on the west coast of Ireland as CEO of the charity HOMETREE (https://www.hometree.ie/about).   You can find him on Instagram @thehonestcaptain where he talks about his projects show support  www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread www.buymeacoffee.com//aneedtoread 

Welcome back! I've been away for a while, and never even said see ya later or goodbye.  This episode covers a little bit about why I stopped the podcast, what I've been up to, and where the podcast will go in the future.  books recommended: 100 years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda Someone To Love You In All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob Wakesburg    COMING UP: interviews with Matt Smith (Hometree CEO) & Ellie Middleton (author of UNMSKED & How To Be You), and a review of ‘The Compassionate Mind' by Paul Gilbert    let me know if you have any suggestions for guests or topics you want me to look in to aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com   sponsors: www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread for 10% off your first month of therapy 

Merlin Sheldrake is a biologist, writer, and speaker with a background in plant sciences, microbiology, ecology, and the history and philosophy of science. He received a Ph.D. in tropical ecology from Cambridge University for his work on underground fungal networks in tropical forests in Panama.   His book Entangled life was a Sunday Times Bestseller.   www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread   A-need-to-read is the code for an additional 10% off your first purchase with Urban Farm It, who do homegrown mushroom kits: https://urban-farm-it.com/

In this episode, I chat about some fiction books that you might like to read this year.    Books discussed   When We Cease To Understand The World by Benjamin Labtut Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 by Cho Nam Joo A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Someone To Love You In All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksburg First Person Singular by Hariku Murakami If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura The Virgin Suicides & Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides  A Little Life by Hanya Yangihara Siddartha & Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez   All of the links will take you to Bookshop.org, a website where when you buy books, you support small bookstores, and I also get 10% of the sale. Which is quite nice, init.    Support for the podcast   If you want to help me produce podcasts directly, which would be VERY KIND, head to www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread    You will have heard me bang on about how transformational therapy can be, that's why I am proud that Betterhelp sponsors A Need To Read. Meaning you get 10% off your first month if you wanted to chat with a therapist, just head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread   If you have any feedback, requests, or well-wishes, send me an email at hello@aneedtoread.co.uk

Dan Osman is a Health and Wellbeing Educator, who has worked in the health and fitness industry for 17 years.    We discuss; problems with social media, People's relationships with diets, exercise, and themselves, Self-awareness, How to use values to guide you, confusing avoidance with enlightenment, body-image issues across genders,  society's contribution to body image issues, self-objectification, and have a general moan about empty mental health advocacy. Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   - The show is sponsored by BetterHelp, so you can get matched with a therapist within 48 hours and get 10% off your first month by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   - The show is sponsored by BetterHelp, so you can get matched with a therapist within 48 hours and get 10% off your first month by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Dr. Alan Flanagan, PhD, holds an MSc and PhD in nutrition from the University of Surrey, and is a former practicing Lawyer (Barrister) from Dublin, Ireland. In this podcast we discuss; nutrition, the protein problem for plant-based diets, what we're seeing in British politics, philosophy, and Alan's favourite books.    

Bill McGuire is a Professor Emeritus of Geophysical and Climate Hazards at University College London, and a writer, who is regularly published in The Guardian, The Times, and The Observer. He is the author of many books, notably the newest, Hothouse Earth - an inhabitants guide, which is a look towards the future of our planet.      In this podcast we discuss: The impact of rising sea levels on the earth's crust, volcanos, coastal cities, and marine life Humanity's downward spiral due to the climate crisis   Capitalism and climate change And at the end, I chat about how I'm trying not to be sad all the time about what the future is looking likely to hold.    Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Professor Anil Seth is a Computational and Cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Sussex. His book Being You was a Sunday Times Bestseller.    Take part in Anil's research   In this podcast we discuss: Anil's latest project ‘The Dream Machine' What dreams are for? How your brain creates experience  How we see colour Why we all see things differently  What happens to your brain on Psychadelics What happens to your brains when you learn something new The illusion of Self Free Will    Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Kieran Setiya is a Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was born in Hull, UK. He is known for his work in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind.    We discuss:  Utilitarianism and the problems with focusing on happiness The Good Enough life Dealing with injustice Effective altruism Dealing with powerlessness and the limits of individualism Meaning in an absurd world  Assessing hope How to face your midlife crisis  Dealing with regret  Meditation and presence  Kieran's favourite philosopher His website is: http://www.ksetiya.net/    Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

Dr. Mike Banna is a GP in the South of England, a GP educator, and a Director of the British Society for Lifestyle Medicine. He also writes a weekly newsletter for Gymshark called The Doctors Note.   This podcast discusses mental health services in the UK, Instagram wellness advice, behaviour change journeys, shamelessly being bad at things, and a few of his favourite books.    Dr. Mike is on Instagram and Twitter as @DrMikethe2nd   Support for the podcast   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk      

George Monbiot is one of Britain's finest writers on Climate. He has a weekly column where he writes on political and environmental issues with The Guardian and is the author of multiple books.  His book feral has inspired a rewinding movement in the UK, and his latest book Regenesis looks at the future of farming.    In this podcast we discuss The complexity of soil  How common farming practices are destroying the structure of soil   What working on a pig farm is like  How much DEFRA suck  Where there is hope in eco-farming The impact of animal agriculture  The future of protein How farmers control farming policies   Find more from George on his website: https://www.monbiot.com/about/   Support for the podcast   Hey!   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk  

David Robert Grimes is a Science communicator and author. His book The Irrational Ape has been discussed on this show many times. He joins me today to discuss the Law of Attraction, the pseudoscientific craze that has made millennials, Gen-Zers, and Gwyneth Paltrow believe they can bend the universe to suit their will.   More from David is on his website: https://www.davidrobertgrimes.com   I highly recommend reading his book if you have ever wondered what on the flat earth makes people believe in conspiracy theories. David's an excellent communicator. and a great voice for science and rationality.    Support for the podcast   Hey!   I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.   - Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast.    - Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee   I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link.    - Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show   - Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show.    - You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk

Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton is a cyberpsychology researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology, in Dublin. She has authored a new series called 'The Psychology of Online Behaviour' on audible, and regularly appears in the media to discuss her research.    We discuss - How Tinder changed online dating - Social Media use - Why social media gets the blame for the mental health crisis - The psychology of Dick Pics - How men can be more successful with online dating - How men and women's experiences vary with online dating - How to think rationally about screen time & technology use - How school shooters aren't linked with gaming    For more from Nicola head to her website: https://www.nicolafoxhamilton.com/    Get a Free audiobook with Audible and access to Nicola's Audible Original 'The Psychology of Online Behaviour'   Support   Get my new weekly newsletter   www.Buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread   BetterHelp sponsors this podcast, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread     Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact   

Mark Maslin is a Professor of Earth System Science at University College London, a thought-leader on global heating, and the author of popular books on climate change and human evolution, most recently How To Save Our Planet: The Facts.   Mark joined me to discuss: - How much it will cost to limit further damage and save the planet, - Why Jordan Peterson is wrong about environmentalists, - Who will be dealing with the worst of the consequences of global heating, - How capitalism can save the planet, - What it means to be in The Anthropocene, - How governments, individuals, and corporations can do their bit    You can find Mark on Twitter: @profmarkmaslin   Support   Get my new weekly newsletter   This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread   Get a Free audiobook with Audible!    Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact    Or to support my work by making a donation please head to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread

Siobhan O'hagan is a Personal Trainer and Content Creator, she is also a good friend of mine. She's back on A Need To Read for the third time to discuss; Tony Robbins, self-help, effective altruism, whether or not the laptop lifestyle is sustainable, Angel numbers, the meaning of suffering, Whether books REALLY helped me as much as I thought, The recently UCL study on the chemical imbalance narrative around depression, the effectiveness of IAPT (Immediate Access to Psychological Therapies) in the UK, and the problems with the economics of happiness.   Books Discussed The existentialist Cafe The Antidote  Manufacturing Happy Citizens    Support The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   You can also see the archive posts with this link.   This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    Get a Free audiobook with Audible!    Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact   

Azeem Azhar is one of the world's most trusted voices in technological innovation. He has worked within the tech industry since the early 90s with companies like the BBC, The Guardian, and The Economist. More recently, Azeem has become an active startup investor and has advised organizations like the World Economic Forum. He is a contributor to publications including the Financial Times, Wired, and the MIT Technology Review. He's been producing the Exponential view newsletter— which looks at intersections between technology and business— for the last 7 years and has attracted a high-profile readership. Azeem's new book, Exponential, looks at how technology has come to advance so rapidly, and the different ways we are struggling to keep up.    In this podcast we discuss: What are the characteristics of The Exponential Age Why the Metaverse is a bit meh Which technologies that have been getting exponentially cheaper How clean energy is being held back The ways big tech firms use your data Cyber security and the threat of misinformation  Russia's cyber antics  How advanced does tech have to be for us to be suspicious of living in a simulation?    Azeem can be found on Twitter: @Azeem Or at Exponential View: https://www.exponentialview.co/  Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter. You can also see my older newsletters with this link.   This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    Get a Free audiobook with Audible!    Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact 

Professor Rory O'Connor is Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and Past President of the International Academy of Suicide Research. Rory leads the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory) at the University of Glasgow, one of the leading suicide and self-harm research groups internationally. His book, When It Is Darkest, was the winner of the 2021 British Psychological Society Popular Science Book Award   He can be found on twitter (@suicideresearch).    Rory and I spoke about; his book- When It Is Darkest, How to talk about suicide, Why the mental health services are lacking in the UK, socio-economic influences on mental health, how ‘The Social Dilemma' documentary was too simplistic in terms of suicide attempts and self-harm statistics, Socially prescribed perfectionism, Status, and mental health, Explaining the statistics around global suicides, Alcohol and suicide and how you can help the suicide issue.      Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter. You can also see my older newsletters with this link.   This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    Get a Free audiobook with Audible!    Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact 

I chatted with Emily Kenway who's a writer, an activist, and the author of The Truth About Modern Slavery. In the past, Emily has advised the first Anti-Slavery Commissioner for the UK, and she now researches and writes about crucial forces shaping our lives and communities.   We discussed: We look at the statement: “There are more people enslaved today than at any other point in history.” What's meant by “Modern Slavery” The Rwanda flights  What Human Trafficking really looks like The UK's hostile environment for migrants How exploitative labour laws are being leveraged abroad by big businesses  How Sex Work is being used as a scapegoat  Exploitation in the UK (John Lewis)     Read Emily's article on the 46 people found dead in Texas on OpenDemocracy.net  Emily's Website (+ Instagram & Twitter): https://www.emilykenway.com/about    Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter. You can also see my older newsletters with this link.   This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    Get a Free audiobook with Audible!    Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact     

In this episode, I cover some of my favorite books on religion, my religious experiences, and explore the article I wrote the other day on the Roe Vs Wade overturning (+religions role in that decision).   Books discussed God is Not Great & The Missionary Position by Christopher Hitchens Waking Up, The Moral Landscape, The End of Faith & Letters to a Christian Nation By Sam Harris Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter. You can also see my older newsletters with this link.   This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    Get a Free audiobook with Audible!    Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact   

Nichola Raihani is a professor of Evolution and Behavior at University College London. She joined me to discuss her new book The Social Instinct. We also spoke about: cooperation from cell to society, what makes us different from the great apes, what we have in common with meerkats, peacocking and why reputation matters, paranoia as a normal function of life, the impact of community on mental health and the idea of self-interested altruism.   You can find Nichola on Twitter: @nicholaraihani

This episode is about the different ways we deceive ourselves, and why we do so.    If you want to find out more you can read Elephant in the Brain by Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson.   Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter. You can also see my older newsletters with this link.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact   

I had a great chat with Ben Aldridge, the author of both How To Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable, and How To Control The Uncontrollable. Ben's most recent book How To Control The Uncontrollable is a practical guide to Stoicism and how to bring it into your daily life.   We chatted about; combining fear and play, Ben's favorite Stoic, how he got over himself, voluntary discomfort, the misconceptions about Stoicism, how to do negative visualization, how to become more grateful for the people you love, Sam Harris' app Waking Up, Taoism and Buddhism, and Stoicism's use in parenting,   You can find everything for Ben on his website: https://www.benaldridge.com/    Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter. You can also see my older newsletters with this link.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact   

  I spoke with Dan, the man behind the Nice-Ish-Psychologist Instagram and Twitter accounts, and the Nice-ish Ramblings podcast. He is a HCPC registered Forensic and Clinical Psychologist, and uses his spare time to educate people on the internet about issues relating to masculinity, sexual violence against women, gender, and sometimes how all these aspects of society and culture interlink.   In the podcast we discuss; Masculinity and the ManBox culture, #Notallmen, How to speak about gender, Religion's role in the patriarchy, the patriarchy in the government, Women in government, and how to be an ally.   Content discussed   Man Box Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/tony_porter_a_call_to_men?language=en  Invisible Women by Carolina Criado Perez  Is Masculinity Toxic by Andrew Smiler  Laura Bates's books     Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter. You can also see my older newsletters with this link.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact 

In this episode I'm joined by Otto English — he's a journalist who writes for; Politico, The Byline Times, and The Independent, among other publications. We talk about his new book Fake History, which looks to dispel some of the myths we are taught about historical figures and events. In the podcast we chat about; Churchill, Nationalism and Fake History, What really happened at Dunkirk, Boris Johnson, Whether we should be wary of China (or feel bad for doing so), and much more!   More from Otto can be found on Twitter @Otto_English    Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact 

In this meta-episode, I review Alain de Botton's review of Marcel Proust's life and work. Marcel Proust is one of the 20th Century's most influential authors and his In Search Of Lost Time spanned 7 volumes on love, art, time, and memory. His personal life is also on display in this book as Alain de Botton asks what Proust can teach us about; loving life, expressing emotions, suffering, reading, being a good friend, and how to be happy in love.    Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact 

This episode is a review/summary of BJ Fogg's best-selling book, Tiny Habits. In the podcast I discuss; the proven methods of behaviour change that BJ covers in his book, how to approach behaviour change, when to quit, how to make habit formation easy, and how to stick at it.    Find the B MAP method here: https://behaviormodel.org/   Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact     

I went to Copenhagen for the weekend and found out about Hygge. Hygge is the Danish art of happiness and coziness, it's a philosophy that encourages connection, simplicity and mindfulness.   I read a book on the topic and spoke to some Danish people, this podcast is a collection of my thoughts on Hygge.    Books mentioned Hygge by Barbara Hayden The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking   Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact       

I'm joined by Daisy Harris-Burland and Harriet Bradley for a casual conversation about everything from books we've loved to the Kardashians.    Get your bookmarks from: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheBookmarkBoys?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=795580183   Some of the books discussed were;  How to think more about sex, Essays in Love, How Proust Can Change Your Life, and The School of life, all by Alain de Botton A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara  Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov  The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides  Catcher In The Rye by J. D. Salinger    Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact         

In this episode, I review The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton and The Socrates Express by Eric Weiner. Both books are excellent introductions to some philosophers you may not have come across just yet. In the podcast, I go into what we can learn from; Socrates (How to deal with unpopularity), Michel de Montaigne (How to deal with inadequacy), Arthur Schopenhauer, Gandhi (How to fight), and Epicurus (How to enjoy life).    Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact         

This episode is a review of novels I've read recently that you might enjoy over the summer. I also discuss; why you should read classics, the trouble with falling asleep when you're reading, remembering what you've read, thinking you're insane, reading nihilist novels, and finding comfort in characters.   Books discussed A Little Life - Hanya Yangaihara  Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse Siddartha by Herman Hesse Damned by Chuck Palahniuk  Confederacy of Dunces by John O'Toole A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut  Faking Friends by Jane Fallon Worst Idea Ever by Jane Fallon Adults by Emma Jane Umbridge  The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Life For Sale by Yukio Mishima  Animal Farm by George Orwell (on Audible) Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman BONUS: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid   Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: www.aneedtoread.co.uk    

Whitney Goodman is the radically honest psychotherapist behind the hugely popular Instagram account @sitwithwhit, the author of Toxic Positivity, and Runs her own private therapy practice in Miami. Her mission is to help people understand their emotions so they can take control of, and enjoy their life.   Whitney has her own column in Psychology Today and has been featured in dozens of domestic and international publications, including The New York Times, Teen Vogue,  and Good Morning America.    She joins me to discuss; how positivity becomes toxic, the role social media plays in spreading toxic positivity, how we can complain effectively, how gratitude is not a cure-all, the problems with being healing obsessed, my experience with pathologising, and how to live well by feeling the full spectrum of emotions.    Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up to my new weekly newsletter.   If you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   You can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk     

This episode is a review of Jia Tolentino's collection of essays in her book Trick Mirror. Her essays cover; Internet usage, Fraternities in the US, reality TV, Marriage, the cult of optimization, and a look at the seven major scams of her generation.   These are new topics for me so if I need to balance my perspective please let me know.    Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up to my weekly newsletter.   To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk     

Patrick Alley is an author and one of the founders of Global Witness, an organization whose investigations and reports into human rights and environmental abuse have uncovered some of the most shocking corruption cases of our time.    Patrick joins me to chat about; how he and his colleagues took down the Khmer Rouge rebels in Cambodia, the Blood Diamond report, how London is a safe haven for the corrupt, Facebook and their role in hate crimes, and just how corrupt wars are.    Find more on Global Witness here: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/about-us/   Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up to my weekly newsletter.   To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk     

In this episode, I discuss my thoughts on happiness and why we should drop our obsession with it. I cover: why you should be careful who you admire and listen to, how well we are placed to make rational judgments in our life, the different types of happiness, hedonic adaption, Natural vs Synthetic Happiness, whether we want to be happy all the time, the illusion of control of our minds and life, perfectionism, self-esteem, Stoic and Buddhist views on happiness and what to do when sadness eventually strikes.    If you have any questions please feel free to email me, or message me on Instagram    If you would like to, you can buy me a coffee   Further reading The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris The Sweet Spot by Paul Bloom Selfie By Will Storr Why Buddhism Is True by Robert Wright Letters From A Stoic by Seneca Stumbling On Happiness by Daniel Gilbert Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman The Antidote by Oliver Burkeman A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathon Haidt Siddhartha by Herman Hesse (Novel set around the time of the Buddha, highlights the troubles of a life dedicated to extremes of spirituality/debauchery)   Support   The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up to my weekly newsletter.   To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk     

Wendy Syfret is a Melbourne-based writer and editor, and author of The Sunny Nihilist. She has spent time working for VICE and has contributed to The Guardian, British Vogue, and ABC. She is the current editor at RIISE and her work can be found at www.Wendysyfret.com    Support   The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy. If you haven't got anyone to share it with just leave a review on Apple or Spotify, you'll then be one step closer to becoming my bestie.     To get weekly insightful emails from me head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk     

This is a review of Sarah Bakewell's 'At The Existentialist Cafe', a book that looks at the main minds behind existentialism.    Other books mentioned Heidegger a beginners guide by Michael Watts   The Socrates Express by Eric Weiner    Support   The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy.   To get weekly insightful emails from me head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    Get one month free access to Headspace's full library of meditation at www.headspace.com/needtoread To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk     

We're all changing, all of the time and I've found this quite difficult to navigate at times. So, I thought I would have a deeper look at what change is, how it can be looked at in philosophical and psychological terms, and what that means for me personally and the podcast.    Support   The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy.   To get weekly insightful emails from me head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk   

Symeon Brown is a journalist and reporter for Channel 4, his long-read 'The Wolves Of Instagram' was nominated for an Orwell prize. His new book Get Rich Or Lie Tryin' is an in-depth look at some of the perils of the influencer economy. We discuss who it's hurting, an influencer's nipple falling off, how we're being lied to, some of the pyramid schemes disguised as get-rich-quick schemes, and much more.    The book is out now if you want to get a copy from your local book store.    Support   The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy.   To get weekly insightful emails from me head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk   

This is a review, and summary of some key ideas, of Rutger Bregman's Human Kind. The bold idea this book tries to convert you to is: Humans are actually pretty decent. I sat on the other side of this debate for a long time and have been convinced to change my mind. This outlook on life seems to have made a really positive change. Hopefully, it'll do the same for some others!   Support   The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy.   To get weekly insightful emails from me head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5 minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk   

I spoke with award-winning journalist and best-selling author, James Nestor about his extremely popular book: Breath, The New Science Of A Lost Art. We discuss; freediving, common breathing mistakes, how bad breathing is impacting society as a whole, who breathwork is NOT for, Wim Hoff, breathwork, and various other themes presented in his book.   Find more from James at www.mrjamesnestor.com  Support   The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy.   To get weekly insightful emails from me head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5 minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk   

The psychology of personality is a complicated topic. This book argues that the idea of the authentic self is a lie. There are far more contributing factors to personality than we're led to believe, and in this episode, I chat about; the 3 factors that determine who you are, how you can make changes to the fundamental 'you', and how we can finally cut ourselves some slack when we change as people.   You can watch the Ted Talk that inspired the book: https://www.ted.com/talks/brian_little_who_are_you_really_the_puzzle_of_personality    Support   The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy.   To get weekly insightful emails from me head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get 5 free travel packs and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Green subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk 

I'm joined by one of my favourite authors, Oliver Burkeman. He's the author of the sensational new book: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals. We discuss; what we get wrong about time, a meaningful approach to goals, why we need problems, accepting your limitations, Olivers top 3 Philosophers, not letting Nazi's get in the way of your intellectual growth, the efficiency trap, the key to effective decision making, and one of my favorite new ideas, cosmic insignificance therapy.   I've been enjoying Oliver's blog and email list which you can find here:  https://www.oliverburkeman.com/the-imperfectionist   Support The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy.   To get weekly insightful emails from me head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get an additional 5 free travel packs, and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk 

We live in a very me-centric society. In the West, our philosophical influences have been focused on the 'I' for the last few thousand years and now, with the age of social media, we are paying the price. This is a review/summary of Will Storr's Selfie- a book that explores the concept of the 'self' and how we can navigate life without becoming totally self-obsessed.    This is one of my favorite books of all time and has completely changed the way I look at my 'self'.   Support   The best way to support the show is to share it with a friend. Or you can share it with a not-a-friend, I'm not fussy.   To get weekly, insightful, emails from me. head to this link: https://aneedtoread.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0334e9242982fc3b7d0ab8bac&id=e2e171e387    To get 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you'll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.   Get 5 free travel packs and a years supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Green subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread    I am reachable here: hello@aneedtoread.co.uk 

Adam Ashton is one half of the What You Will Learn podcast, Australia's best book podcast. He joined me to chat about their new book 'The Shit They Never Taught You', which covers the best lessons from hundreds of non-fiction books. We discuss; note-taking methods, career mastery, podcasting mistakes, picking your next book, whether or not you need to finish your books, the best books for investing and much more.    For the first 8 minutes, one of us (The one whose name rhymes with Shmadam) was using the wrong mic, but sound quality comes back at 10 mins into this podcast.   Find out more about the boys on their website: https://www.whatyouwilllearn.com/   Books discussed The Shit They Never Taught You How to take smart notes  The Sweet Spot  Little History of Philosophy  Four-hour chef  The Inner Game of Tennis  Steppenwolf  Four Thousand Weeks    Support The best way to support the podcast is to share it with someone, anyone, like really I don't mind who, I'm not fussy.   For 10% off your first month on online therapy head to: www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread   For all else, including the mailing list head to: https://linktr.ee/Aneedtoread 

Tim Marshall was Diplomatic Editor and foreign correspondent for Sky News. After thirty years of experience in news reporting and presenting, he left full-time news journalism to concentrate on writing and analysis. I spoke to Tim about; his latest best-selling title The Power Of Geography, the geographical reasons behind the rising tension between Russia and Ukraine, Putin's message to the west, the geography of Palestine, the importance of context, the future of Egypt, China's interest in African countries, how geographically blessed Britain is and much more.    Tim writes a weekly column for Reaction https://reaction.life/xi-putin-love-affair-could-reshape-the-world/ and can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Itwitius   Support The best way to support the podcast is to share it with someone, anyone, like really I don't mind who, I'm not fussy.   For 10% off your first month on online therapy head to: www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread Use the code: podcast10 for 10% off the 'Reframing Happiness' webinar on Sunday 13th Feb @ 10am For all else, including the mailing list head to: https://linktr.ee/Aneedtoread 

In this episode, I review Johann Hari's new book: Stolen Focus. A book that looks at the ways modern life steals our focus and attention. Modern life seems to cater only to speed and efficiency, and this does not bode well for our ability to pay attention to what matters. From that increase in speed and tech that is designed to manipulate us, to cruel optimism and the death of sustained reading Johann Hari takes us on an explorative journey of what's really messing with our ability to focus.   Support for the podcast Please consider sharing the podcast, I'm not fussy who with, it just really helps.   Sign up for emails here!  Get 10% off your first month of therapy!

This is my review of Letters From A Stoic by Seneca. Seneca was a devoted Stoic philosopher, and he is one of the most widely referenced names in good non-fiction books. I have fallen in love with philosophy again recently and I have this book to thank.   Support The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.   Get one month for free with Headspace by heading to www.headspace.com/needtoread    For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread    For Everything else including the email sign up form head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

A review of Paul Bloom's brilliant book The Sweet Spot, an in-depth look at our pleasure-seeking tendencies and how we may be getting it wrong in our pursuit of the good life.   Support The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.   For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread    For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham    Get one month for free with Headspace by heading to www.headspace.com/needtoread    For Everything else including the email sign up form head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

Dr. Rachael Kent is a lecturer and researcher at Kings College London. Specifically, Dr. Kent's research focuses on how digital technology influences everyday mental and physical health. Below are some timestamps for this conversation that may prove to be one of the most important I have had so far. I am growing more and more concerned with how technology influences our lives and it was a pleasure to chat about this with an expert.   All you need for Rachael is on her website: https://www.drdigitalhealth.co.uk    Time Stamps 2 minutes: Intro to Rachael and her motivation behind her research in digital technology. 8 minutes - Apps and their power over us. 12 minutes - Neoliberalism and Margaret Thatcher's influence over our digital health. 20 minutes - Corporate digital and mental health. 23 minutes - What tech & social media has done to us over the last couple of years. 32 minutes - Setting boundaries with technology. 37 minutes - Self-representation on social media and dating apps. 45 minutes - There are more phones on planet earth than there are humans. 53 minutes - Digital activism. 1 hr - Health Tracking. 1hr6 minutes - Moralising health. 1hr14 minutes -  A.I.  1hr 20 minutes -  My tips for a better relationship with technology.   Support The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love. For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread  For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham  Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries, and get a 30-day money-back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread Get one month for free with Headspace by heading to www.headspace.com/needtoread    For Everything else including the email sign up form head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread 

This week I review the book ‘Rethinking Positive Thinking' by Professor of Psychology at NY & Hamburg, Gabrielle Oettingen.    I discuss; the cult of positivity, my opinion on positive thinking as a default, the benefits of positive thinking and positive fantasies, the drawbacks of positive fantasies, and using positive and negative thinking to set and achieve your goals.   While I wouldn't rush to recommend reading the book unless you're interested in reading all the supporting data to the claims made in this podcast, I would suggest having a quick watch of Gabrielle Oettingen's talks on YouTube if you need further information.    You can get the free goal setting template here Www.Woopmylife.org          Support   The best way you can support me and help me spread the word is by sharing the podcast with someone. If you like the podcast please share as far and wide as you can. You can also use the links to my sponsors, it helps keep stuff going whilst also giving you handy discounts from great companies I know and love.   For 10% off your first month of therapy head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread    For 10% off your Heights Braincare Supplement subscription head to https://www.yourheights.com/products/the-smart-supplement/?ref=edcunningham    Protect your data, access other Netflix libraries, and get a 30-day money-back guarantee with Express VPN www.expressvpn.com/aneedtoread    For Everything else head to www.Linktree.com/aneedtoread