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 a problem and a solution to our suffering?
• The nature of guilt and how it is related to our socialisation.
• What, according to Freud, might be the 'right amount' of civilisation that allows for harmonious human existence as well as individual happiness?

Further Resources:

• Freud’s "Civilisation and its Discontents" is available for purchase at Amazon UK: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-Great-Ideas-Civilisation-Discontents/dp/0141018992/ref=sr_1_1?crid=278WXM8WNYXXX&keywords=civilisation+and+its+discontents&qid=1696868160&s=books&sprefix=civilisation+and+its+discontents%2Cstripbooks%2C342&sr=1-1]
• For a deeper dive into Freud’s life and the evolution of his thoughts, this recent intellectual biography offers a compelling read: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freud-Intellectual-Biography-Joel-Whitebook/dp/110882904X/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=freud+biography&qid=1696868203&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1]
• "The Freud Reader", edited by Peter Gay, provides a robust exploration of Freud's most significant works and is a useful companion for those keen on delving deeper into psychoanalytic theory: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freud-Reader-Peter-Gay/dp/0099577119/ref=sr_1_1?crid=KU3Y6R4MHCEE&keywords=the+freud+reader+peter+gay&qid=1696868270&s=books&sprefix=the+freud+reader+pet%2Cstripbooks%2C752&sr=1-1]
• The book "Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought" by Stephen A. Mitchell and Margaret J. Black offers a comprehensive examination of psychoanalytic theory post-Freud: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freud-Beyond-History-Psychoanalytic-Thought-ebook/dp/B06XBVPQGS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=B9E9TMT4AX8A&keywords=freud+and+beyond&qid=1696868307&s=books&sprefix=freud+and+beyo%2Cstripbooks%2C565&sr=1-1]

Remember to subscribe to "The Reading Cure" for more insightful discussions connecting literature, psychology, and the intricate realms of the human experience.

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? Is there a sense in which we are all on a quest like Woody?
• How do we understand what we could call Woody's 'gullibility'? Is it a sign of incipient dementia or more to do with him being a decent person who innocently trusts others to keep their word in what is, in reality, a mendacious world?
• This movie, in many ways, is about family. What does it say about marriage, about the relationship between parents and their children, and between siblings and wider relations? In particular, how do Woody and David, as father and son, come closer together as they go on their journey?
• Woody seems to have been a guy hollowed out by his inability to say 'no' to helping people out. What does the movie say about altruism and about people's gratitude?

Further Resources:

• A Blu-ray copy of the movie can be purchased at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/nebraska-blu-ray-blu_ray-Italian-bruce/dp/B00IG1Z014/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3H0L4Y15HBHTY&keywords=nebraska&qid=1691001413&s=dvd&sprefix=nebraska%2Cdvd%2C122&sr=1-1
• The film critic David Denby provides an engaging analysis of Payne's work in this piece: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/11/18/american-gothic-4
• For those interested in some of Alexander Payne's interviews: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexander-Payne-Interviews-Conversations-Filmmakers-ebook/dp/B00OAFN2NI/ref=sr_1_2?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=alexander+payne&qid=1691001743&s=books&sr=1-2&unfiltered=1
• A short interview with Bruce Dern about the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azIuoXIZ6rg&ab_channel=HitFix

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 being vulnerable/under attack due to their affluence, the socioeconomic conditions of New York at that time, or alternatively, is it more due to their particular individual flaws/neuroses?
• How does one consider their future relationship prospects?
• Is the depiction of poorer people at that time grimly realistic or misanthropic and/or somewhat prejudicial?
• What constitutes the value of this novel - either in terms of its literary qualities or its psychological acumen?

Further Resources:

• Paula Fox's novel can be found at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desperate-Characters-Paula-Fox/dp/0007150385/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683207347&refinements=p_28%3Adesperate+characters&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
• To learn more about Paula Fox and her writing, this New York Times article provides a comprehensive look into her life and work: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/books/paula-fox-dead.html
• For a broader understanding of New York's socioeconomic conditions during the time period in which Desperate Characters is set, you might enjoy this book by Jonathan Mahler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Gentlemen-Bronx-Burning-Baseball/dp/0312424302/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683207606&refinements=p_27%3Ajonathan+mahler%2Cp_28%3Aladies&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
• Although focused on the horror genre, this book gives an insightful analysis of how art can reflect cultural anxieties (in this case, those of American culture): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Projected-Fears-Horror-American-Culture/dp/0275983536/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683208004&refinements=p_28%3Aprojected+fears&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
• Karen Horney's book "The Neurotic Personality of Our Time" characteristically gives an insightful analysis of the mid-twentieth century psyche: