145. Patreon Selects: Book Review - All Therapy Books

All therapy books have an oddly similar message: *This* form of therapy is the one that truly matters, and *this* science/philosophy/whatever is the key to understanding how human psychology actually works. These narratives can’t all be true, so are they all simply bullshit instead? We read through Scott Alexander’s legendary blog post, Book Review: All Therapy Books, and discuss whether therapy gurus really believe the answers they are selling.

 

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Introduction: 0:00 – 10:36

Part One: 10:36 – 1:29:35

Part Two: 1:29:35 – 1:31:55

 

Very Bad Therapy: Website / Facebook / Bookshelf / Tell Us Your Story

 

Show Notes:

• ‘The Body Keeps the Score’ offers uncertain science in the name of self-help. It’s not alone.
• Book Review: All Therapy Books 
• Astral Codex Ten 
• Slate Star Codex 
• An Investigation of Self-Assessment Bias in Mental Health Providers 

Intelligent and even subversive. Love it

Guys, you have a really great podcast - intelligent and oftentimes even important. The subject you’ve chosen is original and at the same time it engulfs issues that we’re all familiar with, but seldom consider thinking about them in depth. The world nowadays is flooded with all kinds of psychological‘ ‘solutions’ to human suffering. It seems like the humanity, at least in the Western part of the world has come to believe that there’s one, all consuming, holy and unquestionable wisdom which can heal all of our aching hearts, and it’s name is “Therapy “. It has become the only solution, the only hope and the only truth that can save us from ourselves and from the indifferent, cruel and capricious Fate.
All this is ridiculous of course, and all this Therapy business is as limited as any healing solutions through history - some profit from it, and some don’t. Lots of hype, social conventions and some placebo effect.
Almost no one discusses it directly - it’s a common knowledge that we all should get therapy whenever something goes wrong - it’s the first thing one is adviced as a source for help.
So keep on the great work, guys- finding such an interesting content is not trivial in the ocean of stupidity, spiritual waste and psycho bubble were sunk in.
The only thing that stands between your podcast and perfection is a slight shift in performance - I feel that your listeners would benefit if Caroline would try to lower her voice pitch and slow down a little. I believe that such change would make a real difference and enrich the smart and knowledgeable content she presents, with a sense of depth and with the aesthetics of professional performance - It’s all about appearances in our world, Isn’t it?