In this episode we unpack, British Mathematician, G.H. Hardy's classic book, "A Mathematician's Apology" written in 1940. This book explores -The Permanence of Mathematical Discovery -The Metaphysics of Mathematical Reality -The Moral Responsibility of the Mathematician Links to Reading & Articles mentioned A Mathematician's Apology by G.H. Hardy The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker Good Will Hunting (movie) Euclid's Proof of Infinitely Many Primes (explained) Pythagoras's Proof...

In this episode we unpack, Swiss Psychologist, Marie-Louise von Franz's classic book, "The Problem of the Puer Aeternus" from a series of lectures she gave in 1959. This book explores -The Eternal Child Archetype -The Mother Complex (Jungian) -The Loss of Initiation Rituals in the Modern Age Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Problem of the Puer Aeternus by Marie-Louis von Franz The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery *note* reading is not required to enjoy this...

In this episode we unpack the Inferno section of The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet Dante Alighieri. This Books Explores... The Structure of Dante's Hell The Medieval stance on Suicide Why Fraud is considered the worse sin Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (John Ciardi Translation) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Phil Kobasov Music:...

In this episode we unpack "Common Sense" by English-American Political Activist Thomas Paine. This Books Explores... The Functions of Society and Government The Evils of Monarchy The Path Forward for the American Colonies Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Common Sense by Thomas Paine *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Jared Shoup Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Time Stamps 0:00:00...

In this episode we unpack several essays from Swiss psychologist Carl Jung's Collected Works on Dreams. These Essays Explore... The Differences between Freudian and Jungian Dream Interpretation Why Common Symbols and Themes Show up in our Dreams The Benefits of Making Dream Material Conscious Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Dreams (excepts from collected works) by Carl Jung Memories, Dreams, and Reflections by Carl Jung Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung The...

In this episode we unpack The Bhagavad Gita from The Mahabharata written circa 500-200 BCE. This Book Explores... Karma Yoga & Non-attachment The Link Between Right Understanding and Right Action The Interconnectedness of All Things Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Bhagavad Gita (Translation: Gita Press) The Bhagavad Gita (Translation: Eknath Easwaran) Bhagavad Gita Lecture Series by Gandhar Mandlik *youtube* *note* reading is not required to enjoy this...

In this episode we unpack the Second essay in German Existentialist Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's classic work "The Genealogy of Morals" from 1887. This Essay Explores... The Origins of Punishment The Psychology of Guilt The Link Between Civilization and Bad Conscience Links to Reading & Articles mentioned ⁠On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche⁠ *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Samuel Le...

In this episode we unpack the first essay in German Existentialist Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's classic work "The Genealogy of Morals" from 1887. This Essay Explores... The Etymology of the words 'good', 'bad', and 'evil' Nietzsche's Concepts of Master & Slave Morality Which type of Morality is dominant in the Western world today Links to Reading & Articles mentioned On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche The Vocation Lectures by Max Weber Civilization and...

In this episode we unpack Jewish-Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's classic book "Man's Search for Meaning" from 1946. This Book Explores... What happens when our will to meaning has become suppressed How can we derive meaning from our suffering Why 'what is the meaning of life?' a bad question Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl The Last Day of a Condemned Man by Victor Hugo The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass Discipline and Punish...

In this episode we unpack French Continental Philosopher Henri Bergson's classic essays "Laughter" from 1900. These Essays Explore... What are the common characteristics in all things funny? What are the differences between Tragedy and Comedy? What function does laughter serve for society? Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Laughter by Henri Bergson Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern & Del Close Brain Droppings by George Carlin How to be Funny by Steve Allen Night at the...

In this episode we unpack Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius's classic book "Meditations" from 170 AD. This book explores... Seeing Things as They Really Are Focusing Only on What is in Your Control Remaining Calm Through Turbulent Times Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin Principles by Ray Dalio Silence of the Lambs (movie) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this...

In this episode we unpack Swiss Psychiatrist and Author Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's classic book "On Death and Dying" from 1969. This book explores... The Fear of Death in the Modern Age The Five Stages of Grief Advice for Navigating the 5 Stages of Grief Links to Reading & Articles mentioned On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross The Trauma of Birth by Otto Rank Uses of the Erotic by Audrey Lorde  Illness as Metaphor by Susan Sontag  Empathy vs. Sympathy by Brene Brown...

In this episode we unpack American Naturalist and Environmental Activist John Muir's Spiritual Writings from 1867-1915. These letters explores... The Revitalizing Effects of Wilderness on the Body and Spirit The Interconnectedness of All Things in Nature Finding Gratitude in the Big and Little Things in Life Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Spiritual Writings by John Muir Man and Nature by Alan Watts Chief Seattle full Speech 1854 Cinderella Man (film) *note* reading is...

In this episode we unpack British novelist and public intellectual Aldous Huxley's 1954 essay "The Doors of Perception." This essay explores... Huxley's experience on Mescalin The Reducing Valve Theory of Consciousness  The human desire to transcend self-conscious self-hood The ethics of the contemplative life Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley General Resonance Theory (paper) Entropic Brain Hypothesis (paper) Pivotal Mental States...

In this episode we unpack Canadian psychiatrist and analyst Eric Berne's 1964 book "Games People Play." This book explores... The 6 different types of social interactions The most common games people play What intimacy is and why it is so rare Links to Reading  Games People Play by Eric Berne *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura  UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Sonya   @selfhelpsonya on TikTok & Instagram Theme Music:...

In this episode we unpack Swiss Epistemologist and Developmental Psychologist Jean Piaget's 1969 book "The Psychology of a Child." This book explores... The Stages of Cognitive Development How Morality develops in the child How and Why Children Play Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned The Psychology of the Child by Jean Piaget A Piaget Primer by Dorothy G. Singer & Tracey A. Revenson Conversations with Piaget by Jean-Claude Bringuier Civilization and Its Discontents...

In this episode we unpack Algerian Novelist Albert Camus' 1942 essay "The Myth of Sisyphus." This essay explores... -Why life is an absurdity -Why sitting with inconvenient truths make them easier to bare -How to find meaning in a meaningless world Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus Hamlet by William Shakespeare  A Night of Serious Drinking by Rene Daumal Oedipus by Sophocles Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl The Lord of the...

In this episode we unpack Harry G. Frankfurt's 1986 essay "On B******t." This essay explores... -What b******t is -How bullshitting differs from lying -Why bullshitting is so prevalent in our culture Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned On B******t by Harry G. Frankfurt Of Liars by Michel de Montaigne Glengarry Glen Ross (film) Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura...

In this episode we unpack Stanley Milgram's 1974 classic "Obedience to Authority." This book explores... -Why we lose our sense of moral responsibility when taking orders -Why we are so bad at predicting our capacity to be obedient -Why the desire to be polite can lead us to do evil Links to Reading and Other Books/Movies Mentioned Obedience to Authority by Stanley Milgram CRT: An Introduction by Richard Delgado & Jean Stefancic Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian (short...

In this episode we unpack "The Book of Job" from The Old Testament of the Bible This book explores... -Why God allows bad things to happen to innocent people -Why surrender is sometimes the only answer to that which is out of our control -Why pondering the cosmos helps put our personal suffering into perspective Links to Reading and other Books mentioned The King James Bible The Wisdom Books by Robert Alter The Art of Biblical Poetry by Robert Alter Answer to Job by Carl Jung The...

In this episode we unpack "Letters to a Young Poet" by, early 20th century existential poet, Rainer Maria Rilke. These letters explore... -Why solitude is vital for creatives -Why the creative process is similar to the gestation period and birthing of a baby -Why advice is often unhelpful  Links to Reading and other Books mentioned Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller Blue Zones by David Buettner **note** reading is not required to...

In this episode we unpack Robert Louis Stevenson's 1877 essay "An Apology for Idlers." The essay explores… -Why we should spend a good deal of time being idle in our youth -Why we have a moral duty to be happy -Why books aren't all they're cracked up to be Links to Reading and Articles mentioned "An Apology to Idlers" by Robert Louis Stevenson "Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura      UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Alex...

In this episode we unpack "Letter to Menoeceus" by Epicurus.  The Letter explores... -Why death is not something we need to fear -Why those who need luxury least are the ones who enjoy it most -How to make calculations to maximize pleasure and tranquility Links to Reading and articles mentioned "Letter to Menoceus" by Epicurus "Money Buys Happiness Only to a Certain Point" by Andrew T. Jebb of Purdue University  "Death" by Thomas Nagel "Better Never to Have Been" by David...

In this episode we discuss Marcus Tullius Cicero's treatise "On Friendship." The treatise explores How to choose a friend Why blind loyalty in friendship should be avoided How the conception of a "soul mate" has changed throughout the ages Host: Zach Stehura unpackingideas.com Guest: Bernardo Lopez Theme Music: Polyenso