Understanding the Masks we Wear (Satya Doyle Byock)

'Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness' offers a guide to self-discovery and personal liberation by challenging societal norms of 'goodness. ' Co-authors Elise Loehnen and Courtney Smith provide a framework for understanding how cultural conditioning can lead to self-repression and a disconnect from one's true self. The book introduces a process for recognizing and integrating disowned aspects of the self, drawing on concepts like Carl Jung's idea of wholeness. By embracing imperfection and challenging fear-based behaviors, readers can cultivate greater self-acceptance and authenticity. This book promotes the idea that reclaiming one's full self leads to increased energy, presence, and a more fulfilling life.

In 'Morality', Rabbi Jonathan Sacks traces the current societal crises to the loss of a strong, shared moral code and the elevation of self-interest over the common good. He argues that morality has been outsourced to the market and the state, neither of which can provide a moral framework for living. Sacks leads readers through a historical sweep from ancient Greece to the present day, emphasizing that there is no liberty without morality and no freedom without responsibility. He advocates for rebuilding a common moral foundation and restoring the importance of collective responsibility and the 'we' over the 'I'.