#1623 - Doug Stanhope

In 'Running the Light', Sam Tallent crafts a harrowing narrative about Billy Ray Schafer, a comedian on the brink of collapse. Over seven days, Schafer navigates a series of disastrous gigs across the American Southwest, grappling with addiction and personal loss. The book offers a brutal yet poignant exploration of the comedy world's darker side, blending humor with a deep character study.

In 'The Moral Animal', Robert Wright delves into the world of evolutionary psychology to explain human behavior, emotions, and moral conduct. The book uses Charles Darwin's life and personal conduct in Victorian England as a case study to illustrate how evolutionary forces shape human behavior. Wright discusses topics such as jealousy, altruism, and social class, arguing that many of our actions are driven by subconscious genetic strategies aimed at survival and the propagation of our genes. The book also explores the paradox of how moral and responsible actions can emerge from a strictly Darwinian interpretation of human behavior, suggesting that understanding our evolutionary past can help us override our primitive programming and develop a more common moral outlook.