On Drugs explores the complex relationship between drugs, consciousness, and culture. Lenson examines the historical and social contexts of drug use, challenging simplistic narratives of addiction and moral condemnation. He delves into the subjective experiences of drug users, highlighting the diverse ways in which drugs can alter perception and consciousness. The book also considers the political and economic forces that shape drug policies and the global drug trade. Ultimately, Lenson advocates for a more nuanced and compassionate understanding of drug use, emphasizing the need for harm reduction strategies and evidence-based policies.
In 'Others in Mind: Social Origins of Self-Consciousness', Philippe Rochat argues that self-consciousness is fundamentally shaped by our social engagements and the fear of rejection. He integrates developmental, cognitive, and cross-cultural approaches to understand how humans develop a sense of self through interactions with others. The book provides a unique perspective on the origins of self-consciousness, highlighting its role in shaping human behavior and emotions.
Andy Clark's "Natural Born Cyborgs" delves into the intricate relationship between humans, technology, and cognition. The book challenges traditional views of the mind by proposing that our cognitive processes are not solely confined to the brain but extend into the tools and technologies we use. Clark argues that our minds are inherently intertwined with our environment and the artifacts we interact with, blurring the lines between internal and external cognitive processes. This perspective has significant implications for understanding intelligence, consciousness, and the future of human-machine interaction. The book's central theme is the seamless integration of technology into our cognitive architecture, shaping our thoughts, actions, and understanding of the world. Clark's work has been influential in shaping the field of extended cognition.
This book by Douglas Hofstadter is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary work that explores the interrelated ideas of Kurt Gödel, M.C. Escher, and Johann Sebastian Bach. It delves into concepts such as self-reference, recursion, and the limits of formal systems, particularly through Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem. The book uses dialogues between fictional characters, including Achilles and the Tortoise, to intuitively present complex ideas before they are formally explained. It covers a wide range of topics including cognitive science, artificial intelligence, number theory, and the philosophy of mind, aiming to understand how consciousness and intelligence emerge from formal systems[2][4][5].
In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash[2][5][4].
This book explores the revolution in high performance driven by four accelerating forces: psychology, neurobiology, technology, and pharmacology. It delves into how trailblazers like Eric Schmidt, Elon Musk, Navy SEALs, and maverick scientists are harnessing rare and controversial states of consciousness to solve critical challenges and enhance their lives. The authors, Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal, spent four years investigating these leading edges, from Silicon Valley to the Navy SEALs, and present a provocative examination of what is possible and how to radically upgrade one's life.
Jason Silva (@JasonSilva) would have been called a “performance philosopher” by counterculture icon Timothy Leary. Among many things, he’s a futurist, filmmaker, creator of short video series Shots of Awe, and host of the National Geographic Channel’s Brain Games and Origins: The Journey of Humankind.
What We Discuss with Jason Silva:
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How our concepts of self are formed — often through the eyes of others — and how they affect our behavior.
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How top performers excel by shutting down the editorial parts of the human brain coined by Buddhists as the monkey mind.
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Why “unscripted” isn’t the same as “unprepared,” and how videos can be edited to elicit altered states of consciousness.
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How good directors help performers get out of their heads — while bad directors do just the opposite.
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How is day-to-day reality edited by context, similar to the Kuleshov effect demonstrated by Alfred Hitchcock?
- And much more!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/451
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The Jordan Harbinger Show 
