New Books in Psychology

Discover why people stop noticing the wonders and horrors in their lives due to habituation. Learn how to 'dishabituate' and see everything with fresh eyes. Explore the power of change in reigniting joy, innovation, and recognizing areas needing improvement.

Torsa Ghosal, an expert in contemporary fictions and cognition, discusses the relationship between narrative forms and cognitive-scientific frameworks. They explore how stories reflect historical beliefs about how minds work and participate in their reappraisal. By analyzing works of various authors, Ghosal generates unique insights into the influence of literary imagination on our thinking amid social, technological, and environmental changes.

Nate Klemp, expert on living with an expansive mind in a distracted world, discusses the importance of openness in a society filled with distractions. He explores the power of meditation, combining compounds with therapy for transformation, and navigating the balance between openness and closure. Klemp emphasizes the value of setting boundaries while also cultivating a sense of openness in various aspects of life.

In this podcast, Paul Katsafanas discusses his book 'Philosophy of Devotion' which explores the concept of devotion to sacred ideas. He examines the reasons why certain commitments resist reason and critical reflection, and how devotion can lead to both fulfillment and harm. Katsafanas delves into the power of deep commitment in personal relationships and social causes, while also addressing the negative consequences of fanaticism driven by feelings of persecution and ressentiment. The podcast also explores the influence of sacred values on behavior, the concept of ressentiment mode, and the damaging effects of political discourse based on resentment and fragility.

Dr. Joshua Paul Dale, author of 'Irresistible: How Cuteness Wired our Brains and Conquered the World,' explores the neuroscience, evolution, and cultural impact of cuteness. Topics covered include the origins of Japan's kawaii culture, the connection between cuteness and animal domestication, the influence of cuteness in Japanese and Western art, the evolution of the concept of childhood, the history of the word 'kawaii' in Japanese society, and the potential future of cuteness with robotics and AI.

John Horgan, leading expert on the psychology of terrorism, discusses the motivations behind becoming a terrorist, the process of deradicalization, and the evolution of terrorism research. The podcast explores the distinction between violent extremists and mass killers, the complexity of understanding terrorism, and the diverse motivations of terrorists. It also examines the factors influencing involvement in extremist groups and the psychological aspects of terrorism.

Vani Kant Borooah, author of Economics, Religion and Happiness, discusses the internal factors of personal happiness and the negative externalities imposed by intolerance and envy. The podcast explores the challenges faced by individuals practicing different religions, the relationship between income and happiness, and the importance of addressing religious violence.

Matthew Rubery's book Reader’s Block: A History of Reading Differences (Stanford UP, 2022) explores the influence neurodivergence has on the ways individuals read. This alternative history of reading is one of the few books which tells the stories of "atypical" readers and the impact had on their lives by neurological conditions affecting their ability to make sense of the printed word: from dyslexia, hyperlexia, and alexia to synesthesia, hallucinations, and dementia. Rubery's focus on neurodiversity aims to transform our understanding of the very concept of reading. Drawing on personal testimonies gathered from literature, film, life writing, social media, medical case studies, and other sources to express how cognitive differences have shaped people's experiences both on and off the page, Rubery contends that there is no single activity known as reading. Instead, there are multiple ways of reading (and, for that matter, not reading) despite the ease with which we use the term. Pushing us to rethink what it means to read; Reader's Block moves toward an understanding of reading as a spectrum that is capacious enough to accommodate the full range of activities documented in this fascinating and highly original book.Matthew Rubery is Professor of Modern Literature at Queen Mary University of London. His earlier books include The Novelty of Newspapers: Victorian Fiction after the Invention of the News (Oxford, 2009) and The Untold Story of the Talking Book (Harvard University Press, 2016). He has also edited or co-edited Audiobooks, Literature, and Sound Studies (Routledge, 2011), Secret Commissions: An Anthology of Victorian Investigative Journalism (Broadview, 2012), and Further Reading (Oxford, 2020). Currently, he is working on a history of “projected reading”, a form of assisted reading that involves projecting books on ceilings which a patient can read while lying in bed. This was first used to help World War 2 soldiers injured on duty who could not read conventionally. Matthew also likes to collaborate with charities and other organisations to think about ways of reading more suited to people with disabilities or neurodivergent readers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

Barbara Richter is an accomplished author, public speaker, French-to-English translator, and founder of DIYBook and In Ink Ghostwriting. Raised in a home steeped in books and greatly influenced by her father, an award-winning editor and National Book Award finalist, Barbara's upbringing richly nurtured her literary heritage and profoundly honed her critical thinking skills. Barbara’s multifaceted career, marked by her roles as the Managing Editor for Literary Features Syndicate, columnist for Fine Books and Collections Magazine, and contributor to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, and The Sewanee Review, has firmly established her as a prominent figure in both modern literature and entrepreneurship.Building off her extensive writing expertise, Barbara launched DIYBook in 2023, a comprehensive solution designed to make book writing and publishing accessible and affordable for authors at all levels, from novices to seasoned professionals. The platform is a step-by-step process equipped with weekly email prompts catering to various categories such as trauma, military service, relationships, and more. This tailored approach simplifies writing and publishing by providing structured guidance, helping users overcome writer's block, lack of direction, and feeling overwhelmed. DIYBook's support system includes various tools and resources to enhance writing quality and efficiency, thereby making the publishing journey more approachable for anyone with a story to tell.Barbara is also the founder of In Ink Ghostwriting (2014), one of the premier ghostwriting firms in the NYC area with clients from around the world, which delivers an assortment of writing services. From business books to memoirs and novels, the firm caters to a diverse clientele, such as best-selling authors, NFL players, Fortune 500 CEOs, artists, musicians, doctors, entrepreneurs, and attorneys. This all-inclusive service range sets In Ink Ghostwriting apart, offering not just writing and publishing mastery but also essential design services with a skilled graphic design artist who can provide clients with the option to enhance the visual appeal of their books. Her foray into ghostwriting was spurred by her distinctive ability to encapsulate the voices and ideas of those with compelling stories but limited writing proficiency or time.Barbara holds a BA and MA in French Language and Literature from Smith College and Tufts University. She is a founding member of the Ticknor Society, a voting member of the National Book Critics Circle, and a member of the Grolier Club, the country’s oldest bibliophilic association. Currently residing in Westchester, New York, with her family and beloved basset hounds, Barbara continues to enrich the landscape of literature and entrepreneurship, contributing significantly to the domains of storytelling and literary access. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

How does human language arise in the mind? To what extent is it innate, or something that is learned? How do these factors interact? The questions surrounding how we acquire language are some of the most fundamental about what it means to be human and have long been at the heart of linguistic theory. Harry van der Hulst's book A Mind for Language: An Introduction to the Innateness Debate (Cambridge UP, 2023) provides a comprehensive introduction to this fascinating debate, unravelling the arguments for the roles of nature and nurture in the knowledge that allows humans to learn and use language. An interdisciplinary approach is used throughout, allowing the debate to be examined from philosophical and cognitive perspectives. It is illustrated with real-life examples and the theory is explained in a clear, easy-to-read way, making it accessible for students without a background in linguistics. An accompanying website contains a glossary, questions for reflection, discussion themes and project suggestions, to further deepen students’ understanding of the material.Madhumanti Datta completed her PhD in Linguistics from the University of Southern California, USA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology