Weekly Non-Fiction Reading List 7.29.24
This week, we have two books that I absolutely loved. One is about intelligent disobedience and the other is about how nihilism can actually help us live better lives. Enjoy!
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The Sunny Nihilist: A Declaration of the Pleasure of Pointlessness by Wendy Syfret
This is one of my favorite books when I get in certain moods and worry too much about the future. It was my third time reading it, and it’s just as great. Syfret’s argument is that nihilism isn’t all doom and gloom. When you realize how little things matter, it can actually give you some serenity and clear your thinking. She also discusses how it helps us be more mindful in the moment and be grateful for what we have in our lives. As per usual, it lifted me up, and I’m so glad she wrote this book.
Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong by Ira Chaleff
This is a fantastic book, and I’m kind of blown away I didn’t hear about it sooner. Far too many problems happen in this world due to complicity when something terrible is happening. It’s why the #MeToo movement had to start and why there’s corporate and political corruption and so much more. One of the reasons people don’t speak up is because they’re afraid of the consequences or going against the group. Chaleff explains how we can be disobedient while also protecting ourselves.
The analogy Chaleff gives throughout the book is a guide dog. Guide dogs are trained to obey, but they also have to disobey at the right times. For example, if a blind person wants to walk across the street and a car is coming, the guide dog doesn’t just obey. The dog knows when to disobey so neither the dog nor the person is harmed.
The author discusses situations like the torture at Abu Ghraib, plane crashes because the co-pilot didn’t speak up, and other real-world scenarios throughout history. Chaleff dives into different studies like the famous shock experiments and others and provides readers with practical tips for how to utilize intelligent disobedience.
This is an incredible book that everyone should read, and I’ve added this to my list of books to read with my son.
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