Interview with Mattias Desmet, author of The Psychology of Totalitarianism
Mattias Desmet, author of The Psychology of Totalitarianism recommends some fascinating books! Before jumping into the interview, please check out Mattias's book:
Review from Book Depository:
In The Psychology of Totalitarianism, world-renowned Professor of Clinical Psychology Mattias Desmet deconstructs the societal conditions that allow collective hypnosis to take hold. By analysing the global pandemic, he identifies the phenomenon of 'mass formation' and illustrates how humanity is being forcibly, unconsciously led into a reality of technocratic totalitarianism, which aggressively excludes alternative views and relies on destructive groupthink, vilifying non-conformist thought as 'dissident.'
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The Psychology of Totalitarianism
Building on Hannah Arendt's essential work on totalitarianism, The Origins of Totalitarianism, Desmet offers a sharp critique of the cultural 'groupthink' that existed pre-pandemic but has steadily and inexorably advanced during the Covid crisis. He cautions against the dangers of our current societal landscape, media consumption, and reliance on manipulative technologies, offering simple solutions - both individual and collective - to prevent the willing sacrifice of our ability to think critically. The Psychology of Totalitarianism serves as an indispensable and fundamental guide to understanding this key moment in history.
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Easons €30.80
Book Depository €25.19
Waterstones £22.00
Q. Do you have a favourite smart thinking book (and why that book)?
I read Chaos (James Gleick) frees you from narrow mechanistic, rationalistic thinking. It shows that the universe is fundamentally mysterious and that it is not a blind, material phenomenon. Chaos shows us that what we once believed to be blind, ‘dead’ mechanical processes, are actually full of life and striving to create certain forms.
Review From Book Depository:
Uncover one of the most exciting frontiers of modern physics in this fascinating, insightful and accessible overview of Chaos theory.
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Chaos: Making a New Science
From the turbulence of the weather to the complicated rythmns of the human heart, 'chaos' is at the centre of our day to day lives. Cutting across several scientific disciplines, James Gleick explores and elucidates the science of the unpredicatable with an immensely readable narrative style and flair.
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Easons €15.40
Book Depository €11.30
Waterstones £10.99
Wordery $16.67
Q. What's the most recent smart thinking book you've read (and how would you rate it)?
Bullshit Jobs (David Graeber; rating 8/10) confronts us with one of the most enigmatic and problematic aspects of our current society: the fact that we create more and more meaningless jobs. The more efficient we learn to do the useful jobs, the more useless work we create. And these useless jobs are far better paid that the useful.
Review From Book Depository:
Be honest: if your job didn't exist, would anybody miss it? Have you ever wondered why not? Up to 40% of us secretly believe our jobs probably aren't necessary. In other words: they are bullshit jobs. This book shows why, and what we can do about it.
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Bullshit Jobs: A Theory
In the early twentieth century, people prophesied that technology would see us all working fifteen-hour weeks and driving flying cars. Instead, something curious happened. Not only have the flying cars not materialised, but average working hours have increased rather than decreased. And now, across the developed world, three-quarters of all jobs are in services, finance or admin: jobs that don't seem to contribute anything to society. In Bullshit Jobs, David Graeber explores how this phenomenon - one more associated with the Soviet Union, but which capitalism was supposed to eliminate - has happened. In doing so, he looks at how, rather than producing anything, work has become an end in itself; the way such work maintains the current broken system of finance capital; and, finally, how we can get out of it.
This book is for anyone whose heart has sunk at the sight of a whiteboard, who believes 'workshops' should only be for making things, or who just suspects that there might be a better way to run our world.
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Easons €10.49
Book Depository €10.46
Waterstones £10.99
Wordery $16.67
Q. Do you have a favourite childhood book?
King Arthur (Dutch book of Jaap Ter Haar).
Retells the story of King Arthur and his attempt to create a kingdom based on justice and mercy for all (All links earn commission from purchases that help fund this site. Prices accurate at time of writing)
King Arthur
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Abebooks €3.89
Q. Do you prefer reading on paper, Kindle or listening to an audiobook?
Paper
Q. Do you have a favourite bookshop (and why that shop)?
Limerick (small book shop in Ghent).
Many thanks to Mattias for recommending some fascinating books! Please don't forget to check out Mattias's book The Psychology of Totalitarianism.
Daryl
Image Copyrights: Chelsea Green Publishing Co (The Psychology of Totalitarianism), Vintage Publishing (Chaos), Penguin Books Ltd (Bullshit Jobs), Crane Russak (King Arthur).
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