As a Man Thinketh (A History of Self-Help)
I had not heard of James Allen before I started exploring this history of self-help. I saw references to his book, “ As a Man…
Tag: Culture
A “real” man, you say?
A couple of months ago, my Instagram feed started showing me strange, AI adverts for military workouts. Possibly because I’d been researching calisthenic exercises, or…
Toxic Positivity is a Permanent State of Temporary Discomfort
The internet is full of memes about positive thinking. I saw this quote a few days ago:“The only difference between a good day and a…
Everything wants us hooked
Some tools are built to help us grow; to learn, connect, or reach meaningful goals. But eventually, we might ask: are these tools still working…
Book Club | The Forest of Wool and Steel (Natsu Miyashita)
In a world obsessed with productivity, competition, and the “hero’s journey,” Natsu Miyashita’s The Forest of Wool and Steel shines a quietly revolutionary light on…
The gift of low expectations
When you receive help, do you perceive it as a transactional burden or as a gift? How do you support the people, ideas, and art…
Afraid of Giving Credit? The Vicious Cycle of Status Insecurity
People may fear giving credit because they worry it will diminish their status. But research shows the opposite is true: sharing credit actually boosts respect…
Book Club | Wintering (Katherine May)
In our February Book Club, we met to discuss ‘Wintering: The power of rest and retreat in difficult times‘ by Katherine May. Here are my…
Why did Mel Robbins conceal the truth of her Let Them discovery?
In this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, I share a video essay about influencer culture, asking where self-help guru Mel Robbins really discovered the…
It’s Annoying When They Tell You To Slow Down
I feel cautious about promoting the idea of slowness without anchoring it to something concrete and meaningful. Carl Honoré suggests that everyone is eager to…