Some readable books on the Human Condition
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In a world where "Knowledge" is king - and "Wisdom" is in short supply - I find that most books I read have little or no value to contribute. In fact - I would go further, and say that they are a waste of paper & printer's ink!
So this selection of books is a purely personal choice. I have assembled it slowly over the years. Please let me know if there's a book which you think should be added.
And in the meantime...I hope you enjoy & are enriched by at least some of these books.
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"African Genesis”
“The Territorial Imperative”
“The Hunting Hypothesis”
“The Social Contract”.
- Four books on evolution by Robert Ardrey (Fortuna/Collins).
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“The Descent of Woman” - Elaine Morgan (Corgi Books).
An insight into our evolutionary and aquatic past.
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“Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches” - Marvin Harris
(Fontana/Collins).
A review and explanation of cultural beliefs and taboos from around
the world.
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“Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds”
- Charles McKay (Harmony)
First published over a hundred years ago, this book describes crowd
phenomena, e.g. the Crusades, the witch-burning craze, the
South Sea Bubble, etc.
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“Ishi in two worlds” - Theodora Kroeber (The Crescent Library).
A biography of the last wild Indian in North America.
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“Body Hot Spots” - R. Dale Guthrie (Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.).
The anatomy of human social organs and behaviour
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“Falling Apart” Elaine Morgan (Abacus).
An analysis of the growth and disintegration of cities.
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“Working” - Studs Terkel (Pantheon Books).
A classic on what work can mean for people.
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“Teach your baby to read” + Kit - Glenn Doman (Jonathan Cape).
Give your child (or grandchild) a totally unfair advantage in life!
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“I heard the owl call my name” - Margaret Craven (Picador).
A fable about the very last journey.
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“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” - Robert M. Pirsig.
A tale which contrasts Eastern and Western values. Provides
a philosophical underpinning for the idea of “Quality”.
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“The Songlines” - Bruce Chatwin (Picador).
A thought-provoking novel (set among Australian Aborigines)
which hints at knowledge and skills we may have lost in recent millennia.
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“The City of Joy” - Dominique Lapierre (Arrow).
An account of how love can triumph, even amidst the appalling
degradation of Calcutta’s slums.
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"The Road less Travelled" - M. Scott Peck (Rider)
A psycho-therapist gives his views on how to live a full life
- both mentally and spiritually.
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“The Cloud of Unknowing” - edited by Halcyon Backhouse
(Hodder & Stoughton).
Translated from middle English, this is an anonymously written,
14th century text on mysticism.
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“Civiisation & Capitalism 15th - 18th Century” Fernand Braudel
This book, published in three volumes, is written by the brilliant
French historian, Fernand Braudel. It gives an enlightening historical
perspective to the way we live today”.
Vol. I - “The Structures of Everyday Life: The limits of
the possible”.
Vol. II - “The Wheels of Commerce”
Vol. III - “The Perspective of the World”.
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“The Healing Brain” - Robert Ornstein & David Sobel.
Two doctors pay tribute to the incredible powers of the brain to
maintain health. At the same time they outline the limitations of modern
medicine.
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“The Blind Watchmaker” - Richard Dawkins
The author gives a fascinating account of the theory of evolution.
He then goes on to argue that we evolved by chance. He develops this
into an attack (delivered with evangelical fervour) against the existence
of God!
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"To School through the Fields" - Alice Taylor
A charming autobiography of an Irish country childhood.
It gives the reader a reminder of what the magic of childhood can and
should be.
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“The Ages of Gaia” - James Lovelock.
To those of us concerned about the environment, James Lovelock
gives a highly original description of the Earth as a living organism.
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“In the Shadow of Man” - Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall spent many years living with our nearest animal
relatives, chimpanzees, in the wild. As the chimp apparently shares
95% of the same genetic material as ourselves, she shows how many
of our “human” attributes we share with them.
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“Life after Life” - Tony Parker
This gives an insight into the darker side of life. It consists of twelve
in-depth interviews with convicted murderers. Gripping and tragic,
but not totally without hope.
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“The Needs of Strangers” - Michael Ignatieff
A thought-provoking survey of human needs. It brings in economics,
sociology, spirituality, government ... as well as psychology
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“Archetype - A natural history of the self’ - Anthony Stevens
At last - a readable book on Jungian psychology, explaining the idea of
“archetypes” or “genetic predispositions”.
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"The Prophet” - Kahlil Gibran
A haunting book of spiritual wisdom.
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“Making Miracles” - Dr Paul C. Roud
Eleven case studies of patients who conquered incurable illnesses.
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“The Hypnotic Brain” - Peter Brown M.D.
An academic looks at hypnosis as part of the natural evolution of
social communication.
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“The Boy who saw True” - intro by Cyril Scott
The diary of a young clairvoyant boy in Victorian England.
Thought-provoking!
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“Caravan of Dreams” - collected by Idries Shah.
A selection of traditional Sufi “teaching tales”, from Afghanistan,
Iran and Uzbekistan.
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“Quantum Healing” - Deepak Chopra M.D.
Dr Chopra, who is qualified in both Western and Indian medicine,
provides a fascinating account of the life force or “intelligence” that
permeates the mind/body system.
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"The Mind of God" - Paul Davies
A fascinating combination of physics, cosmology and philosophy.
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"Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion" - Robert B. Cialdini PhD
Amusing and well-written - a "must" for every true manipulator!
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"Post-Capitalist Society" - Peter F Drucker
One of the great minds of the 20th century, and the most truly original
management "guru", Peter Drucker (in his '80s) here starts to analyse
the profound changes we are all going through right now.
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"The Moral Animal" - Robert Wright
A great read! Robert Wright shows how, in Darwinian terms, we
have selfishly evolved to be also altruistic
- and even ethical and compassionate!
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"The History and Geography of Human Genes"
- L. Lucca Cavalli-Sforza, Paolo Menozzi and Alberto Piazza
A massive scholarly work, tracing the spread of various populations
throughout the world - using evidence from genetic data, archaeology,
physical anthropology and linguistics.
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"You Cannot Die" - Ian Currie
A collection of evidence of the para-normal, assembled by this
Canadian academic. Reassuring for readers who may be concerned
about death and its implications!
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"The Empty Raincoat" - Charles Handy
Charles Handy provokes the reader to start thinking about the changes
in business and lifestyles, which we are all caught up in.
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“Feet of Clay” - Anthony Storr
A psychological study of gurus, and their followers.
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“The Villagers” - Richard Critchfield
The author chronicles (in a gripping series of case studies) the passing
of a world culture - which has left a void in most of us.
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“Hermits” - Peter France
In a world where nobody wants to “be alone”, Peter France writes about
those who do - and the insights they can give the rest of us.
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“Man’s Search for Meaning” - Victor E. Frankl
The author, a Jewish Viennese psychiatrist, was incarcerated in,
and survived, four Nazi death camps.
He wrote this inspiring book in 1946 - then lived on until his nineties.
So, if you think you have problems ... read this one!
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“The Grand Design” (Volumes 1 to 5) - Patrick Francis.
A comprehensive spiritual explanation of life's purpose.
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"Sophie's World" - Jostein Gaarder.
Written originally as a children's book, many adults have enjoyed the
review of major philosophies described by this Norwegian writer.
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"Eat the Rich" - P.J. O'Rourke.
A hilarious account of why some countries are rich and some are poor.
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“Nonzero – the Logic of Human Destiny” –Robert Wright.
The author applies “Game Theory” to biological evolution and history
...to indicate that Humanity probably does have a purpose
...and that things are slowly getting better!
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“ Genius Explained“ - Michael J. A. Howe.
British psychologist explains how “Genius” seems to have more to do
with systematic long-term immersion in a topic…than a
pure genetic “gift”.
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“ The Art of Happiness“ - H H Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler.
The Dalai Lama, one of the great spiritual leaders of our time, in
conversation with a western psychiatrist. A good insight into the
Buddhist path and the thinking and behaviour of this extraordinary man.
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“Millennium”—a History of the last thousand years
Felipe Fernández-Armesto
This author somehow manages to combine the sweep of world history
with some fascinating details of every day life…to produce a
compelling “read”.
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“The other side of Eden” -- Hugh Brody
Anthropologist Hugh Brody, takes us into the “mind-set” of
the Hunter-Gatherer (our original ancestor). He then contrasts it with
the culture
of the Farmer – which brutally superseded it. Quite a lyrical account!
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“Twenty Years A-Growing” –- Maurice O’Sullivan
A Blasket-Islander tells the story of
his youth, for the amusement of his friends.
(translated from the original Gaelic)
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"Berlin - the downfall 1945"
Antony Beevor
A gripping account of the horror and cruelty of War - Mankind's
ultimate folly.
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"Status Anxiety"
Alain de Botton
This book is about the almost universal anxiety...about what
others think of us...whether we're judged to be winners or losers.
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"Guns, Germs and Steel"
Jared Diamond
How did it happen that Pizarro + 168 Spanish soldiers conquered
Atahuallpa (surrounded by his army of 80,000 soldiers) within
minutes of their first setting eyes on each other? Jared Diamond explains
why some races overwhelmed others, within the broad
sweep of history.
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"Paradise"
Kevin Rushby
A history of the idea that rules the world - how Mankind pursues both
spiritual and earthly versions.
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"Landscape and Memory"
Simon Schama
The author is steeped in European culture. He gives a fascinating
account of how our identity with the landscape has evolved over
the centuries.
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"Suicide of the West "
Richard Koch & Chris Smith
For those of us fortunate enough to be living in the West - a timely
reminder of the fact that "Western" civilization is the greatest
civilization ever known on this planet of ours.
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Freakonomics "
Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
What the numbers reveal about human nature. An amusing slant on
interpreting economic statistics.
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"A Short History of Nearly Everything "
Bill Bryson
What Science has to tell us about this world of ours, and the mystery of
life. Told with lots of anecdotes and humour.
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"Neighbours "
Jan T. Gross
One summer day in 1941, half of the Polish town of Jedwabne murdered
the other half - 1,600 men, women and children - all but
seven of the town's Jews.
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"Merchant, Soldier, Sage "
David Priestland
Priestland contends that, throughout history, three separate groups (or
castes) have always sruggled to hold power - Soldiers, Merchants and
Sages. Right now, Merchants are running the show ... but for how long?
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"Flourishing "
Maureen Gaffney
Irish psychologist, Maureen Gaffney tells us how to be happy. All
her points are backed up by research!
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"Why Nations Fail "
Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson
The authors develop a fascinating theory about what really makes
the difference. Economics and a broad historical perspective highlight the critical
importance of political & economic institutions + the rule of law.
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"Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End "
Atul Gawande
A book about Old Age and Dying. Should have been written years ago
- but now done brilliantly by Atul Gawande, an American doctor of
Indian origin.
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"Seven Brief Lessons on Physics"
Carlo Rovelli
A clear and lyrical account. If you are neither a mathematician nor a physicist, (from Relativity to Black Holes) this is the book for you!
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"CAPITAL in the 21st Century"
Thomas Picketty
French economist, Thomas Picketty, can really crunch the numbers! He
shows convincingly how the gap between the very poor and the very
rich, continues to widen.
This gap is now greater than it was in 1900. Some scary statistics!
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"The Better Angels of our Nature"
Steven Pinker
Despite two world wars and organised crime, the level of violence in the world,
has actually been steadily declining since pre-history. Pinker gives us the "good news"!
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"I contain Multitudes: The Microbes within us and a grander view of life."
Ed Yong.
Learn about the bacteria, viruses and other miniscule organisms that cohabit the human body!
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"The Marshmallow Test"
Walter Mischel
A child is presented with a marshmallow and given a choice:
Eat this one now, or wait and enjoy two later. What will she do?
And what are the implications for her behaviour later in life?
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"The Great War for Civilisation"
Robert Fisk
War correspondent, Robert Fisk,
has lived through most of the recent horrific wars in the Middle East. He spares nobody - Turks, French, Algerians, British, Israelis, Iraqis, Iranians and Americans.
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"Quiet"
Susan Cain
The power of INTROVERTS in a world that can't stop talking!
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"The richest man who ever lived"
Greg Steinmetz
Interested in the likes of Bill Gates or the Sage of Omaha? Now read the fascinating life story of Jacob Fugger.
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"The Silk Roads"
Peter Frankopan
This unique book tells the history of the world from a unique angle! Described by different critics as "epic" ... "breathtaking" ... "dazzling" ... "monumental". It also gives a good insight into where the world is heading in the future!
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"On the Shortness of Life"
Lucius Seneca (4 B.C - 65 A.D.)
Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher in the 1st century A.D. He has words of wisdom for us, even today. He also gives an interesting insight into the lifestyle and mind-set of Roman aristocrats!
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"The Goodness Paradox"
Richard Wrangham
Adolf Hitler murdered millions of people. Yet his secretary, Traudl Junge, said he had an agreeable, friendly and paternal manner. He hated cruelty to animals. He was a vegetarian. He adored his dog Blondi - and was inconsolable when Blondi died.
The author brilliantly explains how Evolution has made us both more and less violent!
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"The Course of Love"
Alain de Botton
Some thoughts on Love & Marriage in the modern world.
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"Hunger - the oldest problem"
Martin Caparros
The world produces more food than it needs - yet millions are starving. Both poor countries, (like Bangla Desh) and rich countries (like the U.S.A.) have a huge Hunger problem. This Argentinian journalist descibes what it means to be poor and hungry. A disturbing read.
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"Origins - How the Earth shaped human history"
Lewis Dartnell
Our planet's active geological forces drove our evolution in East Africa as a uniquely intelligent, communicative and resourceful kind of ape - while a fluctuating planetary climate enabled us to migrate around the world - and become the most widely spread animal species on Earth!
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"Open - The Story of Human Progress"
Johan Norberg
Brexit / Trump / Erdogan / Orban / Putin / Xi Jinping - This Swedish intellectual explains how this latest wave of nationalistic madness, is a mere blip in the story of Mankind.
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"Solve for Happy"
Mo Gawdat
Most "self help" books are written by psychologists or new age gurus. This one is different - written by an Egyptian Google software supremo. He takes a logical, engineering, mathematical approach, searching for a mathematical formula for Happiness. And it's quite entertaining too!
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"Morality - restoring the common good, in divided times"
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, philosopher & theologian - Jonathan Sacks provides a timely read. Especially relevant to what has been going on recently in both American and British politics. And laced with Jewish humour too!
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"Why we sleep"
Matthew Walker
We spend one third of our lives asleep. A good night's sleep is more important than a healthy diet or exercise programme! This book is a real "eye-opener"about what happens, when our eyes are not open!
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"The Crossover Experience"
DJ Kadagian & Dr Pim van Lommel
A fascinating attempt to review (in a scientific way) thousands of reported "Near Death Experiences.
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"Bourgeois Equality"
Deirdre Nansen McCloskey
Here we have an economist, from the Chicago School, with a non-economic theory! She highlights how "Middle Class Bourgeois Values" underpin economic progress!
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"Life is Hard"
Kieran Setiya
Philosopher, Kieran Setiya, shows how our lives can have meaning - despite all the trials & tribulations we meet along the way. A welcome antidote to all those "self help" books!
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"For Profit"
William Magnuson
Business corporations affect our lives in so many ways - for good & evil. This fascinating history takes us from Societas Publicanorum in ancient Rome - through the Medici banking empire in Florence, the East India Company - right through to today's Silicon Valley giants.
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"Money"
David McWilliams
A bubject we're all interested in! Well this book has to be the clearest and most fascinating book, ever written about Money.
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"Alexei Navalny - Patriot"
Alexei Navalny
Mother Russia has produced monsters like Stalin and Putin. But she has also produced Navalny. He exemplifies what the ancient Romans called "Virtus". He wrote this gripping autobiography in the Gulag - before he was murdered.
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"The Happiness Hypothesis"
Jonathan Haidt
A really interesting book, about the psychological underpinnings of Happiness. Relevant for everybody!
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*** Now don't forget.....if you know of a book which should be added
to this list - please let me know by clicking here. But do remember
...it must be readable & cast some light on the "Human Condition"!
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