What Happens When We Slowly Lose Our Soul (Conscience) and Brain (Critical Thinking)?
Novels and Books Worth Reading
If you are older than 30, you probably remember a time in which humans had quality relations, i.e., they spend a lot of time with each other for meaningful communications and sharing of life experiences and wisdom. Today, nobody seems to have a long enough window (packet) of time to slow down to thoroughly hear, think, analyze, cook, empathize (feel someone else’s experience), smell, see or listen (to joyful sounds like music or bird’s songs). Despite what we call technological and financial “progress,” humans seem more stressed, busier and yet lonelier than ever before. In my book I discuss the neurological evolution of the modern human brain which has led to metabolic imbalances and our metamorphosis into a new species I call Homo economicus, constantly scaling up and optimizing the monetary utility of their time (life). But way before my book, two wise authors predicted the metamorphosis in their clairvoyant stories:
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (1915)
Storyline: A traveling salesman finds that his connections with other humans revolve around business and his relationships are shallow, "temporary and constantly changing & never come from the heart." Despite his disillusion, he puts up with the work and his tyrannical bosses because of his family's debt but one day... he metamorphoses into a parasitic insect. The deformed insect is ignored by other people who are busy working. Nobody cares about the insect. He is invisible, neglected and even abhorred by people the same way the homeless, and residents of ghettos are avoided by well-to-do humans.
Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco (1959)
Unlike The Metamorphosis, which discusses gradual demise of the human soul one man at a time, Ionesco’s Rhinoceros discusses mass psychosis (what may be called formation psychosis) of humans into herds and mobs. It’s a short interesting novella worth reading.
You can follow me on twitter to read more of my thoughts there. My studies of the neuro-endocrine systems in the human body demonstrate how most diseases are rooted in our metabolic imbalances which also cause, and result from, our metamorphosis to Homo economicus. I share these details in my articles on Substack and my book with that same title.
Especially relevant this time of year when many spend time reflecting and revisiting their life patterns. Thank you for the timely reminder!