Pooja's Picks: 4 links for these times
What I'm reading to educate myself lately.
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Hi, folks. Welcome to the February edition of Pooja’s Picks, with four links centering around how I’ve been making sense of our current socio-political situation in the US. While Real Self-Care is primarily a mental health focused newsletter, I believe that there is no understanding mental health without understanding systems of oppression and social determinants of health. All of today’s links are relevant to real self-care as we collectively attempt to take care of ourselves, the people we love, and our communities. Some of these reads are heavy, so consume at your own pace and be gentle with yourself.
As we’re all well aware, the flow of horrifying news and new information has been constant since Trump took office, and I’ve been extra careful to direct my attention toward sources I trust.
Today’s links have all helped me put what’s happening into context, and decide where to put my energy moving forward.
As a reminder, Pooja’s Picks is my monthly list of reads, recs, and things that resonate. (Check out my December and January picks, too.) These recommendations don’t include affiliate links (unless specifically stated).
February recommendations from yours truly
1. Sociologist Jennifer Walter about what is happening in this country and what to do about it, shared by
I loved this summary that Martinez shared in Notes of how to engage with the news/all the stimulus constantly coming our way right now. As a sociologist, Jennifer Walter has a deeper understanding of how people behave en masse, and how power is welded by those who are trying to control said people. Remember, “Your overwhelm is the goal.” Aka, it’s vital to set strict boundaries around news and social media and log off.
2. Mark Zuckerberg will never understand why we don't love him by
I have read and re-read this piece by Garrett Bucks several times in the past two months. Bucks nails it — it being the smallness and the egoism. By way of commenting on the interpersonal dynamics of two men (eg. Zuckerberg and Joe Rogan) who hold an inordinate amount of power over the future of our country, Buck’s gives us a smart take on some of the factors that have led us to our current democratic unravelling. It also made me chuckle more than once. (Note: you do not need to listen to the Rogan interview to appreciate
piece.)
3. Who Goes Nazi? by Dorothy Thompson
I stumbled on this classic piece from 1941 describing the guests at a fictional dinner party through a Reddit thread and immediately bookmarked it. It’s short and snappy — but also deeply unsettling. The crux of Thompson’s analysis is that when you lose your own humanity, you are unable to see the humanity in others. I find this message to be particularly powerful because it’s a reminder that in just being human — in going about our daily lives with care, passion, creativity, and purpose — we are fighting powerful external forces.
4. Stories Are Weapons by Annalee Newitz
I read Annalee Newitz’s book, Stories Are Weapons, after hearing them on NPR last year. I was delighted to find that Newitz begins the book by sharing a story about Freud and his nephew, who turns out to be one of the founders of modern public relations. This was news to me, but on reflection, wow that makes sense! Stories Are Weapons conceptualizes how facts and truths are constructed, and how social media has made it so much more complicated for us to parse.
The human psyche has, and will always, contain the potential for profound acts of gratitude, compassion, and empathy, as well as profound cruelty, cynicism, and hate. We will always have choice (agency) in setting our direction.
What have you been reading that’s been helping you make sense of the world lately, or reminding you of what to focus on? Please share in the comments.
xo,
Pooja
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I have been reading (and listening to) the Empyrean trilogy by Rebecca Yarros in a pitiful attempt to not watch on TV or read NYT/WSJ the news. Great distractions!