Mindful Book Club Picnic: “The Sane Society” by Erich Fromm

I loved Fromm’s book “The Art of Loving,” which has been one of the most transformative books I’ve ever read, with a clear call to action that’s been fuelling my life ever since. “The Sane Society” hasn’t been as impactful for me, but the ideas here provide a really useful framework that ties into many of the other ideas we’ve been discussing this year so far. How does the idea of “The Sane Society” tie in with Gabor Mate’s “The Myth of Normal”? “Normal” and “sane” sound like synonyms to me. How does trying to fit into either of these words lead to our own sense of alienation and inauthenticity? What pressures are we putting on ourselves to conform, and what needs of ours are we ignoring?

From the perspective of Needs, which is huge in Nonviolent Communication, which stresses the importance of clearly expressing our needs to others, it seems like Fromm deeply aligns with that idea, too.

And, as I’m writing this, the AI industry is booming, and AI anxiety is growing, which makes Fromm’s idea here a bit more salient: “The danger of the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that men may become robots.” What do you think?

It’s a wild book, with some really challenging ideas, so, come join me at a book club picnic I’m hosting at Linha da Agua, not at the cafe, but on the grass across the pond. I'll bring a big white blanket and a few snacks (definitely not enough to feed a crowd). Feel free to bring your own blanket, and snacks as well if you'd like. And let's enjoy the park, the sun, and some great ideas.