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The FUTURES Series
The Future of the Self
Exploring the changing nature of ‘self’ through the lens of popular culture and how changes in science, philosophy, technology, and society might impact our sense of self in the future.Look in the mirror – what do you see?We all feel, instinctively, that self exists. That somewhere inside us, under the clothes, the make-up, and self-tan, lurks a hard ‘pearl’, a kernel of truth called ‘me’. And it’s big business uncovering that ‘authentic’ kernel. It’s also a fool’s errand, because that ‘true self’? It doesn’t exist.Self is no more than a story we tell ourselves. It’s mutable, pliable as Plasticine. Worse, it’s not even strictly autobiographical, but co-authored with those around us. And as such, there is no one version, but myriad, and the number is growing as we are exposed to ever more connections.We are already seeing the effects travel, television, and celebrity culture can have on the formation of self, but as digital and social media exposure grows, and in the advent of AI, what will happen to our sense of self? Can we become ever more multiple and adapt better to our globalised world? Or will we dissolve into narcissitic, detached ‘nobodies’?The Future of the Self will explore our current understanding of self in both philosophical and neuroscientific terms and through the lens of popular culture. It will ask what might happen to it in the coming years, and what a ‘useful self’ might look like in the future.
- GenresNonfiction
128 pages, Paperback
Published August 6, 2024
3 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Nadin
146 books124 followersJoanna Nadin is an English author of juvenile fiction best known for the Rachel Riley series of teenage novels Based on Nadin's own childhood, the series follows the comedic narration of a 13-year-old girl.
Nadin has also written several books of juvenile fiction. These include two books for the Oxford University Press "Project X" series designed to encourage boys to read.
Nadin previously worked as a policy writer for the Labour Party (UK).In 2001, she became a special adviser to Tony Blair.
As a child I buried myself in books both at home in Essex and at my grandparents’ houses in Cornwall, where I spent a large part of my time, and where many of my stories are now set. Books and later films were an escape not just from where I was but who I was, which, as I saw it, was pretty much a geek. They gave me the freedom to become someone else, from George in the Famous Five to Velvet Brown winning the Grand National to Baby dancing the Chachacha with Johnny Castle.
Nadin has also written several books of juvenile fiction. These include two books for the Oxford University Press "Project X" series designed to encourage boys to read.
Nadin previously worked as a policy writer for the Labour Party (UK).In 2001, she became a special adviser to Tony Blair.
As a child I buried myself in books both at home in Essex and at my grandparents’ houses in Cornwall, where I spent a large part of my time, and where many of my stories are now set. Books and later films were an escape not just from where I was but who I was, which, as I saw it, was pretty much a geek. They gave me the freedom to become someone else, from George in the Famous Five to Velvet Brown winning the Grand National to Baby dancing the Chachacha with Johnny Castle.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 12, 2025
first of all, stunning book design going on here. second of all, very fun concept from the publisher with this series!
joanna nadin is synthesizing resources ranging from psychology, philosophy, pop culture, and neuroscience to break apart the concept of the self, and to theorize how that concept will change in the future. debunking the idea that we each have a singular immutable self at our core, nadin explores multiplicity of the self and the need for each of us to have many different selves to adapt to different situations. when you add in our exposure to so much information and so many different people via social media, it only increases the possibilities of who we’re able to be. she lays out how this could negatively impact society, and conversely how it can be used to change the world for the better.
the content itself was incredibly thought provoking, and i really enjoyed the writing style. she incorporates all her references seamlessly and there is a lot of humor throughout. i’d be interested to check out the further reading recommended at the end of the book! 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
joanna nadin is synthesizing resources ranging from psychology, philosophy, pop culture, and neuroscience to break apart the concept of the self, and to theorize how that concept will change in the future. debunking the idea that we each have a singular immutable self at our core, nadin explores multiplicity of the self and the need for each of us to have many different selves to adapt to different situations. when you add in our exposure to so much information and so many different people via social media, it only increases the possibilities of who we’re able to be. she lays out how this could negatively impact society, and conversely how it can be used to change the world for the better.
the content itself was incredibly thought provoking, and i really enjoyed the writing style. she incorporates all her references seamlessly and there is a lot of humor throughout. i’d be interested to check out the further reading recommended at the end of the book! 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
May 22, 2024
3.5 stars
The Future of The Self is a non-fiction book and part of the Futures series of books from Melville House publishers.
Author Joanna Nadin asks the reader to consider the idea of ‘the self’ and how our concepts of this have developed and continue to change. She asks if we are isolating ourselves with our addiction to social media, where we try to portray a perfect being. Or are we a single thread in a bigger world where we need to come together collectively to create a better future for the planet and our way of living on it.
Both concepts are cause for thought and Nadin has been reading up on various studies, ideas and experiments that have all looked into the idea of ‘self’. Nadin adds her own opinions, linking then with how fiction and stories also play a role in moulding our lives; perhaps we model ourselves on a fictional hero, or we learn to empathise with characters, absorbing behaviours, attitudes and actions of others from what we read or watch.
At just one hundred pages this is a quick book to read, it poses lots of questions, and made me think which can always be a good thing.
The Future of The Self is a non-fiction book and part of the Futures series of books from Melville House publishers.
Author Joanna Nadin asks the reader to consider the idea of ‘the self’ and how our concepts of this have developed and continue to change. She asks if we are isolating ourselves with our addiction to social media, where we try to portray a perfect being. Or are we a single thread in a bigger world where we need to come together collectively to create a better future for the planet and our way of living on it.
Both concepts are cause for thought and Nadin has been reading up on various studies, ideas and experiments that have all looked into the idea of ‘self’. Nadin adds her own opinions, linking then with how fiction and stories also play a role in moulding our lives; perhaps we model ourselves on a fictional hero, or we learn to empathise with characters, absorbing behaviours, attitudes and actions of others from what we read or watch.
At just one hundred pages this is a quick book to read, it poses lots of questions, and made me think which can always be a good thing.
December 29, 2024
Fun to read, but if there was a heart monitor attached to a kindle tracking my eye movements (which she seems to be ok with, simply because Harari said it’s fine), it would know I finished the book disappointed.
The arguments against capitalism/individuality made earlier in the book don’t align w the points on AI made in the last chapter. Insisting on a positive view on (solely profit-motivated) technological progression, just for the sake of a balanced reading experience, felt cheap
The arguments against capitalism/individuality made earlier in the book don’t align w the points on AI made in the last chapter. Insisting on a positive view on (solely profit-motivated) technological progression, just for the sake of a balanced reading experience, felt cheap
September 24, 2024
At times I liked how Britishly matter of fact this short book was but — as someone who is already pretty familiar with the sense of ‘true self’ via meditation and eastern tradition — I found the whole ‘wait, wait hear me out 🙄’ at any mention of spirituality or mysticism jarring.
In saying that it was an insightful essay and I’ll def be reading more in this FUTURES series.
In saying that it was an insightful essay and I’ll def be reading more in this FUTURES series.
October 30, 2025
The perfect non-fiction techno-future spiral in just 104 pages 👌
July 27, 2024
I really enjoyed The Future of Trust by Ros Taylor, one of the first books released in Melville House's impressive new Futures series and so was delighted to be given the opportunity to read The Future of The Self by Joanna Nadin. Joanna tells us at the beginning of the book that she isn't a psychologist, neuroscientist or philosopher. She does, however, have a PhD in the nature of the self, albeit in relation to YA literature. Drawing on her own experiences, as well as referring to research and quoting from both science and literature, this relatively short book is an informative and thought-provoking read.
Joanne Nadin recalls her youthful obsession to find her 'self' at the start of The Future of the Self, remembering how she donned the mantles of the Malory Towers inhabitants before moving on to Dickens and De Maurier, and then imagining herself on the silver screen – as Andie in Pretty in Pink, Baby in Dirty Dancing or various characters from Mystic Pizza. It immediately sets the tone for the book, which examines some challenging topics but remains witty, engaging and relatable (at least to this 70s born reader!) throughout.
She quickly rejects the idea of the 'one true self', comparing our bodies to a walking, talking Ship of Theseus and Fleetwood Mac, before going on to explain that even if we look and think the same, despite the constant changes we undergo, there is no pearl of self nestled in our brains. Self, Joanna Nadin argues, isn't a monologue and instead, is a construction formed through our interactions with others. As the book progresses, she looks first at a dystopian view of the future self,
'in which the self (spoiler alert) becomes a flaccid, parasitic, narcissistic 'nobody''.
She references social psychologist Kenneth Gergen's early 1990s thesis on the 'saturated self', explaining that,
'Our identity is now more haphazard patchwork than well-defined self-portrait. And the cause? Technological progress.'
While the earlier stages in the saturation process are all important – rail expansion, car ownership, air travel, the invention of the telephone and radio, the rise of the film and television industry, and the advent of cheap paperbacks – it's electronic communication which is most important. Now more likely than ever before to be influenced by people we've never met, including fictional characters, our future selves may experience 'identify diffusion' – a lack of stability or focus in the self.
Joanna Nadin goes on to consider our social media addiction, including the increasing polarisation of opinions as learning algorithms prioritise higher engagement and the shocking drop in our attention spans in just a few years. The future she postulates here is bleak and within time, we risk the machines taking over, leading to her rather chilling exploration of what AI may eventually take over – not just our creative output but our entire decision making processes.
Thank goodness, therefore, that she also puts forward a more utopian future for the self too. Here, we learn to recognise self for what it is,
'pliable, and inextricably connected to others'
This version of our future self will be able to reject our birth circumstances, genetic inheritance and assigned genders. Although for some, this fakery is cause for concern, she suggests that we can learn to embrace adaptation and be empowered by our ability to change. Eventually, by accepting that the singular self is an illusion, we may grow to believe that we are all connected, ‘recognising ourselves as threads in the tapestry.’
Joanna Nadin isn't scared to present some more provocative topics too, most notably looking at whether microdosing with psychedelics could prove to be beneficial to humanity as a whole. The research throughout is robust; whether she is explaining how our brains function, scientific or societal change, or discussing various theories posited. The Future of The Self then is an intelligent, accessible and thoroughly entertaining read. I highly recommend it
Joanne Nadin recalls her youthful obsession to find her 'self' at the start of The Future of the Self, remembering how she donned the mantles of the Malory Towers inhabitants before moving on to Dickens and De Maurier, and then imagining herself on the silver screen – as Andie in Pretty in Pink, Baby in Dirty Dancing or various characters from Mystic Pizza. It immediately sets the tone for the book, which examines some challenging topics but remains witty, engaging and relatable (at least to this 70s born reader!) throughout.
She quickly rejects the idea of the 'one true self', comparing our bodies to a walking, talking Ship of Theseus and Fleetwood Mac, before going on to explain that even if we look and think the same, despite the constant changes we undergo, there is no pearl of self nestled in our brains. Self, Joanna Nadin argues, isn't a monologue and instead, is a construction formed through our interactions with others. As the book progresses, she looks first at a dystopian view of the future self,
'in which the self (spoiler alert) becomes a flaccid, parasitic, narcissistic 'nobody''.
She references social psychologist Kenneth Gergen's early 1990s thesis on the 'saturated self', explaining that,
'Our identity is now more haphazard patchwork than well-defined self-portrait. And the cause? Technological progress.'
While the earlier stages in the saturation process are all important – rail expansion, car ownership, air travel, the invention of the telephone and radio, the rise of the film and television industry, and the advent of cheap paperbacks – it's electronic communication which is most important. Now more likely than ever before to be influenced by people we've never met, including fictional characters, our future selves may experience 'identify diffusion' – a lack of stability or focus in the self.
Joanna Nadin goes on to consider our social media addiction, including the increasing polarisation of opinions as learning algorithms prioritise higher engagement and the shocking drop in our attention spans in just a few years. The future she postulates here is bleak and within time, we risk the machines taking over, leading to her rather chilling exploration of what AI may eventually take over – not just our creative output but our entire decision making processes.
Thank goodness, therefore, that she also puts forward a more utopian future for the self too. Here, we learn to recognise self for what it is,
'pliable, and inextricably connected to others'
This version of our future self will be able to reject our birth circumstances, genetic inheritance and assigned genders. Although for some, this fakery is cause for concern, she suggests that we can learn to embrace adaptation and be empowered by our ability to change. Eventually, by accepting that the singular self is an illusion, we may grow to believe that we are all connected, ‘recognising ourselves as threads in the tapestry.’
Joanna Nadin isn't scared to present some more provocative topics too, most notably looking at whether microdosing with psychedelics could prove to be beneficial to humanity as a whole. The research throughout is robust; whether she is explaining how our brains function, scientific or societal change, or discussing various theories posited. The Future of The Self then is an intelligent, accessible and thoroughly entertaining read. I highly recommend it
July 10, 2024
The book:
We all feel, instinctively, that self exists… but the self is no more than a story we tell ourselves. "The Future of the Self" explores our current understanding of self in both philosophical and neuroscientific terms and through the lens of popular culture.
We are already seeing the effects travel, television, and celebrity culture can have on the formation of self, but as digital and social media exposure grows, and in the advent of AI, what will happen to our sense of self?
My thoughts:
I was pleased to be given the chance to read one of the latest releases in the FUTURES Series, having found one of the earlier instalments, “The Future of Trust” a fascinating read earlier this year.
In this book, author Joanna Nadin — who has a PhD in the nature of the self, in relation to young adult literature and describes herself as “obsessed with self” — takes on the challenge of considering what is meant by ‘self’, and whether what we think it means has or could ever exist. In fact (spoiler alert…!), it doesn’t…
Nadin takes us on a fascinating journey, via many a pop culture reference, starting with the backstory of self, and moving on to two potentials for the future — the dystopian ‘nobody’ and a more encouraging ‘everybody’.
She draws on some of the sources that have influenced her own work in the past, including “The Self Illusion” by Bruce Hood and “The Ego Trick” by Julian Baggini, and describes some of the scientific underpinnings to the theories and ideas discussed. I was particularly fascinated by the concept of ‘mirror neurons’; a type of brain cell that fires up not only when we do something, but also when we see someone else (or even think about someone else, real or fictional) do the same action. As a book worm, I love the concept that not only the people we meet in real life, but also those in the pages of books, can influence our identity, and help us build that crucial skill — empathy.
The author herself, despite providing the dystopian option, takes a positive view and concludes by urging us to take pleasure in metamorphosis and to stop worrying about ‘the real me’. Because of course, it doesn’t exist…
Overall I’m really loving this series, and if there’s a subject that intrigues you, or perhaps just piques your interest, but you’re not ready to dive into weighty textbooks or peer-reviewed journal articles, it is the perfect starting point. Boiling a subject down into around 100 pages, and recruiting authors who are experts but also able to write in an accessible and engaging way (no easy feat), they provide a perfect overview of their subject. You might choose to read more (in which case, they include further reading ideas), or you might not — but if not, you will still have read a fascinating insight into an intriguing topic.
We all feel, instinctively, that self exists… but the self is no more than a story we tell ourselves. "The Future of the Self" explores our current understanding of self in both philosophical and neuroscientific terms and through the lens of popular culture.
We are already seeing the effects travel, television, and celebrity culture can have on the formation of self, but as digital and social media exposure grows, and in the advent of AI, what will happen to our sense of self?
My thoughts:
I was pleased to be given the chance to read one of the latest releases in the FUTURES Series, having found one of the earlier instalments, “The Future of Trust” a fascinating read earlier this year.
In this book, author Joanna Nadin — who has a PhD in the nature of the self, in relation to young adult literature and describes herself as “obsessed with self” — takes on the challenge of considering what is meant by ‘self’, and whether what we think it means has or could ever exist. In fact (spoiler alert…!), it doesn’t…
Nadin takes us on a fascinating journey, via many a pop culture reference, starting with the backstory of self, and moving on to two potentials for the future — the dystopian ‘nobody’ and a more encouraging ‘everybody’.
She draws on some of the sources that have influenced her own work in the past, including “The Self Illusion” by Bruce Hood and “The Ego Trick” by Julian Baggini, and describes some of the scientific underpinnings to the theories and ideas discussed. I was particularly fascinated by the concept of ‘mirror neurons’; a type of brain cell that fires up not only when we do something, but also when we see someone else (or even think about someone else, real or fictional) do the same action. As a book worm, I love the concept that not only the people we meet in real life, but also those in the pages of books, can influence our identity, and help us build that crucial skill — empathy.
The author herself, despite providing the dystopian option, takes a positive view and concludes by urging us to take pleasure in metamorphosis and to stop worrying about ‘the real me’. Because of course, it doesn’t exist…
Overall I’m really loving this series, and if there’s a subject that intrigues you, or perhaps just piques your interest, but you’re not ready to dive into weighty textbooks or peer-reviewed journal articles, it is the perfect starting point. Boiling a subject down into around 100 pages, and recruiting authors who are experts but also able to write in an accessible and engaging way (no easy feat), they provide a perfect overview of their subject. You might choose to read more (in which case, they include further reading ideas), or you might not — but if not, you will still have read a fascinating insight into an intriguing topic.
May 19, 2024
3.5-4 stars
Thanks to Melville House for the gifted proof of this title in return for an honest review.
I had not heard of Joanna Nadin prior to reading this book, but having read it I can see she's a very knowledgeable and interesting author.
To be honest, I have never given it much thought, this idea of self. Because it's MY self. So I don't think about it. So this was eye-opening.
It is a quick book, just over 100 pages, and so it is ideal to fit within a busy schedule. I think it's a good length, any longer and I think it might have become a bit dry, but there's enough information in there not to feel short changed.
There are no chapters as such, it's instead split into a few parts, with specific sections within, dependent on the topic in hand. But it's mainly split between this idea of past self, and the future self.
It felt very narrative, almost like a story, rather than a piece of non-fiction, which was interesting. I was expecting it to be very heavy with research and facts and big words and whatnot. And yes there are elements of that, but it is more approachable than I thought it would be for a layman reader.
I admit, there were times it felt a bit vague. And by this I mean Joanna asks a lot of questions and then provides theories or things other people have said, or reflections of her own life. There's nothing concrete as such. Which, if I'm honest, I was expecting considering this idea of self is so ambiguous and not tangible. And I was concerned I would get a bit sock of it, all these questions with no real answers. But I realised it wasn't going to be as big a problem as I thought. Instead it asked me to the questions and opened up a lot of thoughts and memories of my own self.
On a side note, I found the word 'plethora' on the first page and that made me very happy as it's a word I try to get in at least once a day!
I mean, if I'm being really honest, it's not completely gripping or thrilling. It may be a little dry for some tastes. But what it does give you is interesting, thought-provoking, honest, difficult, self-evaluating, factual, well-research, and well-written information, and whilst you may not get the same thrill as a novel, if you're like me, you will still come out of feeling better for having read it.
Thanks to Melville House for the gifted proof of this title in return for an honest review.
I had not heard of Joanna Nadin prior to reading this book, but having read it I can see she's a very knowledgeable and interesting author.
To be honest, I have never given it much thought, this idea of self. Because it's MY self. So I don't think about it. So this was eye-opening.
It is a quick book, just over 100 pages, and so it is ideal to fit within a busy schedule. I think it's a good length, any longer and I think it might have become a bit dry, but there's enough information in there not to feel short changed.
There are no chapters as such, it's instead split into a few parts, with specific sections within, dependent on the topic in hand. But it's mainly split between this idea of past self, and the future self.
It felt very narrative, almost like a story, rather than a piece of non-fiction, which was interesting. I was expecting it to be very heavy with research and facts and big words and whatnot. And yes there are elements of that, but it is more approachable than I thought it would be for a layman reader.
I admit, there were times it felt a bit vague. And by this I mean Joanna asks a lot of questions and then provides theories or things other people have said, or reflections of her own life. There's nothing concrete as such. Which, if I'm honest, I was expecting considering this idea of self is so ambiguous and not tangible. And I was concerned I would get a bit sock of it, all these questions with no real answers. But I realised it wasn't going to be as big a problem as I thought. Instead it asked me to the questions and opened up a lot of thoughts and memories of my own self.
On a side note, I found the word 'plethora' on the first page and that made me very happy as it's a word I try to get in at least once a day!
I mean, if I'm being really honest, it's not completely gripping or thrilling. It may be a little dry for some tastes. But what it does give you is interesting, thought-provoking, honest, difficult, self-evaluating, factual, well-research, and well-written information, and whilst you may not get the same thrill as a novel, if you're like me, you will still come out of feeling better for having read it.
August 3, 2024
The idea behind the series is for an expert to provide a glimpse into the future for a topic, one that may or may not happen as the writer envisages, but to open debate. In this case how we view ourselves, which is something I came to terms with long ago, perhaps through the wisdom that comes with age.
To start we are shown our innate sense of The Self has changed over time, largely since the industrial revolution. Prior to that we were what we did, hence surnames such as Cooper and Fletcher, together with a church and family. First came transport so we could interact with those far away, then as improvements were made, we could eventually meet anyone anywhere in the world. Then there was the development of communications media, newspapers, books the radio allowed us access to cultures far away. All of this has accelerated within the new millennium thanks to electronic, the computer and of course the internet. This is demonstrated through a series of anecdotes and amusing examples.
All of this leaves an identity obsessed world searching for who they are. You only have to look at some people’s social media profiles to see how many labels they are placing on themselves to realise how problematic self-acceptance is for some people. This leads to the desire to be their true self, to discover what their true self is, even if that means yet more drag queens for us to contend with. As the author points out narcissism is an overused description, but certainly we seem to be going through a self-centred phase where empathy for others is in short supply. The question posed is will the rise of the machine and AI hasten this process? Will we become fickle nobodies, or will we be everybodies who can embrace change? Our author sets out her reasoning for us to mull over.
I think that the capacity for change is greater with each successive generation. We will always be searching for our identity but I think more of us will settle on who we are.
To start we are shown our innate sense of The Self has changed over time, largely since the industrial revolution. Prior to that we were what we did, hence surnames such as Cooper and Fletcher, together with a church and family. First came transport so we could interact with those far away, then as improvements were made, we could eventually meet anyone anywhere in the world. Then there was the development of communications media, newspapers, books the radio allowed us access to cultures far away. All of this has accelerated within the new millennium thanks to electronic, the computer and of course the internet. This is demonstrated through a series of anecdotes and amusing examples.
All of this leaves an identity obsessed world searching for who they are. You only have to look at some people’s social media profiles to see how many labels they are placing on themselves to realise how problematic self-acceptance is for some people. This leads to the desire to be their true self, to discover what their true self is, even if that means yet more drag queens for us to contend with. As the author points out narcissism is an overused description, but certainly we seem to be going through a self-centred phase where empathy for others is in short supply. The question posed is will the rise of the machine and AI hasten this process? Will we become fickle nobodies, or will we be everybodies who can embrace change? Our author sets out her reasoning for us to mull over.
I think that the capacity for change is greater with each successive generation. We will always be searching for our identity but I think more of us will settle on who we are.
July 12, 2024
Coming in at just over a hundred pages this is a quick read however, it's not light on content. In exploring the concept of 'self' the author examines just what it is which makes us who we are and poses the question that as we get swept further and further into the maelstrom of social media and popular culture, are we are in danger of losing ourselves forever as we seek to be the perfect self?
I enjoyed the informal way in which the author presents her findings which makes it a very thought provoking little book, posing questions which made me stop to consider whilst at the same time the author shares her own personal reflections. What struck a chord right at the start of the book was the author being told that 'There are pretty girls, and there are clever girls' . I recall at my all-girls grammar school, in the seventies, being made aware that clever was preferable over pretty but like the author, I wanted to be both. I like to think that I have succeeded at both...
This well written little book has given me a different perspective and one I had not really thought before especially in the way in which popular culture can alter our perspective. I have learned that we all have very different versions of self, some are entirely independent, some are obsessive or narcissistic, whilst others converge into whatever role in life we are playing, but I think what's comes across is that, in the end, we can be whoever we want to be.
The Future of the Self is one of those absorbing little books which will remain on my book shelf, to pick up whenever the mood takes me..
March 8, 2025
I picked this off the shelf in the Mind, Body, Spirit section at the library. I read it in the span of a 24 hour period while taking transit.
The prose is very cute, playful, and YA-esque. The coming-of-age narrative clearly is reflected. This book tries to be a mix of a pop-psych book with a bit of late-stage capitalism critique with a YA self-searching journey. The author generously throws in a bunch of cheeky anecdotes like a Disney sitcom- everything from getting high on Arthur's Seat to being a self-proclaimed goat, not dog, person.
I feel like the target audience is actually for people older than me, but the way it's written makes me wanna recommend this to teenagers as a first step into philosophy & pop-psych. The only jarring thing for a younger audience would probably be the examples of the author's childhood not entirely landing. The overall arguments of the book aren't well-developed (plastic surgery? INAUTHENTIC, online friends? INAUTHENTIC), but this is a super short book. It's more of a shower-thoughts kinda read. And it very much reads like a narrative with a fun little twist at the end. I have an MSc in AI and I will say that she does not understand LLMs (large language models) but she overall is pro-tech (spoiler alert?), probably more so than me.
All of my reviews, very much like this book, are self-indulgent :) If you're reading this, I hope you have a great day!
The prose is very cute, playful, and YA-esque. The coming-of-age narrative clearly is reflected. This book tries to be a mix of a pop-psych book with a bit of late-stage capitalism critique with a YA self-searching journey. The author generously throws in a bunch of cheeky anecdotes like a Disney sitcom- everything from getting high on Arthur's Seat to being a self-proclaimed goat, not dog, person.
I feel like the target audience is actually for people older than me, but the way it's written makes me wanna recommend this to teenagers as a first step into philosophy & pop-psych. The only jarring thing for a younger audience would probably be the examples of the author's childhood not entirely landing. The overall arguments of the book aren't well-developed (plastic surgery? INAUTHENTIC, online friends? INAUTHENTIC), but this is a super short book. It's more of a shower-thoughts kinda read. And it very much reads like a narrative with a fun little twist at the end. I have an MSc in AI and I will say that she does not understand LLMs (large language models) but she overall is pro-tech (spoiler alert?), probably more so than me.
All of my reviews, very much like this book, are self-indulgent :) If you're reading this, I hope you have a great day!
June 20, 2025
5 stars for how enjoyable the last half of the book was. The first half was extremely irksome, as the reader is spoken down to and the importance and premise of the book are needlessly dumbed down and over-explained. Although the conclusion presents an over-simplified solution to the world’s problems, it remains the shortest, most concise, and most accessible introduction to freedom from the self-absorbed, overly self-critical, cringe-fearing, individualistic mode of self that so many wonderful and introspective people—often deeply engaged with the pain of the world and how to heal it—suffer from.
June 9, 2024
I've enjoyed others in this series so was keen to read this one. This is a good mix of theory, opinion and author experience. These are pocket sized gems and at only around 100 pages, make for quick reading without being too intense.
I think these could have been more definitive at times and did feel a bit non committal but I'll assume that's for the reader to make their own mind up. I did enjoy the personal touches to this from the author- I think I'll forever think of her as Anne Hathaway and believe that will definitely be OK with the author too.
I think these could have been more definitive at times and did feel a bit non committal but I'll assume that's for the reader to make their own mind up. I did enjoy the personal touches to this from the author- I think I'll forever think of her as Anne Hathaway and believe that will definitely be OK with the author too.
July 13, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. Joanna Nadin introduces The Future of the Self by considering her own relationship to selfhood and identity. As the author of several novels that explore the formation of identity, she is interested in whether there is any such thing as an ‘authentic’ self (spoiler alert: the answer is ‘no’). Nadin has a PhD in the nature of self in relation to YA literature and this knowledge shows in the book, in which she presents two different possible future selves: the ‘Nobody’ and the ‘Everybody’. Her evident knowledge of – and enthusiasm for – her topic really comes through on the page but never overwhelms, making Nadin the ideal guide to this ever-evolving area of philosophy.
Although relatively slender, at 104 pages, Nadin offers a thorough consideration of the challenges of selfhood in the modern world, ranging across topics including digital and social media, AU, celebrity culture, and globalisation as she outlines the ways in which our ‘story of self’ is changing to meet the challenges and possibilities of the modern world.
NB: This review is part of a longer piece that appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Although relatively slender, at 104 pages, Nadin offers a thorough consideration of the challenges of selfhood in the modern world, ranging across topics including digital and social media, AU, celebrity culture, and globalisation as she outlines the ways in which our ‘story of self’ is changing to meet the challenges and possibilities of the modern world.
NB: This review is part of a longer piece that appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
August 8, 2024
It's a delight to find yourself reading something that you can feel answering a question for you, changing you. That's the experience I had today sitting down with this book.
Joanna Nadin will have me chewing on my perception of self for the foreseeable future, maybe a lifetime.
Joanna Nadin will have me chewing on my perception of self for the foreseeable future, maybe a lifetime.
July 17, 2024
Well researched, interesting and thought-provoking.
December 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this. it really makes you reflect on who you are and where society is leading. something i think more people should read
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