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Wow such an original yet relatable piece of fiction by CS Lewis. Really nails the ways doubt and our limited perception of reality, can lead to simple misunderstandings about God, and weaken our relationship with Him. A good reminders of our own cognitive biases and double standards, and to be alert when such thoughts arise

We’ve seen Nora explore several different lives and possibilities, and yet still she finds cracks in supposed idealised realities. Kind of reminds me of the struggles Michelle Yeoh’s character still faces in different universes in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. A good reminder to be content with what we have, as it’s not always greener on the other side, even if now feels like the worst timeline at times

I think we’ve all had terrible days like Nora’s where things just keep getting worse. Haig does capture the nuances of the experience of those who have mental health issues, and the way those around them aren’t always very accommodating, with the things they say being unintentionally hurtful. String Theory is a great name for a music shop tho

Very interesting chapter on how spirituality, and less time spent on self oriented social media is scientifically shown to make people happier. If we feel belong in a community, or allow ourselves to be in awe of the beauty of the real world, as opposed to the digital ones in our pockets, then it helps a lot. Got called out on how we immediately take photos of things we find beautiful, rather than appreciating it.

Wow scary to see how detrimental social media is especially to teenage girls. It causes more social comparison and leads to “socially prescribed perfectionism;” it makes it way easier to gossip and spread rumours to bully each other; trends amplify the extremes and often romanticises mental health issues; makes girls vulnerable to predatory men; and encourages quantity over quality when it comes to their friends

Covered chapters on charity, hope, and faith. Lots of nuggets of wisdom on how we live out our faith and maintain it in the face of adversity: “But the great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not.” “No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good.” I also like how Lewis calls faith and works the two blades of a pair of scissors. You need both.

Haidt explores how not only do social media apps harm us, they are also designed to make us be addicted to them and dependent on them. Thus exacerbating the detrimental effects of the apps by making us use them more frequently and for longer. He also begins to touch on how social media affects girls far more than boys, which as a guy is pretty fascinating and shows how it impacts girls’ body image dramatically

The irony of reading the section on sleep deprivation late at night while sleep deprived isn’t lost on me. Still surprising to find out just how detrimental smartphones are to our attention spans and sleep. We know it instinctively but do little about it. Regretting that I didn’t sleep more as a school student

Lewis tackles the tough topics of chastity and forgiveness, exploring how sex itself isn’t wrong but it’s our disproportionate focus on it compared to our other basic needs. He also shows how hard it is to love others as ourselves, even self loathing is us wishing we were better

Really enjoyed Lewis’ insights that being moral it is not simply doing good to others (which is hard enough as it is), but our inward intentions and heart posture are also important

Also a good reminder that as fallen beings there will always be parts of Christianity that we aren’t comfortable with. We must be wary to not use our faith to back up our pre-existing beliefs, or focus bits of Christianity we like.

Wow further insights into how the attention grabbing nature of countless apps fighting for our time, causes the quality of our relationships, especially those of young children to deteriorate dramatically, with an emphasis on how in an increasingly online and secular society, it’s hard for children to form a community of similar aged peers outside of school.

Really fascinating to see how Lewis lays the groundwork for the case for Christ from basic logical conclusions from observations about human nature, good and evil, etc. And from that he talks about the need for our atonement, without getting too bogged down by the exact means of it, but underlines why only Christ’s death could have forgiven our sins.

Haidt continues to explore the causes of poor mental health among Gen Z, by pointing to how social media and the online world draw us away from outdoor play into this largely unregulated digital world, where young people are far more likely to encounter abuse, extreme content, and social ostracisation. He argues for how we need kids to learn social skills in the real world first before going online

Interesting further insights into how damaging social media is to those going through puberty, and how it starves teens of the real world play and connections between real people. Makes me reminisce about the times I would play outside with my friends, unsupervised and innocent, without any smartphones

Wow immediately to the point and gripping about the negative effects of social media on teens, and my generation of Gen Z in particular. Says what we know already but had the facts to back it up

Finished Act 4, wow it’s so distressing to see Desdemona grapple with her husband’s sudden cruelty towards her, as Othello further succumbs to Iago’s manipulations

Just finished Act 2, wow it’s so impressive yet frustrating seeing Iago spin his web of lies and everyone falling for his schemes. A bit hard do parse what Shakespeare is saying at times, but enjoyable nonetheless

“Drown cats and blind puppies.” It’s only Act 1 and Iago is already a monster

Done with the introduction and almost onto the play proper, interesting to read more about the context of the location being Cyprus, and having character studies too

Still working my way through the introduction. Nice to see Shakespeare’s craft in how he writes his characters and their tragic falls be explained, so that I don’t overlook it when I read the actual play.

Still on the introduction, which had some plot spoilers, but I appreciate the added context about Shakespeare and the way his plays were constructed.