Further exploration
On this page we gather books, podcasts and people worth following to open new perspectives on the themes we explore. These resources are here to broaden understanding and inspire deeper reflection.
It is not a complete list, nor will it ever be. Think of it as an open library: a living collection of voices, insights, and explorations to accompany your own journey.
There are many insightful books that explore these themes. Among them, we have selected a handful that we warmly recommend. They are a good place to start for anyone who feels drawn to explore these perspectives.
Books
The world we create
by Tomas Björkman
The Denail of Death
by Ernest Becker
An urgent exploration of how our dominant worldview is collapsing under ecological and social crises. An invitation to face the decline of modernity with honesty and grief, while opening to other ways of knowing. Instead of quick fixes, Machado de Oliveira calls for humility, healing, and inner transformation toward a different future.
Hospicing Modernity
by Vanessa Machado De Oliveira
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
by Yuval Noah Harari
A sweeping history of how Homo sapiens came to dominate the planet. Harari shows how shared myths, cooperation, and cultural evolution shaped our societies, and how these same forces continue to define the future of humanity.
The Happiness Hypothesis
by Jonathan Haidt
Finite and Infinite Games
by James Carse
Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience, Haidt examines what truly makes us happy. A guide to understanding human behavior and the inner conflicts that drive our choices in a complex world.
A philosophical classic that explores two ways of living: playing to win (finite games) versus playing to keep the game going (infinite games). This book helps us see how our mindset, competition versus cooperation, shapes society and our future.
Strangers to Ourselves
by Timothy D. Wilson
Give and Take
by Adam Grant
Reveals how much of our behavior is shaped by the unconscious mind. By understanding the hidden drivers of our actions, we can begin to see why humans often struggle to solve collective problems.
Grant shows how generosity and collaboration often create greater success than self-interest. A practical exploration of how cooperation can outcompete Moloch-like dynamics of rivalry and short-term gain.
A profound exploration of how our fear of mortality shapes culture, religion, and society. This book explains how denial and distraction influence human behavior—and how that connects to destructive systems.
An invitation to see how human development and cultural evolution are intertwined. Björkman argues that deep inner growth is essential if we are to respond to today’s global challenges.
Why we do what we do
by Edward L. Deci
Grounded in decades of research, this book explains self-determination theory and how motivation works. It highlights the importance of autonomy, competence, and connection key to overcoming destructive external pressures.
The Wisdom of Insecurity
by Alan W. Watts
A timeless reflection on why our search for certainty leaves us anxious. Watts offers another way of living, embracing presence and uncertainty, which directly challenges the fear-based behaviors driving today’s crises.
Thinking in Systems
by Donella Meadows
Siddhartha
by Herman Hesse
Grounded in decades of research, this book explains self-determination theory and how motivation works. It highlights the importance of autonomy, competence, and connection key to overcoming destructive external pressures.
A spiritual novel about one man’s search for meaning. While fictional, it offers timeless insights into the human condition, inner transformation, and the paths beyond material striving.
Kahneman uncovers how our minds work in two modes: fast, intuitive thinking and slow, deliberate reasoning. Understanding these patterns helps explain why humans often make irrational decisions in complex systems.
Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist
by Kate Raworth
Thinking, Fast and Slow
by Daniel Kahneman
Raworth reimagines economics for our time, showing how societies can thrive within planetary boundaries. A practical and inspiring model for moving beyond growth-driven systems toward balance and sustainability.