That's So Library!

by Ying Su

On Human Desire

It is just human to desire something, whether it is the tangibles or the intangibles. Tangible things can be houses, cars, luxury handbags, or the newest tech gadgets. In the name of passion or taste, people are willing to go to great lengths and pay a big price for the tangibles. However, these things are often just a medium to express the intangibles a human truly desires. On the surface, the intangibles could be fame, popularity, respect, or power. Though it is a basic human need to feel respected and autonomous, philosophers and scholars in various disciplines have suggested a deeper and more universal desire—a sense of superiority.

In 1889, American economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen coined the term “conspicuous consumption” in his work The Theory of the Leisure Class which analyzes the American upper class’s behaviours in displaying higher social status. In The Luxury Strategy, the French brand strategist and scholar Jean-Noël Kapferer devotes the first chapter to elaborate on the concept of conspicuous consumption and its connection to the need of luxury to satisfy the desire for a sense of superiority. In her entertaining memoir—Primates of Park Avenue, Wednesday Martin, Ph.D., describes what women in New York City’s upper class do to establish and maintain higher status over each other.

Our collection has some great titles on the topic of human desire. They are not only about the dark side of desire but also provide suggestions on how to use our desire constructively and to our advantage.

The molecule of more : how a single chemical in your brain drives love, sex, and creativity–and will determine the fate of the human race / Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD and Michael E. Long.
This title explains what dopamine is and how it affects human desire and behaviours. Interestingly, dopamine is only responsible for wanting and drives action to pursue what we want. It is the H&N molecule that determines whether we enjoy something. The authors suggest that the pursuit of mastery could be a constructive use of human desire.

 

Wanting : the power of mimetic desire in everyday life / Luke Burgis.
Often, we think our desire is original. At the same time, we are aware that we want what other people want too. Burgis draws on René Girard’s theory of mimetic desire to explain how people always derive their desires through others’ desires, and how conflicts and violence arise from such mechanism of desire.

 

The power of meaning : crafting a life that matters / Emily Esfahani Smith.
Smith discusses the most important human desires contributing to human flourishing: namely, a sense of belonging, self-actualization and transcendence. These desires are also the topics of the higher tiers in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

by Deirdre Grace

For this post I’d like to highlight some new books at the library about the deepening divisions within our society, and the possibility of a simple solution – conversation.

I Never Thought of It That Way / Monica Guzman

The author, Monica Guzman is concerned about the growing divide in society, she is a journalist by trade and now working for Braver Angels, a depolarization project.

This book encourages people to have conversations with those who hold opposing views, not to persuade them or to debate with them, but to learn where they’re coming from. The author would like us to talk with people, ask questions out of curiosity and listen.

As Guzman sees it, bridging the divide is going to take more than stopping the flow of fake news and false information, “I’m done, too, going along with the idea that if we could just rid the world of ‘misinformation’ everything would be fine…..False stories soar because good people relate to something in them that’s true: a fear or value or concern that’s going unheard, unexplained and unacknowledged.”

The book includes techniques on questioning and listening to foster better dialogue, and anecdotes from the authors personal and professional life.

Why We’re Polarized / Ezra Klein

Journalist, podcaster and blogger Ezra Klein examines the research on the deep divisions in American politics and offers his analysis and some solutions. Not surprisingly, the reviews are polarized. So why not check it out for yourself?

 

 

Let’s Agree to Disagree: A Critical Thinking Guide to Communication, Conflict Management and Critical Media Literacy / by Nolan Higdon and Mickey Huff

Higdon and Huff introduce theories and strategies to help readers improve communication skills, become more discerning media consumers and sharpen critical thinking abilities. Includes case studies.

by Hope Prince

Manga

Manga are comics and graphic novels that originate from Japan. Manga covers a wide range of genres, from fantastical fighting manga to the “slice of life” genre that attempts to explore the problems and anxieties of everyday life. Manga is enjoyed by people of all ages, as well as having immense popularity in many countries outside of Japan and leading a large anime (Japanese animation) industry. These graphic novels are usually read from front to back, and right to left to preserve how the manga were originally published. Many manga series, such as Naruto and One Piece, are long-running series, which has led to publishers adding a handy summary of the plot as well as character information to make manga accessible for all readers.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2007)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (JJBA) is my absolute favorite manga and anime. It tells the story of the Joestar family and their fight against evil, usually stemming from the main villain, DIO. The manga is divided into 9 arcs with a new member of the Joestar family becoming the main protagonist. JJBA is known for exploring different genres in each arc, ranging from a serial killer mystery to an Italian mob story. The series is also known for introducing the concept of Stands, an inner fighting spirit that emerges from the user to fight for them with special powers.

 

Our Dreams at Dusk (2019)
This story is set in Onomichi, Hiroshima prefecture that takes place in a mysterious lounge that serves as a “drop in” center for people to discuss their problems and issues with the unusual people that frequent the lounge. After Tasuku Kaname is outed to his classmates as gay, he plans to commit suicide. However, his plans are changed when he witnesses a woman jumping to her own death, only to discover her unharmed at the scene. The woman is the owner of the lounge, also known as “Anonymous,” and offers to listen to Tasuku’s story to help him come to terms with his sexuality. This manga offers a realistic and emotional view into the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Japan.

Death Note (2011)
When Light Yagami finds a notebook dropped by a Shinigami death god, he discovers that it gives the power to kill anyone whose name is written in the notebook. The series follows Light as he sets on a mission to cleanse the world of evil and attempts to evade the genius detectives employed by the authorities. While I would not normally recommend jumping into a story and reading its final chapters, BCIT Library is fortunate to have a copy of Death Note Black Edition. The Black Edition is an omnibus (a book containing multiple stories, such as a short story collection) containing the final volumes of the series. The edges of the outer pages have been colored black and contain a few colored pages, which are an exceedingly rare sight in manga.

Attack on Titan (2012)
In 2009, Hajime Isayama introduced us to the world of Attack on Titan, a world in which humanity is forced to live within cities that are protected by three layers of walls. On the other side of the walls, massive humanoid giants called Titans lurk around the desolate outer world, waiting for any humans to emerge so they can attack and eat them. The series quickly spread in popularity, with the anime beginning in 2013. With the manga series having concluded in 2021 and its final anime episodes set to air in 2023, now is the perfect time to get started with this series. Check out Volume 1 & 2 today to see how Eren Yeager navigates this world of brutality, betrayal, and bravery as he seeks to exterminate all Titans for what they did to him and his family.