The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts

In this episode of The Reading Cure, Steven and Alex explore one of Alan Watts' key works, namely The Wisdom of Insecurity. This book is a wise reminder of the mental health costs of trying to achieve lasting security in a world defined by change and lack of permanence. Indeed, Watts views this clinging to the myth of permanence as a seeking of security that, in a seemingly paradoxical fashion, only makes us more insecure and more anxious. Topics they explore include: What does Watts mean by insecurity and why does he see it as desirable compared with seeking security?; What did he mean by an 'age of anxiety' and in what ways does it manifest itself nowadays?; How therapeutic (i.e. mental health enhancing) are his ideas on tackling insecurity?; Why does he advocate being present in the moment as the antidote to anxiety and a vain seeking after some form of lasting security?

Further Resources:

• A copy of his book can be found on Amazon UK :https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wisdom-Insecurity-Message-Age-Anxiety-ebook/dp/B008S9YTFW/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1646318432&refinements=p_28%3Athe+wisdom+of+insecurity&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
• Monica Furlong's biography of Alan Watts: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zen-Effects-Watts-SkyLight-Lives-ebook/dp/B01HT6DWDO/ref=sr_1_17?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1646319179&refinements=p_28%3AAlan+watts&s=books&sr=1-17&unfiltered=1
• An Alan Watts talk on the wisdom of insecurity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhAareENqbg
• Greg Goode and Tomas Sander's book on 'nonduality', which is similar in outlook to Watts' view on interconnectedness: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emptiness-Joyful-Freedom-Greg-Goode-ebook/dp/B01CRUB1DA/ref=sr_1_2?crid=HEKYV24VV0ZY&keywords=greg+goode&qid=1646319761&s=books&sprefix=greg+goode%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-2