This class focuses on individuals and their psychological well being. The class delves into how students perceive themselves and their work, and how they might use design thinking to lead a more creative and committed life. As a participant you read parts of a different book each week and then engage in exercises designed to unlock learnings. In addition, there are two self-selected term projects dealing with eliminating a problem from your life and doing something you have never done before. 

For admission to this course, attend the first class and fill out a short application at the end of class.

Reading List:

Week 2: The Adjusted American: Normal Neuroses in the Individual and Society by S. Putney and G. J. Putney (Harper and Row) SBN: 06-090095-4

Week 3: Of Men and Machines by Arthur O. Lewis (E.P. Dutton) ISBN-13: 111207

Plus PDF of 5 technology course readings

Week 4: Player Piano by Vonnegut (Doubleday) ISBN: 0-385-33378-1

Week 5: Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees by Weschler, 1 st editon preferred, 2 nd edition okay (U. of Cal.) ISBN: 0-520-04920-9

Week 6: Plain and Simple by Bender (HarperCollins) ISBN: 0-00-003000-8

Week 7: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster) ISBN: 9781476728759

Week 8: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (Vintage Contemporaries) ISBN: 1-4000-3271-7

Week 9: The Achievement Habit by Bernard Roth (HarperCollins) ISBN: 978-0-06-235610-9

Note: These books have not been ordered at the bookstore. It is recommended that books be purchased used from your favorite book seller. Please be sure to order early so the books arrive in time. Digital copies of the books for weeks 2 and 3, will be provided to you if you can not get your own copy in time.

Learn with

Teaching Team