#78. Life-Affirming Ritual and Poetry for Believers and Skeptics Alike

Jennifer Michael Hecht is a poet and historian, teacher and public speaker, the author of several intellectually provocative books, translated into many languages. Her bestseller, Doubt: A History, explores religious and philosophical doubt throughout the world and over the centuries. Her book, entitled Stay, focuses on the history of suicide and a secular argument against it. The End of the Soul: Scientific Modernity, Atheism, and Anthropology won Phi Beta Kappa’s 2004 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award. The Happiness Myth brings a historical eye to modern wisdom about how to lead a good life. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, written articles for major newspapers and magazines, and appeared in numerous television and radio interviews. Her books of poetry – which include The Next Ancient World, Funny, and Who Said – have won accolades and major awards. Her most recent book, The Wonder Paradox: Embracing the Weirdness of Existence and the Poetry of Our Lives, published in March 2023, is the subject of today’s interview.Recorded 1/16/24.