Civilization and its Discontents by Freud. It kind of sucks. It's Freud being depressing as usual, about how civilization is an engine designed to prevent humans from getting what we really want and as a result we'll remain perpetually frustrated and unhappy. I'd agree with him if maybe his analysis wasn't so simplistic. I would argue that human beings have innate drives, but that things such as instinct and sexuality are more mutable than we think they are and can be directed toward positive ends that are self-fulfilling and we aren't being perpetually crushed under the weight of social hierarchy. I suppose that's capitalism is a nutshell but "let's grab, kill, and fuck" seems a bit oversimplified. We have those urges but I think they're tempered by more than the just the intellect. Creativity is in some sense this, I'd argue it's not just an attempt to get the sex later, albeit that might be part of it.

Example, do you frequently experience the homicidal impulse and only pull back when you think of legal consequences? I do, and I don't. It never rises above slight observation. And again, assuming Freud is right about the constant compromise, I have yet to see it ruin my life or happiness. Repression for me is more of feeling like I can't tell people what I really think or feel, not "let's kill my neighbour."

Multivariable Calculus by James Stewart. Really straight forward but there's some gaping plot holes. 6/10.