Prisons of the Mind

Our thoughts bear the marks of a bygone era. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as we recognize it. Understanding the profound influence of culture on our thinking can help us break free from its hold. As Germany's leading scholar of contemporary culture, Christine Fratz reveals how to illuminate what we've long felt but never dared to name.

The Hidden Rules of Our Thinking

We consider ourselves free beings. Yet, we often follow rules we haven't chosen ourselves—unspoken agreements, outdated ideas, and hidden structures. In her new book, Christine Fratz uncovers what guides our culture, and thus, who we are at our core, and how we can begin to break free from it. Not through rebellion. Consciously.

An Exploration of the Cultural Unconscious

Christine Fratz invites us on a journey through the patterns of thought in our everyday lives.

Why do we love the way we do? Why do we fail the way we fail? Why do we believe, enjoy, and judge the way we do, often without knowing where these patterns come from? Because everything we believe in must have been invented by someone at some point. And everything invented is subject to change.

Understanding Mental Prisons—and Entering New Spaces

In her non-fiction narrative, Fratz exposes the flaws in cultural aspirations and how to address them. Chapter by chapter, she opens new horizons: