user_235711

Universe by Freedman and Kaufmann http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Roger-Freedman/dp/142923153X

Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre http://www.amazon.com/Existentialism-Dostoevsky-Sartre-Revis...

A Kierkegaard Anthology http://www.amazon.com/Kierkegaard-Anthology-Soren/dp/0691019...

Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto by Anneli Rufus http://www.annelirufus.com/partyofone/

The Mindbody Prescription by John E. Sarno http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindbody-Prescription-Healing-Body...

I must submit a third vote for Susan Cain's Quiet[1]. This book is a great revisitation (and arguably a more diplomatic treatment) of the topic of Anneli Rufus' 2003 book Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto[2]: introversion, lonerism, individualism, etc. While the latter - as its subtitle intimates - is far more geared toward introverts/loners, Cain's book is effectively an overview and comparison of both the inward as well as outgoing personality types.

For those who do not label themselves as loners or introverts I would recommend reading Quiet and perhaps skipping Party of One altogether. However, for the loner/introvert I would recommend Party of One as the prerequisite to Quiet.

[1] http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-book/

[2] http://www.annelirufus.com/partyofone/

That was the first reason that popped into my head as well. It is also a possibility that iPhone users are more comfortable with transmitting their payment information through cell towers (I do not know if this is true, but as an Android user with an aversion to "shopping" on phones I am led to speculate it at least).

Responding to the article directly: I hardly believe that the absence of shopping on a phone turns it from smart to dumb. There are in fact far more interesting activities to engage in on a phone than simply buying items (i.e. reading a book, browsing the web, taking photographs, emailing/texting, etc.)

"Quiet" http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-book/

That is the funniest (and truest) thing I've read in days. Well said.

To me the fact that we exist at all is amazing in itself, and apparently entails more advantage than our previous state of nonexistence. I would say that the act of acknowledging this fact can serve - at least for some - as an endless source of optimism.