This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th Century American science-fiction short story writer and novelist, Philip K. Dick's novel Ubik

It focuses specifically on one of the central themes involved in the plot and worldbuilding of the story, namely the existence of psionic talents such as telepathy and precognition, and the existence of anti-psionic talents (called inertials) that nullify those psionic talents. Most of the psionic and anti-psionic talents work for companies, like that of Ray Hollis or Glen Runciter

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 3000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

You can get a copy of Ubik here - https://amzn.to/4k8i348

Philip Dick, Ubik - Psionic and Antipsionic Talents - Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th Century American science-fiction short story writer and novelist, Philip K. Dick's novel Ubik

It focuses specifically on the role that "prudence organizations", that is companies that employ anti-psionic talents or "inertials" to block or combat psionic talents, play in the world of the novel. These prudence organizations also belong to a "society" which engages in action on their behalf against companies that employ psionic talents like telepaths and precogs. We get a glimpse of the kinds of advertisement appeals made by prudence organizations early on in the novel as well.

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 3000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

You can get a copy of Ubik here - https://amzn.to/4k8i348

Philip Dick, Ubik - Prudence Organizations And The Society - Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th Century American science-fiction short story writer and novelist, Philip K. Dick's novel Ubik

It focuses specifically on one of the important characters we meet early on in the work, Glen Runciter, the aged but very dynamic head of Runicter Associates, a "prudence organization", which he heads, getting advice from his dead wife in cold-pac half-life when needed.  We get to see Runciter's moral character and capacities through the eyes of several other characters in the novel, and he actively takes part in trying to save the lives of his team once they are in half-life as well

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 3000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

You can get a copy of Ubik here - https://amzn.to/4k8i348

Philip Dick, Ubik - Glen Runciter of Runciter Associates - Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th Century American science-fiction short story writer and novelist, Philip K. Dick's novel Ubik

It focuses specifically on one main theme of the novel, which is the characters noticing a pattern of objects at first being spoiled or worn out, then reverting to earlier obsolete forms, eventually affecting not just individual objects or even rooms but entire settings in which they find themselves. The examples focused upon include cigarettes, coffee and cream, coins and bills, a tape-recorder, appliances, an elevator, vehicles, and even Ubik itself. This mystery gets a resolution late in the novel when we discover that they are a result of Jory's inability to maintain a consistent phatasmagoric reality for his soon-to-be victims in half-life.

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 3000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

You can get a copy of Ubik here - https://amzn.to/4k8i348

Philip Dick, Ubik - Reversion, Obsolescence, and Spoiling - Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th Century American science-fiction short story writer and novelist, Philip K. Dick's novel Ubik

It focuses specifically on the experience of bone-chilling cold, exhaustion and fatigue, and eventual death of a particularly gruesome sort that several of the characters experience once they are in cold-pac and in half-life. At first, they think that it is being caused by Pat Conley, who even thinks that to be the case herself, but it is actually the effect of Jory, a young man in half life, who is "eating" the other half-lifers. The main character, Joe Chip experiences this himself, but is saved for the moment by the application of Ubik in the form of a spray can

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 3000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

You can get a copy of Ubik here - https://amzn.to/4k8i348

Philip Dick, Ubik - Coldness, Exhaustion, and Death - Sadler's Lectures

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th Century American science-fiction short story writer and novelist, Philip K. Dick's novel Ubik

It focuses specifically on the many points in the novel, after the surprise attack on Glen Runciter, Joe Chip, and the entire team of the inertials, where a seemingly dead and in cold-pac Runciter breaks through into the "reality" of those who think themselves survivors. At first this happens through strange written interventions, like a matchbook cover, graffiti, and notes, and through Runciter appearing on currency. As time goes on, the manifestations extend to video and even a meeting between Joe Chip and Glen Runciter.

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 3000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

You can get a copy of Ubik here - https://amzn.to/4k8i348

Philip Dick, Ubik - Runciter's Interventions and Manifestations - Sadler's Lectures

Here is the complete audiobook as read by yours truly. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years. If so, drop me a line and share your thoughts--I'd love to hear them and share my own!

The Martian Chronicles

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 20th Century American science-fiction short story writer and novelist, Philip K. Dick's novel Ubik

It focuses specifically on  the city of Des Moines, Iowa, where Glen Runciter's body has been transported for his memorial. As it turns out, the team of surviving inertials (since by then Wendy and Al have died) are all there, and Joe Chip has to travel there to meet them. By then, everything, including the city, has reverted from their time-setting in the 1990s to the 1930s. It will turn out that the Des Moines they are experiencing is a projection produced by Jory, while all of them are in cold-pac

To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler

If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

You can find over 3000 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler

You can get a copy of Ubik here - https://amzn.to/4k8i348

Philip Dick, Ubik - Travelling To And Around Des Moines - Sadler's Lectures

“The Book of the New Sun” is a cinematic electronic journey through decaying futures and mythic memory. Layered synths pulse beneath granular textures, evoking a soundscape both hypnotic and haunted. Inspired by Gene Wolfe’s speculative masterpiece, this track blends ambient techno with dystopian storytelling, inviting listeners into a world where time folds and identity fractures.


The Book Of The New Sun

In this 101st episode of the Wisdom for Life radio show, hosts Dan Hayes and Greg Sadler discuss their six favorite books and why those are their particular favorites. First, they explore why it can be useful to create short lists like these, and then they launch right into the topic.

Dan's three favorite books are:
Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind  
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Ian M. Banks, The Hydrogen Sonata

Greg''s Three Favorite books are:
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
Jorge Luis Borges, Labyrinths
 Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters To A Young Poet

Show Music is by Scott Tarulli – www.scotttarulli.com/

2025-09-20 Wisdom For Life

Born and raised in my beloved Wisconsin, I'm a former US Marine, retired police officer, loving dad and husband (and dog and cat guardian, too)--now budding (hopefully) soon-to-be-famous voiceover artist living here in beautiful Space City, Texas. Let's make some beautiful audio together!

I'm that YouTube Philosophy Guy! Find more than 3,000 videos in my main channel.  Support my video and podcast work!  https://www.patreon.com/sadler or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM

Learn more about this podcast channel - https://youtu.be/qRvL0gqlyrw and https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/p/the-sadlers-lectures-podcast

Due to popular demand - and with the work underwritten by my Patreon supporters - I have been converting my videos into MP3 files listeners can listen to anywhere they want!

I have a second podcast, Mind & Desire, publishing original episodes on a variety of topics in philosophy, which you can find here - https://gregorybsadler.substack.com/podcast

Synth twiddler, 80s electro rock star wannabe and sometime guitarist.

New tracks tagged #Speculative Fiction