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Cultural Practices
From landscaped gardens to road systems, the Persians were among the first to create many things we still enjoy today.
Biblical scholar Bart Ehrman contends that our modern sense of altruism can be traced back to the radical shift in ethical thinking sparked by Jesus' teachings.
4mins
Americans believe they can outthink suffering. Historian Kate Bowler explains how our obsession with self-help, optimization, and positivity became a kind of secular religion.
A preview of the latest book by Chinese history expert Charlotte Brooks
53mins
Sam Kean examines how rogue archaeologists are recreating the sounds, tastes, smells, and practices of the ancient past.
The revival of Pasto Varnish shows how living heritage can survive if knowledge is passed on in time.
For elite climbers, divers, and explorers, mastery can fuel an escalation loop in which identity and danger rise together.
Not every company holds an annual food skirmish like OGC — but designing rituals with intentionality can strengthen your corporate soul.
Natural navigator Tristan Gooley joins us to discuss the philosophy of reading nature’s hidden clues — and how relearning this ancient skill can help us see the world, and ourselves, with greater awareness.
It's not just about the home; it's about everything.
In this excerpt from "Seven Rivers," historian Vanessa Taylor explores how Ancient Egyptian pharaohs harnessed the Nile River to build empires and secure their power.
How to look cool in post-war France in black and white photos.
Here are three ways to do it better.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
13mins
“All information technologies up to the 21st century were organic networks based on our organic brain.”
Before becoming America’s most infamous assassin, John Wilkes Booth was a magnetic actor who was beloved by audiences and courted by critics.
In "Dinner with King Tut," Sam Kean examines how a burgeoning field is recreating ancient tasks to uncover historical truths.
From religious iconography to modern mysticism, the human aura has been a subject of fascination across centuries and cultures.
In "Enough Is Enuf," Gabe Henry traces the history of simplified spelling movements and the lessons they teach us about language.
Whether we should tear down philosophy’s Berlin Wall and let East and West finally merge depends entirely on what we think philosophy is—and what it’s for.
Be more like Goldilocks.
Grab a sword, a small plate, and a young child. We've got a demon to summon.
Two great philosophies — but do they work better together?
Plenty of parents feel guilty about wanting to skip playtime, but there's no need.
"The Big Map of Who Lived When" plots the lifespans of historical figures — from Eminem all the way back to Genghis Khan.
How has tennis changed in recent decades? The wear and tear on Wimbledon’s Centre Court may tell the tale.
Concerns about privacy and pressures regarding the physical appearance of women and their homes contributed to the failure of AT&T’s 1960s Picturephone.
In ancient Sparta, it was accepted practice for more women to marry and have children by more than one man.
Author A.J. Jacobs explores how voting has changed since the days of the Founding Fathers — for better and for worse.
Irene is on a bus with her young kids when two men come on, cussing like sailors. Should Irene step in and say something?