Secret of Adulthood: Enthusiasm Is a Form of Social Courage.

Further Secrets of Adulthood:   The more I think about happiness, the more I value enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is a form of social courage – it’s safer to criticize and scoff than to praise and embrace — and I’ve decided that I’d rather be “enthusiastic” than “confident.” I have a patron saint for enthusiasm. Can youContinue reading “Secret of Adulthood: Enthusiasm Is a Form of Social Courage.”

The Presence of Absence: Jane Dorn’s Haunting Photographs of Abandoned Buildings in the South

A poignant reminder our impermanence and the beauty of accepting life’s cycles of growth and decay. Brain Pickings takes 450+ hours a month to curate and edit across the different platforms, and remains banner-free. If it brings you any joy and inspiration, please consider a modest donation – it lets me know I’m doing somethingContinue reading “The Presence of Absence: Jane Dorn’s Haunting Photographs of Abandoned Buildings in the South”

April 3, 1920: Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald Get Married and One of History’s Most Turbulent Romances Ensues, Recounted in Zelda’s Letter

“Love is bitter and all there is… the rest is for the emotional beggars of the earth.” Brain Pickings takes 450+ hours a month to curate and edit across the different platforms, and remains banner-free. If it brings you any joy and inspiration, please consider a modest donation – it lets me know I’m doingContinue reading “April 3, 1920: Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald Get Married and One of History’s Most Turbulent Romances Ensues, Recounted in Zelda’s Letter”

Happy 80th Birthday, Jane Goodall: The Beloved Primatologist on Science, Religion, and Our Human Responsibilities

What the chimpanzees teach us about the fine line between faith and apathy. Brain Pickings takes 450+ hours a month to curate and edit across the different platforms, and remains banner-free. If it brings you any joy and inspiration, please consider a modest donation – it lets me know I’m doing something right. from BrainContinue reading “Happy 80th Birthday, Jane Goodall: The Beloved Primatologist on Science, Religion, and Our Human Responsibilities”