. When asked about their day, average Americans say, “I devote eight hours to sleep, eight hours to work, and I have eight hours … left over for free time.” So writes Mortimer J. Adler in his book “How to Think About the Great Ideas.” Then he adds, “And the average American today would [also] … Read more

The renowned German psychologist and philosopher, Erich Fromm (March 23, 1900–March 18, 1980), explored a vast range of topics, from love to religion to happiness. Considered a pioneer of “radical-humanistic psychoanalysis,” he was a leading intellectual of the twentieth century. However, like many impactful figures, Fromm possessed both remarkable talents and significant blind spots. Throughout … Read more

. “The Elements of Style,” hailed by many as “the most important and timeless book on writing,” argues that good writing rests on three principles: purity, perspicuity, and precision. George Orwell (June 25, 1903–January 21, 1950) echoed this belief. In his altogether indispensable “Politics and the English Language,” he writes: “Political language — and with … Read more

What is good writing? “The Elements of Style,” hailed by many as one of the most important books on writing ever published, tries to answer this question. But does it succeed? I believe that the answer will vary depending on your stand in the most heated debate among wordsmiths — whether brevity and succinctness are … Read more