Prose

Rarely are we invited as intimately into the creation of spellbinding art as we are through Van Gogh’s Letters. It’s because of their accessibility that Vincent van Gogh (March 30, 1853–July 29, 1890), among all the fathers of modern art, has become the most universally loved. That his range of ideas is not seen as … Read more

. I started my very first WordPress blog because I wanted to share what I knew with others. It was an attempt at carving up my own corner of the Internet, where I could meet like-minded people. It wasn’t an attempt at becoming a better writer. Yet a decade and several selves later, that’s exactly … Read more

. 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

All of us live with an inner critic — that subtle voice in our heads that never stops talking. The most insidious thing about it is that often we’re not aware of it, not mindful of its tendency to be judgmental of ourselves and other people. I was recently reminded of this dysfunctional mental habit … Read more