Francine Prose on Reading Like a Writer

. 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

Mortimer Adler on Play vs. Leisure

. 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

F. Scott Fitzgerald on Reserving Judgments

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

Emerson on the Value of Solitude

When solitude envelops your life, do you welcome it? Sometimes, you need to be alone. It can be a great catalyst for inner transformation if you recognize it as an opportunity to go deep within, giving yourself the necessary time for self-reflection and self-renewal. While on this path, don’t be afraid to deviate from the … Read more