Jack Kerouac’s 30 Rules of Writing

The beloved Dharma Bum and a gentle soul who, at times, was “as nutty as a fruitcake and happier,” Jack Kerouac (March 12, 1922–October 21, 1969) is one of my all-time favorite writers. I previously wrote about his fascination with Buddhism and dream escapades, and today I would like to revisit his timeless advice on … Read more

What Is the Best Western Philosophy Book for Beginners?

In his Moral Letters to Lucilius, the great Roman philosopher Seneca wrote that study of philosophy can separate you from the crowd and help you rise to the highest human happiness — no matter who you are and where you are. A noble mind, he insisted, is free to all men and women who can … Read more

Nick Cave on Losing a Loved One

I love Nick Cave not for his music but for his writing. While loyal fans go to his concerts to listen to his songs, I go to his blog to read his sentences — beautiful and tender yet powerful and uncompromising sentences. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s called The Red Hand Files. It … Read more

Leo Tolstoy on Revenge

Best served cold, revenge is the favorite dish of the ego. Its main ingredients include anger, blame, and nonforgiveness — all forms of mental cholesterol that clogs our perception of what is right and wrong. So what can we do about it? The author of War and Peace and one of the greatest international writers … Read more