Articles about fiction and non-fiction books and how they can help us live a better life.
“Remove literary, grammatical and syntactical inhibition,” Jack Kerouac wrote in his 30 rules of writing. Following this advice, I usually proofread my articles after hitting the publish button — a counterintuitive approach that I use to overcome perfectionism and fear of judgment. Any wordsmith knows that a text needs some time to breathe so that … Read more
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
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
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