“Technology catalyzes changes not only in what we do but in how we think. It changes people’s awareness of themselves, of one another, of their relationship with the world,” writes Sherry Turkle in her book The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit. “The new machine that stands behind the flashing digital signal, unlike the … 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

In one of the episodes of “On Being” podcast, the climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe told a story that may resonate with many of us who feel helpless in the face of the environmental crisis facing our shared home. “I was talking with a pastor [in Texas] just recently,” Hayhoe said to the podcast host, “and … Read more

Don’t start your writing journey with “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. That no good, very bad book will guilt-trip you into a state of permanent writer’s block. So what should you read? Over the years, I’ve come across a lot of questionable writing advice, which is why I’ve decided … Read more