Three Essentials of Effective Writing

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

Are We Too Distracted to Be Happy? Biographer Uncovers the Four Vital Pillars of Mental Health That Sustained a Genius Through Dark Times

Erich Fromm's Four Pillars of Mental Health

The renowned German psychologist and philosopher, Erich Fromm (March 23, 1900–March 18, 1980), explored a vast range of topics, from love to religion to happiness. Considered a pioneer of “radical-humanistic psychoanalysis,” he was a leading intellectual of the twentieth century. However, like many impactful figures, Fromm possessed both remarkable talents and significant blind spots. Throughout … Read more

Building the House: Mary OIiver’s Soulful Meditation on the Labor of Building the Dwelling Place for Our Mind and Body

Reader, you may call what you see here my blog, but the truth is that what I create here is not a blog, not exactly. It’s rather my ruminations and conversations, which are lively, kindly even in their silliness, and which are built always upon the bedrock of my devotion to the written word as … Read more