books
Why the paradoxes of infinity still puzzle us today
Since at least 600 BC, people have been mesmerized by the concept of the infinite.
Alan Watts’ 7 best books on philosophy and life
The English writer left behind a mind-expanding collection of books.
The 4 risk factors behind someone becoming a mass shooter
Can we stop mass shootings? The first step is collecting data, and these authors have done just that.
Read this book if you want to understand what drives inventors, engineers, and scientists
"The Soul of a New Machine" provides a rare level of insight into the minds and decisions of humanity's greatest thinkers.
Back to the source: What we gain when we cut out the middleman
Our economy is dominated by middlemen, including huge companies such as Walmart and Amazon. There are many benefits to going direct instead.
Can Bionic Reading make you a speed reader? Not so fast
In the age of distraction, don't we all want to read faster and more efficiently?
Kurt Vonnegut on the 8 “shapes” of stories
The American author said he attempted to bring scientific thinking to literary criticism, but received "very little gratitude for this."
Is your mind just a parasite on your physical body?
What if intelligence can thrive without consciousness?
From Poe to Mao: piecing together the evolution of detective stories
Detective fiction reveals how a particular society or time period looks at crime and criminal justice.
How a 1960 traffic stop transformed attitudes on drug addiction
Robinson v. California helped to established a rehabilitative ideal: addiction should be dealt with as a therapeutic matter.
How pirates helped turn the tide of the American Revolution
Privateers pillaged British merchant ships in the name of liberty — and profit.
10 must-read classic books for beginners
Here's your gateway to enjoying the best of literature.
The study of nonhuman intelligence could be missing major insights
From machines to animals, there are many kinds of possible minds.
Hitler’s SS: How do ordinary people become sociopathic Nazis?
Were Hitler’s SS henchmen willing executioners fueled by racial propaganda or mindless servants vying for promotions?
What Nietzsche can teach us about embracing risk and failure in an age of technological comforts
Safety through technology is no bad thing—Nietzsche himself sought doctors and medicines throughout his life—but it can become pathological.
The Four Enemies to a happy life and how to defeat them
There is a lot of truth in the ancient wisdom found in almost all religions. Love really is the answer to most problems.
Fish aren’t as stupid as we thought — they can count (sort of)
Fish are surprisingly good in numbers tests — a skill that sometimes makes the difference between life and death.
The price of Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality
After mammoth investments and two decades of anti-aging research, what do immortality proponents have to show for it?
The strange case of Benedetta Carlini: how the Catholic Church investigated fraudulent saints
"Immodest Acts" tells the story of Benedetta Carlini, a lesbian nun who claimed to be a mystic visionary but failed to convince the leaders of her faith.
Quantum Steampunk: A new frontier in quantum physics
How efficiently could quantum engines operate?
What plants can teach us about human suffering
Plants are very sensitive to touch, with research showing that touching a plant can change its genome and launch a cascade of plant hormones.
How to paint like Rembrandt, according to a professional portrait artist
Frank Slater’s book "Practical Portrait Painting" reveals the secrets of masters old and new, from Leonardo da Vinci to Augustus John.
Tolkien on the importance of fantasy and science fiction
According to Tolkien, fantasy requires a deep imagination known as "sub-creation." And the genre reflects a fundamental truth of being human.
Physical vs. sexual desire: Why romantic love can flourish without lust
Successful romantic relationships require desire, but that desire doesn't have to be sexual.
How the brain’s left hemisphere “mesmerizes” us into misunderstanding reality
If we are wreaking havoc on ourselves and the world, it is because we have become mesmerized by a mechanistic, reductionist way of thinking.
Why Mikhail Gorbachev let the Soviet Union dissolve quietly into history
To Vladimir Putin, a young KGB colonel at the time, the decision was a colossal mistake.
Science vs. God: Understanding reality is not a battle between reason and faith
Many people perceive the struggle to understand our Universe as a battle between science and God. But this is a false dichotomy.
6 essential books on existentialist philosophy
Wander into the deep recesses of the mind and never return the same with these existentialist books.
What are emotions? Neuroscientific research on animals may finally settle the debate
Revolutionary techniques for understanding brain functions in animals could soon help us understand how emotions guide our lives.