Literature
Alan Watts’ 7 best books on philosophy and life
The English writer left behind a mind-expanding collection of books.
5 philosophy jokes that will actually teach you something
Jokes so cheesy even French philosophers will love them.
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."
The time Japan’s bestselling author staged a coup and committed seppuku
Yukio Mishima treated his life as if it were a story — one with a surprising and deadly final act.
The Suicide Squad: why is Marvel excellent but DC is not?
The world is full of great mysteries. This is one of them.
The other moral in Frankenstein and how to apply it to human brains and reanimated pigs
Some neurology experiments — such as growing miniature human brains and reanimating the brains of dead pigs — are getting weird. It's time to discuss ethics.
Surprisingly modern lessons from classic Russian literature
Though gloomy and dense, Russian literature is hauntingly beautiful, offering a relentlessly persistent inquiry into the human experience.
Ready to tackle MIT’s recommended reading list for summer 2021?
All the latest titles from the experts at MIT.
Is Dumbledore gay? The question highlights a deeper literary debate
Once a book is published, who gets to interpret it? Us or the author?
Is it good for you? According to Nietzsche, it’s better to ask, “Does it dance?”
Dancing, for Nietzsche, was another way of saying Yes! to life.
How your brain bonds with fictional characters
Scans show similar activity to what occurs when you think about yourself.
Researchers read centuries-old sealed letter without ever opening it
The key? A computational flattening algorithm.
How sci-fi helps humanity avoid species-level mistakes
Technology of the future is shaped by the questions we ask and the ethical decisions we make today.
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‘Designer baby’ book trilogy explores the moral dilemmas humans may soon create
How would the ability to genetically customize children change society? Sci-fi author Eugene Clark explores the future on our horizon in Volume I of the "Genetic Pressure" series.
Aphantasia: the rare brain condition that darkens the mind’s eye
A new study provides validation for the recently identified phenomenon.
13 books everyone should read and why—as voted by you
Add these great titles to your wish list or secure copies for yourself.
What the Greek classics tell us about grief and the importance of mourning the dead
The rites we give to the dead help us understand what it takes to go on living.
Plato’s utopia and why you don’t want to live there
History's first utopia shows how far we've come.
Are humans wired for conflict? Lord of the Flies vs. Charles Darwin
We make school kids read "Lord of the Flies"—but it's only half the story.
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The forest of unread books: A future library in Norway
She was walking down the forest path with a roll of white cloth in her hands. It was trailing behind her like a long veil. It was sweeping needles, leaves […]
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Write in style for life with this 100% inkless wooden stylus
Two famous Italian design companies joined forces to create this masterpiece.
How beards put a brave face on threatened masculinity
A general reorganisation of masculine norms interrupted the shaving-respectability regime.
How Camus and Sartre split up over the question of how to be free
If the idea of freedom bound Camus and Sartre philosophically, then the fight for justice united them politically.
How Hemingway felt about fatherhood
Parenting could be a distraction from what mattered most to him: his writing.
What if Middle-earth was in Pakistan?
Iranian Tolkien scholar finds intriguing parallels between subcontinental geography and famous map of Middle-earth.
Freedom fighting, writing, and microdosing LSD
Join New York Times best-selling author Maria Konnikova as she leads this special edition of Big Think Live.
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Art will never die. So why does it need philanthropy?
We wouldn't want to live without it, so how can we create art that's durable?
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Creative process: Are you in a period of ‘woodshedding’?
It's normal if you're not productive in your creativity all the time. Even the greats took breaks.
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