Words of Wisdom — May 14, 2014

Martin on Why the Mind Needs Books

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” – George R.R. Martin

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“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

– George R.R. Martin

The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

A man wearing a beanie and dark clothing sits with one arm resting on his knee, inside a blue rectangular frame on a light background with abstract lines, embodying the cool, thoughtful vibe of King Willonius.

Books

The 6 books that changed King Willonius’ life

The comedian and musician behind the viral hit “BBL Drizzy” shares the books that shaped his thinking and approach to art.

Abstract image featuring a luminous, symmetrical pattern of blue and white swirling lines against a dark background, resembling a cosmic or nebula-like formation.

Neuropsych

The next era of psychedelics may be precision-designed states of consciousness

A look inside Mindstate Design Labs’ effort to design drugs that reliably produce specific states of mind.

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The Future

Mike Duncan chronicles the history of the future Martian Revolution

Most people think that writing fantasy or science-fiction requires a strong imagination. Podcast host Mike Duncan shows a knowledge of real-world history is just as important.

An open book with text artfully arranged to form a house and tree shape, set against a blue sky dotted with white swirls, celebrates the magic of books.

Mini Philosophy

Finding home in Storyland: The transformative power of books

When you enter someone’s home, you learn how life is lived elsewhere.

A person with light hair is turned sideways, holding and reading a partially redacted book filled with pseudonyms, all set against a black grid background.

High Culture

5 famous authors who used pseudonyms (and why they did it)

From acclaimed novels to heretical treatises, sometimes a writer just doesn’t want to put their name on the cover.

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