Henry Louis Gates describes what it was like to grow up as an African American in a West Virginia town in the 1950s.
Author Archives: Paul Looby
Falling Toward Grace
Learn about Karina Hollekim, a daredevil who survived a failed parachute jump and eventually was able to ski again.
As We Seek Nature, We Wall It Out
Diane Ackerman contemplates the wildlife that creeps into our urban habitats.
America’s First Me Generation
In this book review, Laura Miller draws connections between the Transcendentalists of the 19th century and individualist movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
The Klondike Gold Rush
Read about the Klondike Gold Rush, which lured tens of thousands of gold-seekers into the harsh Yukon Territory, including Jack London.
About Mark Twain
Learn about Mark Twain’s life through this collection of texts, photos, illustrations, and other media.
Meet the Sacrifice Generation
In Montgomery County, Maryland, Asian immigrants straddle a cultural divide.
Juan Rulfo
This article explains how Rulfo’s childhood experiences during a violent period in Mexico’s history inspired “Tell Them Not to Kill Me!” and other notable short stories.
The Calculus of Risk
According to author Mark Jenkins, modern adventure is safer than you think—once you know the difference between legitimate danger and irrational fear.
World Without Borders
The late Garry Davis, a former bomber pilot haunted by his World War II experiences, hoped to unite all of mankind by eliminating national boundaries.
Black Walden
In Walden, Henry Thoreau mentions that the woods he lived in were also home to people who had escaped from slavery. Read this article to learn more about the lives of African Americans living around Walden Pond.
The Presidential Election of 1800
Learn why this election, which is sometimes called the “Revolution of 1800,” was a milestone in the history of American politics.
Opulence in the “Gilded Age,” 1890
In the late 19th century, some families in the United States grew fabulously rich from the country’s industrialization. Read about the “Gilded Age,” Mark Twain’s term for the excesses of wealthy people during this period.
What Can Bees Teach Us About Gang Warfare?
In Los Angeles, an anthropologist is using equations to teach police about how street gangs operate.
“Slaves of the Marriage Union”
This article profiles Elizabeth Packard, a woman forced into an insane asylum by her husband during the Civil War. After her release, she became a women’s rights activist who argued that the condition of women was similar to slavery.
Journey to “The Crucible”
In this essay, Arthur Miller describes how he prepared to write his famous play by immersing himself in the world of the Salem witch trials.
Proud to be a Mill Girl
New England industrialists hired thousands of young women from farms to work together in early textile mills—and spawned a host of unintended consequences.
William Ury: The Walk from “No” to “Yes”
Noted mediator William Ury describes the “third side,” a technique for resolving conflict in trouble spots such as the Middle East.
Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
In his 2005 commencement address at Stanford University, Steve Jobs tells graduating students that the key to his success was finding out what he loved.
Sweden’s “Gender-Neutral” Preschool
In Stockholm, Sweden, educators are using a controversial approach to shield young children from gender stereotypes.