Sometimes events fit together as neatly as a five-foot-wide house in an alleyway. In this essay, author Etgar Keret relates how he came to inhabit the world’s narrowest house—one perfectly meshing with his minimalist writing style—located in a place deeply significant to his family.
As Lady Macbeth illustrates, sometimes the greatest power people have over others is not force but persuasion. In this article, a noted psychological expert pinpoints the most effective techniques used to sway us.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s life ended before his work was complete, leaving others to interpret his intentions and delineate his legacy. Vern E. Smith and Jon Meacham discuss the history and the ongoing disagreements over who King was and what his work means today.
Lions and tigers and bears—and cougars, leopards, cheetahs, chimpanzees, lemurs, anacondas, and pythons—are sometimes kept as pets. How wise is it for people to keep dangerous exotic animals? Visit this site to learn the Humane Society’s opinion and arguments about whether anyone should keep an exotic pet.
In January 2012, British adventurer Felicity Aston became the first woman to ski alone across Antarctica. But that is just one of her many adventures. Explore this site to find out more about Aston’s amazing expeditions and upcoming quests.
The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Read this article about how local residents are planting sunflowers not only to help absorb radiation leaked from the damaged reactors but also to bring hope to local residents.
In high school, Robert Yoon learned that he and a classmate shared the same birthday. Read about the lessons Yoon learns from sharing this bond with his friend.
Women are forbidden to drive in Saudi Arabia. Listen to the story of women’s right advocate Manal al-Sharif, who dared to challenge the system by posting a video of herself driving on YouTube.
Decades after the end of Apartheid, race is still an emotional topic in South Africa. Read this article about a community accused of trying to keep Apartheid alive.
In this interview, we hear from Simon Winchester, author of The Men Who United The States: America’s Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible, about the people who made the United States such a great nation.
Miami is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. The new Perez Art Museum Miami strives to celebrate and showcase that diversity and all the unique perspectives that come with it.
A new digital scrapbook combines images from World War II Amsterdam with images of modern-day Amsterdam to give viewers a unique perspective into the world of Anne Frank.
Would you keep working if you won the lottery? Many Americans say they would. Read this article to find out more.
In India, one of the most rapidly developing countries in the world, women still fight for equality. But on trains, there’s one place women can feel safe.
Students should be encouraged to work hard at school. But at what point does the pressure to succeed become counterproductive?
What creates a more effective revolution—a gun or a book? The answer in this review of a documentary film might surprise you.
In 1852–1853, artist Johannes Adam Simon Ortel painted Pulling Down the Statue of King George III, New York City, a work depicting an event that took place shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. How did the era in which Ortel lived and painted affect Ortel’s depiction? Visit this site to view Ortel’s painting and learn the answer.
Is it time to drop that controller, switch off that television, and head outdoors? This article reports the results of a scientific study of whether exposure to natural settings improves cognition. Perhaps the American Romantics were right about the effects of nature on imagination and thought. Read to find out.
You’ve probably watched a Kid President speech or two before, but did you know that he has something to say about Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”? Watch this video to hear Kid President’s opinions about the decisions we face. Can we all really choose to become “awesome”?
If you’ve ever wondered how to overcome deeply held fears, be sure to read this interview with Dr. Maya Angelou. As a child, she ‘d been afraid to talk, yet she grew up to become a writer, a poet, a teacher, and an all-around inspiration to others. Check out her advice about living a full life, measuring success, and more.
