Before there were coins or bills, there was interest. Creditors have been lending money (and before that, seeds and animals) since the eighth century BC. The Mesopotamians recorded their loans on clay tablets, not unlike your credit card companies or the bank that services your mortgage. The First Financial Crises We don’t know exactly when […]
Do you care about the future?
Human civilization is relatively young—and it could last for a very long time. If humanity manages to persist for millions of years, it means that those of us living today will be considered the ancients, living at the very beginning of history. Choose Wisely Ask yourself, are you a good ancestor? Or the type whose […]
No one wants your advice
Let’s be real. How often in life do we receive good advice? And more specifically: how often do we receive good advice from our bosses or colleagues? Sure, it’s not unheard of—but it doesn’t happen often. Today’s Instaread looks at some good alternatives for the next time you’re tempted to offer guidance to someone who […]
How to close a deal
Good salespeople are trained, not born. In Secrets of a Master Closer, sales expert and entrepreneur Mike Kaplan provides valuable advice about how to make a sale in today’s world. Our latest Instaread takes a closer look. Yes, Yes, Yes You can pave the way to closing a sale with something called a Yes-Pattern. The Yes-Pattern […]
A daring rescue mission in Ukraine
Benjamin Hall had dragged himself away from the fiery explosion when he noticed that his right leg was gone. On assignment last year to cover the war in Ukraine, Hall and his team for Fox News were driving to a village that had been destroyed by Russians the week before when their caravan was attacked. […]
The secret to good parenting
We all want our kids to be happy. But no one’s happy all the time, so we need to choose a more realistic goal. By focusing on the skill of resiliency—the ability to cope with distress—we can help young people deal with stress, setbacks, and even failure. Bouncing Back You can’t shield your kids from […]
Make self-help a group project
Sometimes being your best self takes a village. The self-help genre often glosses over the fact that transformation doesn’t happen in a vacuum; you need to be surrounded by a supportive community in order to be at the top of your game. So how do we ask for help? Find an Accountability Partner A great […]
Alternate Realities
Even on a quick walk around your neighborhood, you’re surrounded by creatures who perceive the world in strange and amazing ways. Bees have blurry vision, but they see colors that humans can barely conceptualize. Spiders can “fly” using air currents that we can’t sense without special equipment. And dogs can divine the past, present, and […]
When Ignorance Ain’t Bliss
When did ignorance become a virtue in American politics? Comedian and satirist Andy Borowitz says that US media clearly favors politicians who are entertaining and extreme over classic qualities like intelligence and competence. In his latest book, Borowitz traces this disappointing heritage. The Guy Who Dumbed Everything Down Poor old Dan Quayle. No politician wants […]
This Guy Is NOT Worried For The Polar Bears
Bjorn Lomborg has a rather unusual position on climate change: he thinks it’s real, but not that bad. In False Alarm, the Danish author and think tank leader explains his position as a “skeptical environmentalist,” which is exactly what it sounds like. He once referred to polar bears as “the global pin-up ‘victim’ of global warming.” […]
