In 1841, in New Orleans, William Alexander Leidesdorff passed as a white man. (His father was Jewish and his mother was Black.) When his fiancée learned his secret and called off their engagement, William sold everything he owned and bought a ship. He traveled to California to start a new life. On the West Coast, […]
Escaping the Parent Trap
The title of Jeanette McCurdy’s autobiography, I’m Glad My Mom Died, has raised some eyebrows since it was released in August. Partly a dark joke, and partly the truth, it was meant to be provocative. McCurdy knows firsthand how hard it is for children who were abused to express complicated and conflicting feelings about the parents […]
3 Steps to Financial Stability
If you’re just starting out, financial freedom may seem like an impossible dream. Our latest Instaread, which is designed for people in their 20s and 30s (or anyone who needs to make a fresh start), can help launch your financial security. The number one priority, especially for people in the United States, is to purchase […]
Seventy-five Years of Russian Containment
As Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine, the United States has found itself in an awkward position. On one hand, there’s the call to protect democracy in Europe. And on the other, well, there’s Vladimir Putin, who no one really wants to provoke. This is not a new dilemma. In 1947, President Harry Truman faced […]
What was Musk Like Before He was Famous?
Once again, Elon Musk is making headlines for half a dozen separate reasons. Public interest is at an all-time high for this quirky innovator. But how did Musk get to where he is today? While there are movies about WeWork’s founder and Mark Zuckerberg’s years at Harvard, info on Musk’s early career is much harder […]
Where Does Wellness Start?
Sure, there are some questionable claims in the alternative health industry about the healing power of thoughts. But from a scientific perspective, there is strong evidence that our imaginations, feelings, and thoughts can cause biological and chemical changes in our bodies. No, you can’t magically wish away a disease with positive thinking. But your attitude […]
Who’s in Charge?
Most of us are raised to believe that leadership is only possible from a position of authority. But that’s not true at all. Leadership and authority are two different things, and you can have one without the other. In fact, you can exercise leadership in any role as a strategy for obtaining more authority and […]
What is Climatic Depression?
The climate problem has been building for a long time. Since 1880, the average global temperature has increased by around 1 degree Celsius. That may not sound like a lot, but the results over time will be catastrophic. This is not just an environmental problem, but also a financial and business problem. Researchers believe that […]
Who Killed the Middle Class?
During the Great Recession, there was a historic decline in homeownership across the United States. A small handful of magnates took advantage of the financial crisis and made millions off their risky bets. They benefited from a rigged system that left American taxpayers to bear the cost of substantial losses. The people who benefitted were […]
The Longevity Question
There is no cure for aging, of course. But many researchers approach the effects and disorders of aging as inevitable, which is a limiting perspective. Instead, it’s helpful to look at aging as a process that can be treated, slowed, or even partially reversed. Cutting-edge science is focused on “biological reprogramming”: dietary restrictions, genetic modifications, […]
