Last summer, former NFL star Michael Oher raised eyebrows when he claimed that he made no money from the famous Michael Lewis project, The Blind Side. Oher took his supposed benefactors, the Tuohy family, to court with allegations of exploitation. In the wake of these distressing allegations, it’s time to revisit Lewis’s reporting. What did he […]
Where do conspiracy theories come from?
Between the US government threatening to ban TikTok in the near future and whatever’s going on with Kate Middleton, misinformation and social media influence are trending topics again. After social scientist Dan Ariely found himself on the receiving end of weird conspiracy theories online, he took a long look at what causes people to become […]
Don’t pay the “dumb tax”
Smart people make mistakes with money all the time. That’s because most financial problems are the result of hasty, emotion-driven decisions. The good news is that many errors are preventable. Our latest Instaread can help you avoid some common financial pitfalls. Put on Your Thinking Cap Business is just a skill like anything else. That […]
Why projects fail
Home renovations are notorious for going over budget. But plenty of other endeavors — whether it’s construction or space exploration — have the same problem. Big projects are high-risk and high-cost by nature. How can we increase our odds of success? Shorten the Active Phase Projects that fail often suffer from extended durations, which heighten […]
Inside Sin City
Sin City is a place of eccentric characters, dirty secrets, and high drama. In our latest release, acclaimed author James Patterson and his co-writer Mark Seal delve into Las Vegas’s inner workings to offer a look into the lives of the people who make the city function. Errands & Escapades Everyone in Vegas has a […]
Who is driving your decisions?
A lot of our decisions from day to day happen when our brains are on autopilot. This is a feature of evolution that helps us, say, drive to work without having to think about it too hard. But the same human instincts can lead us to make bad decisions. A little extra awareness will help you […]
Was January 6 a sequel?
Rachel Maddow has spent a lot of time discussing the events of January 6, 2021, on MSNBC. But that was not the first time that the United States has faced the threat of a coup. In her latest bestseller, Maddow rewinds to the 1930s and ’40s, when American fascists attempted to replace the US government […]
A hard look at the religious right
Has Christianity been hijacked by far-right conservatives? That’s the argument of journalist Tim Alberta, a Christian whose father was an evangelical pastor. Alberta says that the pursuit of power has overshadowed spiritual missions in many of these communities. His new book explores the conflict between authentic faith and political identity. Losing Ground The term “evangelical” […]
How happy are you, really?
We talk a lot about work-life balance. But have you considered your screen-life balance? All the apps we use are like little attention thieves who hack our brains to keep us engaged. In her new book The Power of Fun, health and science journalist Catherine Price talks about how to put down your devices and start […]
Warren Buffett’s shadow self
A few days ago, in his annual letter to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett remembered his long-time business partner, Charlie Munger. Munger, who died last November at the age of 99, wasn’t as famous as Buffett, but he was just as important to the company’s success. Our latest Instaread looks at his investment […]
