On the blissful wonders of another’s perspective, unbidden and uncalled for. Late afternoon, a cloudy November in England. The wind chases the brownish autumn leaves into piles and sometimes scatter them across the streets. …

Writing well, committing to a challenge, and see your world shift. Sen. Barbara Boxer: “Mr. Epstein, are you a scientist?” Alex Epstein: “No. Philosopher” Sen. Boxer: “Philosopher? Ah, this is the Environmental and Public Works Committee. I think it’s interesting that we have a philosopher here talking about an issue —…

You should probably say “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way” more often; and reject those who think it’s a terrible and hurtful phrase. A thing about apologies has troubled me for some months — some might say for most of my life. Maybe I’m too stubborn; Maybe I’m too narcissistic…

How selection in success fools us into thinking we understand how success was made. More than once in my life have I heard people pose the J.K. Rowling counterfactual. It goes something like this: one remarks on some amazing part of the Harry Potter books, movies and honky-tonk merch. Then…

“Beliefs, including mine and yours, are fundamentally driven by prior biases. It takes deliberate effort to change that.” — Mathew Crawford The first piece of advice for anyone considering arguing with a stranger is to resist. Don’t do it. It’s not worth your time. In fact, you’re probably just wasting…

Don Corleone: “it don’t make any difference to me what a man does for a living, you understand.” Most people are uninteresting. That’s not a typo: I mean uninteresting. Not worth your time. …

I used to love these Isles; I still love them; I may once again. In November, I watched the Remembrance Sunday parade in awe. …

Strange years provide strange lessons. Break more rules; endure hardship; work your body — go outside! — and beware your often tricksy feelings. Year-ends are the time for year-reviews. For looking ahead, and for summarising what the past year brought. …

It couldn’t possibly get worse, and then it did. Do we ever get out of this mess? About a year ago, I wrote “The World at its Darkest”. With a title like that, it clearly wasn’t a happy piece. …