Eudaimonia

On the perennial puzzle of how to live well in our complex world

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

Photo of a person in a blue jacket standing on a train platform, staring at the tracks in a thoughtful pose.

Conflict and conflict resolution

idea

How to respond to offensive comments in a thoughtful way

When someone insults you or people you care about, this advice can help you figure out whether to speak up and what to say

by Alicia del Prado

Photo of a woman in a colourful striped dress smiling as photographers take pictures at a crowded event.

Thinking and intelligence

idea

Why do beautiful people also seem smart and likeable?

Psychologists have known about the ‘halo effect’ for ages. New research suggests the power of language can help explain it

by Chris F Westbury & Daniel King

A person in a blue jacket standing thoughtfully on a train platform next to the tracks.

Conflict and conflict resolution

guide

How to respond to offensive comments in a thoughtful way

When someone insults you or people you care about, this advice can help you figure out whether to speak up and what to say

by Alicia del Prado

Illustration of a room with a person lounging on a bed, a pink dresser, a table with cups and a plant.

Autism

film

A mysterious black orb trails Mo, growing ever harder to ignore

A film by Gil Goletski

Painting of a forest at night with a small house and dimly lit sky visible through the trees.

Meaning and the good life

idea

Is modern asceticism about conformity or quiet revolution?

From detoxes to slow food, today’s asceticism is often about fitting in. But we can rediscover its transformative power

by Iryna Mykhailova

Photo of a rural crossroads with a stop sign, traffic lights above, a utility pole and vast open fields under a blue sky.

Thinkers and theories

idea

To resist dogma and accept uncertainty, think like a pragmatist

Founded in 19th-century America, the philosophy of pragmatism promises imaginative ways of coping with our circumstances

by Michael Bacon

A rural road intersection with a stop sign, traffic light and highway signs under a blue sky with clouds.

Thinkers and theories

guide

To resist dogma and accept uncertainty, think like a pragmatist

Founded in 19th-century America, the philosophy of pragmatism promises imaginative ways of coping with our circumstances

by Michael Bacon

Photo of a man holding a microphone and equipment standing on a walkway with blurred people passing by in the foreground.

Loneliness

film

Lonely in London, a filmmaker sets out to make a new friend

A film by Hugh Clegg

Photo of a calm lake at dusk with a hippo partially submerged, only its eyes and ears visible above the water’s surface.

Communication and language

idea

Metaphors open up our minds – but can also shut them down

The best analogies in poetry and science really crackle, but when do they expand our thinking and when do they constrain it?

by Claire O’Callaghan

Parenting and families

idea

The history of family offers a liberating view of custom and love

Chronicling the families of the past shows just how much family values, feelings and decision-making can morph over time

by Katie Barclay

A rugby player embracing one of his teammates.

Cooperation and collaboration

guide

How to be an emotional leader

In times of change and pressure, a set of skills known as ‘psychological flexibility’ can help you and your team to thrive

by Selda Koydemir

An elderly woman in black standing in a garden of pink roses with snow-capped mountains in the background.

Habits and routines

film

Mzia the elevator operator leaves her post for the first time in two decades

Directed by Madeline Leary