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

Thinking and intelligence

idea

Why some of the smartest people can be so very stupid

Struggling to understand is perfectly honourable. Being wilfully stupid is something else and we should strive to fix it

by Sacha Golob

Silhouetted soldiers walking along a ridge with their reflections in the water below during the First World War.

History and philosophy of mental health

idea

One woman’s six-word mantra that has helped to calm millions

Ahead of her time, yet largely ignored by psychiatry, Claire Weekes taught millions of readers how to overcome anxiety

by Judith Hoare

A young woman in cut-off jean shorts on a brown-and-white horse in a town street looking at her phone, with people and buildings behind her.

Focus and attention

guide

How to be indistractable

Stop blaming technology – distraction starts within. Manage your inner triggers to enjoy greater focus and a fuller life

by Nir Eyal

Photo of a woman submerged to the neck in a natural hot spring, with mountains and mist in the background, creating a serene atmospheric scene.

Photography

film

One photo per day for more than a year, exploring how rituals affect memory

Directed by Scott Thrift

Black-and-white film still of a shirtless man and a woman in a swimsuit lying on a sandy beach with rocky cliffs in the background.

Love

idea

Love shouldn’t be blind or mad. Instead, fall rationally in love

Blind, all-consuming love goes against your interests and impedes your flourishing. Submit your love to rational scrutiny

by Berit Brogaard

A older man lying on a bench against a white wall near a wooden door. Sun shines on his face.

Money and economics

idea

Why efficiency is dangerous and slowing down makes life better

The urge to do everything faster and better is risky. Far wiser to do what’s good enough for the range of possible futures

by Barry Schwartz

Photo of two smiling women in a pool wearing floral swim caps and sunglasses using pink flamingo inflatables, with bunting flags in the background.

Friendship

guide

How to make friends as an adult

Friendships give us so much. Be bold, take the initiative, and you’ll be surprised how many people are pleased to connect

by Marisa G Franco

A night scene with a warmly lit cabin in the woods. An elderly person is inside, visible through large glass windows.

Architecture

film

From modernist architect, to a life off-grid, a creative life well-lived

Directed by Ryan Malloy

A traditional Chinese painting of a seated woman under a canopy, resting her arm on a chair near a table with a blue bowl.

Creativity

idea

To be creative, Chinese philosophy teaches us to abandon ‘originality’

Whether grieving a death or connecting to colleagues, creativity enables an artful life, according to Chinese philosophy

by Julianne Chung

A painting of a woman sitting at a table with a glass of beer, a cigarette, and a contemplative expression in a café setting.

Love

idea

Why it can be sublime to love someone who doesn’t love you back

Unrequited love might be bitter and painful, but it is also the ultimate expression of your humanity. Don’t fight it

by Alexandra Gustafson

A woman leans against a red column on a train platform, with a moving train blurred in the background.

Goals and motivation

guide

How to know what you really want

From career choices to new purchases, use René Girard’s mimetic theory to resist the herd and forge your own path in life

by Luke Burgis

Abstract watercolour painting of figures walking in different directions on a white background.

Play

film

An Oscar-nominated animation that celebrates walking with humans

Directed by Ryan Larkin