Place

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

Animals Caregiving Communication and language Community Conflict and conflict resolution Cooperation and collaboration Food and drink Forgiveness Friendship Home Love Money and economics Parenting and families Place Pleasures and pastimes Sports and games Technology and media Travel Work and vocation

LatestPopular

Photo of a city street with a man in a hat in the foreground and another man walking among cars in the background.

Depression

idea

Why life is faster but depression is lower in bigger cities

Large cities might seem detrimental to mental health but a comparison of depression rates suggests bigger is better

by Andrew Stier

Miniature painting of two men in traditional Persian attire, standing in a garden surrounded by trees with floral accents.

Virtues and vices

idea

Persianate ‘adab’ involves far more than elegant manners

Across 13th- to 19th-century Persianate culture, ‘adab’ meant more than manners – it was proper social and aesthetic form

by Mana Kia

Black and white photo of a man walking towards a lighthouse by the sea with his hands behind his back.

Pleasures and pastimes

guide

How to wander

Whether in a city or the wilderness, near or far, there’s joy to be had in a journey where the destination doesn’t matter

by Jordan Fisher Smith

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

Photo of a quaint bookshop with a green facade and display window filled with books, a person entering via a side door.

Place

idea

‘Place authenticity’ is an important, overlooked part of life

From indie bookshops to artisan cafes, spending time in unique, characterful places can enrich your own sense of self

by Ashley Krause

Photo of a woman using a phone by a sunny window with a city view. She is next to a suitcase and a red chair.

Place

idea

The divided self: does where I live make me who I am?

At home in Delhi, I am a more social, interactive person. A quiet balcony in Frankfurt gave me space to be by myself

by Anandi Mishra

Photo of an ornate underground station with arched ceilings, mosaic details pedestrians and a yellow train on the platform.

Architecture

guide

How to appreciate buildings

It’s easy to become blasé about the built world. Tune in more deeply and architectural adventures await around each corner

by Colin Ellard

A seal sitting on green grass near the ocean with an upside-down group of people and buildings in the background.

Place

film

Journey to the Bering Sea in search of a deep ‘not knowing’

Directed by Sky Hopinka

Photo of a wooden dresser with a round mirror books and notes. A tape measure and candle holder are on the dresser.

The self

idea

What my mother’s sticky notes show about the nature of the self

Dementia accelerates a process we all experience, as our memories become increasingly externalised into the world around us

by Crispin Sartwell

Photo of a park in autumn with large trees and children playing among fallen leaves wearing colourful clothes.

Nature and the environment

idea

Look past the woods – each tree is an individual to be cherished

Try to look past the woods and see the trees: there’s nothing as elemental as the human relationship with an individual tree

by Sarah Boon

Elderly man in a weathered hat and coat, with a grey beard, lighting a cigarette, set against a blurred outdoor background.

Emotions

film

Scenes unfold like Romantic paintings in a touching meditation on grief

Directed by Hayk Matevosyan