Relationships, work and leisure

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

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Black and white photo of a man and woman in swimwear relaxing 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

Photo of a man sleeping on a bench against a white wall near a wooden door, with cobblestone paving below in sunlight.

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 people in a pool, wearing floral swim caps using inflatable pink flamingo rings, with bunting overhead.

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 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

Personality

idea

Introverts are excluded unfairly in an extraverts’ world

One in three people are introverts, physically present, but culturally absent. We shouldn’t have to change to be heard

by Noa Herz

Vintage poster by Roger Broders showing a seaside scene with sunbathers and swimmers on Antibes beach.

Learning and education

guide

How to learn a language (and stick at it)

Forget about fluency and how languages are taught at school: as an adult learner you can take a whole new approach

by John Gallagher

Close-up of a colourful, abstract wool sculpture resembling a face with various textures and fibres extending outward.

Love

film

Making love strange to imagine it anew – a startling, award-winning animation

Directed by Anushka Naanayakkara

Painting of a man in a bowler hat, seated with a drink and cigarette, gesturing expressively while at a table.

Thinkers and theories

idea

Learning to be a loser: a philosopher’s case for doing nothing

For Emil Cioran, a life devoid of action, practical ambitions and busyness is a life in which room has been made for meaning

by Costica Bradatan

Photo of a neon-lit window display with mannequins, featuring “Willkommen im Love Story” and “Caffe” signs in German.

Gender

idea

The reality of prostitution is not complex. It is simple

Prostitution is not sex and it’s not work. Its reality is far from complex – in fact, it’s simple. Trust me, I’ve done it

by Rachel Moran

Photo of a woman reading outside a café with menus on windows, chalkboard signs, and outdoor seating on a sunny day.

Habits and routines

guide

How to read more books

Modern life can feel too frantic for books. Use these habit-building strategies to carve out time for the joy of reading

by Christian Jarrett

A man sitting on a chair in a lush garden with blooming flowers, a cobbled path, and a red garden shed in the background.

Pleasures and pastimes

film

A club for ‘dull men’ may just inspire you to see the unremarkable anew

Directed by Andy Oxley