Self-knowledge and personal growth

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

An otter rolling on a moss-covered rock, eyes closed in a relaxed pose with a blurry background.

Animals

idea

You can think like an animal by silencing your chattering brain

The desire is partly whimsical, but a brief shapeshift across the taxonomic gulf could help us better empathise with animals

by Bryony Tolhurst

Photo of an elderly man sitting on a chair surrounded by various ornate coffins in a room with a chequered floor.

Death and dying

idea

As a society, we’re not death phobic, we’re death complacent

Our culture is routinely diagnosed with an excessive fear of mortality. A calm look at the evidence tells a different story

by Ingemar Patrick Linden

Black and white photo of a couple kissing, with focus on a woman’s hand wearing a ring and watch.

Love

guide

How to think differently about love

Poets, philosophers and scientists all tell stories about the nature of romantic love. It can be liberating to critique them

by Arina Pismenny

A woman holds a square mirror that blocks her face; it reflects rocks and grass. There is blue sky and clouds in the background. The only element in focus is the reflection on the mirror.

Painting and sculpture

film

Losing her eyesight, a painter’s art evolves with the way she sees the world

Directed by Liberty Smith

Photo of a beachside blackboard offering a humorous deal near a weathered pier, stating “£100 receipt given for every £10 spent.”

Anxiety

idea

If you think you are ‘just not a math person’ then think again

Understanding how mathematics anxiety takes root points to ways to overcome it, opening up new opportunities and pastimes

by Nathan T T Lau & H Moriah Sokolowski

Photo of people in winter clothing exiting a tram at a busy station.

Autism

idea

Late autism diagnosis: it’s a relief, but who’s behind the mask?

By the time an adult learns they’re autistic, they have often been covering up for years. A period of self-discovery awaits

by Leonie Mercedes

Photo of a museum exhibition with three tall, thin sculptures on pedestals and people observing them, with white shadows of the figures painted on the background wall.

Thinking and intelligence

guide

How to see the humanity in anyone

Practising a form of ‘deep curiosity’ can help you connect with yourself and others, even if they’re on the ‘other side’

by Scott Shigeoka

Black and white photo of a hand holding a scallop shell. The background is blurred and the shell shows detailed texture.

Work and vocation

film

A poetic, sea-soaked tribute to the ‘cockle women’ of Wales

Directed by Lily Tiger

A group of people engaged in a heated discussion outdoors with diverse expressions and gestures.

Communication and language

idea

Why every utterance you make begins with a leap of faith

Time pressure and the limitations of memory compel you and your listener to engage in a fascinating linguistic trade-off

by Julie Sedivy

Photo of a person driving at night with dashboard lights on and a road visible ahead through the car windscreen.

Technology and media

idea

The reason that even hands-free calls are risky for drivers

Cars are filled with ever more communication and entertainment tech, but our minds are stuck with the same limitations

by Robert Rosenberger

Photo of various name badges with colourful lanyards laid out in rows for an event or conference.

Memory and nostalgia

guide

How to get better at remembering

Frustrated by elusive names and misplaced phones? The science of memory reveals ways to improve your powers of recall

by Elizabeth Kensinger & Andrew Budson

A Nigerian ballerina in a white tutu dancing atop yellow minibuses in a crowded urban setting.

Dance

film

Nigeria’s first ballet school brings tutus and joy to the streets of Lagos

Directed by Jacob Krupnick