The Rich, Weird, and Frustrating World of Depression-Era Travel Guides
The American Guides were unusual not only for their shaggy opulence and Americana maximalism, but also for their source of funding: the federal government.
Book Excerpts
Artificial Intelligence Is Misreading Human Emotion
There is no good evidence that facial expressions reveal a person’s feelings. But Big Tech companies want you to believe otherwise.
Don’t Help Your Kids With Homework
Focus on prioritization and process, not the assignment itself.
‘It Seems That I Know How the Universe Originated’
The theoretical physicist Andrei Linde may have the world’s most expansive conception of what infinity looks like.
Diamonds Aren’t Special and Neither Is Your Love
We’ve coupled love to marriage and marriage to gems, and all three thrive on the assumption of rarity. What would it mean for love to be common?
America’s Toxic Love Affair With Technology
Major inventions cause major upheaval. Why don’t we take precautions?
How I Became a Poker Champion in One Year
One of the world’s best players taught me his unique psychological style of play—and it worked.
Punching Steph Curry
The rules of the game drive the nature of competition.
When Hollywood’s Power Players Were Women
Female writers, directors, and producers were pioneers of the silent-film era—but were pushed out of the industry as its influence grew.
The New Black Body
My case for equal-opportunity cosmetic enhancements