Speaking for Rural America, 100 Years Ago
In the early 20th century, the Country Life Movement tried to make rural life appeal to women. But it ignored many truths about farms and women alike.
“Jokes” about Genocide in Puerto Rico
The resignation of Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rosselló echoes an incident from the 1930s.
How to Eat Seafood — Sustainably
Fish stocks are collapsing. But you can still enjoy your freshest local seafood without feeling too guilty—and here’s why.
The Diverse Whaling Crews of Melville’s Era
The ship from Moby Dick was a fairly accurate portrayal of the multi-racial character of American whaling crews before the Civil War.
Satan, the Radical
There is a long history of leftist thinkers embracing Satan, usually just as a way to shake up political rhetoric.
There Will Always Be a Market for Snake Oil
Even when we suspect the underlying root of an issue is complex, we tend to look for a quick fix.
How to Make Quicksand Like an Octopus
When it comes to camouflage, the sand octopus has some truly amazing techniques.
On Brands’ Bad Social Media
The phenomena of brands trying to tweet like teenagers might be new, but brands have been trying to seem cool for decades.
Nuns Don’t Have Midlife Crises
Why Benedictine nuns report higher levels of happiness and satisfaction than their non-monastic counterparts -- and what we can learn from them.