History and Civilization
The Civilization video games may not convey actual history very well, but they’ve encouraged generations of young people to learn more about the past.
Western Travel Writers or Japanese War Propagandists?
Even as Japan courted Western tourists with images of exotic customs and untouched landscapes, the Second Sino-Japanese War raged across East Asia.
Weight in the Sociology Classroom
Body weight is in some ways a trickier topic for sociology students than other stigmas. One professor explains how he approaches the challenge of discussing it.
How Libraries Stand the Test of Time
The digital era builds upon millennia of librarianship as humans strive to preserve our cultural heritage.
Mad Men and Its Obsession with Frenchness
Mad Men’s in-universe fascination with Frenchness was so frequent and important to the plot(s) that it might as well have been a main character.
10 Villanelles by Modern and Contemporary Poets
Read these recursive, nineteen-line poems by Elizabeth Bishop, Paisley Rekdal, William Logan, Agha Shahid Ali, and more.
Fifty Years of Fractals
A half century ago ago, Benoit Mandelbrot coined the word "fractal" and pioneered a new type of geometry.
Transplanting Nutmeg
Nutmeg originated in the Maluku islands of what’s now Indonesia, but Barbados became known as the Nutmeg Island. Why did the tree wander?
Where Do Economic Statistics Come From?
Many ways of measuring the economy came about in the decades between the American Civil War and World War II. We’ve been arguing about them ever since.
We Love Libraries
Honoring the libraries and librarians that have shaped the way we live, learn, and fight.