The Genius of Spinoza

Jeffrey Collins, professor of history at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, reviews Steven Nadler’s Spinoza: A Life (2001): In the 1660s and ’70s, Spinoza produced one of the most significant intellectual systems in the history of Western philosophy. It encompassed natural science, religion, politics and ethics. Of his two masterworks, the “Ethics” was written first […]

Ukraine Off the Beaten Track

Travel bloggers Megan & Aram on what to visit beyond the main two touristic cities in Ukraine: Mukachevo: The Carpathian mountains are just a stone’s throw away. The city runs the charismatic Latorica River, where people fish, swim and even wash clothes. Zhovkva: The town is small and walkable with places to eat from coffee […]

Braggarts Only Seem Self-confident

New York Times social manners advice columnist Philip Galanes on bragging parents: Question: My brother and his wife constantly brag about their two children. (I mean, constantly!) Would it be evil of me to let them know that I know their teenage son was arrested recently for driving under the influence? I could slip it […]

10 Secluded Spots in Asia to Find Inner Peace

In the SilverKris Magazine of Singapore Airlines, James Wong lists ten Asian get-away destinations to find some inner peace: Nikko, Japan … for beautiful shrines from the Edo period Jeju Island, South Korea … for the beaches, mountains, and scenic getaways Pulau Ubin Island, Singapore … for lush unspoilt forestation and wildlife El Nido, Philippines […]

The Upside of Stress

O, The Oprah Magazine (January 2010) considers a Stanford study about how stress can boost immune system: A Stanford University study found that acute stress may protect against a common type of skin cancer. “Quick bursts of stress seem to direct the body’s ‘soldiers’ [cancer-fighting immune cells] to ‘battlefields’ [skin and lymph nodes,] increasing their […]

Questions You Need to Ask Yourself If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

O, The Oprah Magazine suggests questions you can ask yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed: Why am I overwhelmed? Am I really busy or does it just feel this way? What’s the priority here? What if I don’t have enough time? Am I surrounded by energy suckers? Do I have to do it all by myself? […]

Winter Travel to Tromso, Norway

Wall Street Journal’s Nina Sovich on how to spend the winter season in some of Europe’s top destinations: After the sun sets on Tromsø on Nov. 27 (at 11:45 a.m.,) it won’t peek above the horizon again until mid-January. But this Arctic Circle city doesn’t use winter darkness as an excuse to sleep in; if […]

The Joys of Solo Travel

In the August 2018 issue of Silkwinds magazine, the inflight magazine of SilkAir, Vanessa Tai writes about the joys of solo travel, tackling logistical failures, and embracing small joys: Be Open-minded—For safety, go with your gut. But the rest of the time, be open-minded. Try that new dish, accept that invitation—these serendipities are what solo […]

Singapore’s Peranakan Culture

Robyn Eckhardt of the Wall Street Journal introduces the Singapore’s Peranakans (pronounced “per-rah-nah-kahns,”) a fascinating blend of cultures from the region. The Peranakan—the descendants of marriages between local women and the foreign merchants who began arriving in the 1400s—grew wealthy working in real estate, shipping and banking. Their influence still permeates many aspects of daily […]

Caffeine Fix in Singapore: Kopitiam (Coffee Shop)

Robyn Eckhardt of the Wall Street Journal suggests the Tong Ah Eating House in Singapore’s Chinatown: You’ll find the most authentically Singaporean caffeine fix at a classic kopitiam (coffee shop) like Tong Ah Eating House, in Chinatown. Here, powder that’s ground from beans roasted with sugar and margarine is placed in a cloth bag suspended […]