TAKING LIBERTIES: WE ARE BEING WATCHED
Britan has quietly become the most spied-upon nation in Europe. How? Why? And does it matter? Charles Nevin goes to Manchester, London, Berlin and Bucharest to compare, contrast and discuss ... read more »
"RAGTIME" AND THE AMERICAN DREAM
On the eve of an American holiday reserved for beer and fireworks, Daniel Arizona considers the nature of a national "spirit". E.L. Doctorow's novel "Ragtime" offers some guidance ... read more »
ANNI MIRABILES: 1712
What was the most important year ever? Andrew Marr suggests it was probably 1776, but Robert Butler, a contributor to Intelligent Life, has tossed another hat into the ring ... read more »
WE ARE ALL WRITERS NOW
Blogs, Twitter, Facebook: these outlets are supposedly cheapening language and tarnishing our time. But the fact is we are all reading and writing much more than we used to, writes Anne Trubek ... read more »
GOING GREEN: MAKING ENERGY PERSONAL
How much energy do we consume? Does it matter? Robert Butler considers the numbers in his latest Going Green column ... read more »
BEING CRAZY IS NOISY
John Sterns is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder (a co-diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), chronic depression and chronic anxiety. He describes a lifetime of fighting demons ... read more »
ANNI MIRABILES: 1944
What was the most important year ever? Andrew Marr suggests it was probably 1776, but Richard Cockett, The Economist's Africa editor, proposes the year that initiated modern ideological warfare ... read more »
Comment of the moment
quote Trying is not a simple, straightforward task. Even crafting goals - as distinct from pursuing them - is something we can iterate and improve at, and depression is the feedback we get that we have chosen goals badly. Like the pain that accompanies touching a hot stove, the depression that comes from aiming for a star too high lets us learn about our place in the world ...