New science points us back to old ways of thinking about consciousness. — Back in the 60s, we thought we would have fully-functional robots walking around and doing our dishes. But, obviously, that didn’t happen. At the time, we had no idea what role attention (consciousness?) plays in seeing the world. We figured the world of stuff was just “out there,” and you…

The big business of intuition. — In the middle of a row of buildings, including a Subway and a Chase bank, is a sign that reads “PSYCHIC.” Palm tree silhouettes loom against the purples and pinks of a twilight sky background. I live right on Sunset Boulevard. This is about five years ago. There are those…

The “truth” is beautiful, but also terrible. — There is nowhere to rest in this world. Even this moment is being violently ripped away from you by time, never to be seen again. At the same time, new moments are born to you in a relentless torrent of blooming glory. …

This is not a philosophy for a lifetime of flourishing. — Stoicism seems like a very wise idea in its “true” form. Focus on what you can control, do not let outside events sway your emotions, and cultivate disinterest in anything but your own inner tranquility. But most philosophical ideas sound good in the abstract. What do they look like in…

To find out, notice anti-beauty. — There are places where people yearn for other places. Where a traveling salesman calls his wife. Where a truck driver texts his son and waits for a reply. Where a cashier has a dusty photo of the family she sends money to back home. Occasionally, I will get in my…

Who wrote “House of the Rising Sun?” It mysteriously popped up in the Appalachian mountains a hundred years ago. It has been performed by many artists, including Joan Baez, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, and The Animals. The lyrics tell the story of a mythical place in New Orleans–the house of…

Less self-love. — The clock is ticking loudly. The plant is fake. A print of a Monet hangs to the man’s left; That footbridge one. A woman gazes at him; her expression is a mixture of care and professional distance. “What’s going on this week?” she says, gathering herself around her notepad. The…

Writers fix the inner pipes. — I went to a Halloween party in LA. One girl dressed as the blue Care Bear. “I have a God complex,” she told me with a midwest earnestness that bordered on miraculous. “…either that or I hate myself.” What a creative way to accidentally admit you’re a narcissist. It’s not…

The uniqueness of human persistence — A human can chase down an antelope, which can run 60 mph. In a town of 2000 people somewhere deep in Louisiana, I’m listening to people tell stories for a radio show called This American Life. I toss a trash bag in a dumpster behind my family’s convenience store. …