'Scandal Queen' Becomes Voice for Decency

In 1988 George H.W. Bush was elected President of the United States, but in 1987 the frontrunner for the Democrats was a senator from Colorado named Gary ...

How One Company Streamlines Complexity

Our lives are filled with gadgets we can't use (automatic sprinklers, GPS devices, fancy blenders), instructions we can't follow (labels on medicine ...

Expert Describes the 'Competition for Our Attention'

In his book Present Shock, media expert Douglas Rushkoff argues that the competition for our attention is fierce. Rushkoff writes,

Back in the mid-1990s, ...

Surrogate Mother Refuses Abortion

It's not often that a woman is paid to consider an abortion, but then, Crystal Kelley's pregnancy wasn't typical to begin with. A single mother ...

Pitching to Jesus—and Refusing to Take His Signals

I've imagined this scene in my head: I'm playing baseball with Jesus. The stands are full of fans, but out there on the field it's just him ...

A Case Study: Imitate Jesus or Machiavelli?

Your dream job becomes available. The night before the crucial interview, you sit down to polish your résumé. You remember reading on the ...

Researcher Claims We Decide Based on Cravings, Not Logic

In his book Predictably Irrational, researcher Dan Ariely claims that most of us are masters at deceiving ourselves and justifying our actions. In particular, ...

Research Shows That Cheaters Get a "Cheater's High"

Do you ever wonder why people cheat—or feel tempted to cheat—on expense reports, taxes, exams, and other endeavors? According to a series ...

If Your House Were Burning, What Would You Grab?

If your house was burning, what would you grab on your way out the door? That question intrigued photographer Foster Huntington, so he gathered his must-save ...

Researchers Identify the Tyranny of Too Many Choices

A number of recent books and articles have noted the explosion of choices that we face in many facets of our lives. Consider the following examples:

• In 2024, the average American supermarket carried up to 60,000 items, more than five times the number of items in 1975.