The House on Mango Street is a poignant coming-of-age novel that follows Esperanza Cordero as she navigates her life in a Latino neighborhood in Chicago. Through a series of vignettes, the book explores themes of identity, culture, and the struggles of growing up in a patriarchal society. Esperanza's journey is marked by her desire for independence and her dream of escaping the limitations of her community.
In this revised and expanded edition of the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, Dan Ariely uses a series of illuminating experiments to show how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible forces skew our reasoning abilities. Ariely explains how we consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate, and how these behaviors are neither random nor senseless but systematic and predictable. The book covers various aspects of decision-making, from the power of placebos to the effects of social and financial norms, and offers insights into how to make better decisions by understanding these irrational patterns.
This memoir by Dave Eggers chronicles his life after his parents' deaths from cancer within a short period. At 21, Eggers became the legal guardian of his 8-year-old brother Toph and moved to California. The book is known for its innovative writing style, which includes stream-of-consciousness narratives, humor, and poignant reflections on grief and family. Eggers's story delves into the challenges of raising a younger sibling, dealing with personal and emotional struggles, and navigating the complexities of growing up under extraordinary circumstances.
Watch episode on YoutubeIn this episode, Kevin sits down with writer, photographer, and technologist Craig Mod for a wide-ranging conversation on the value of slowness in a fast-moving world. From walking solo across Japan to rethinking the economics of independent publishing, Craig shares his philosophy of presence, deep attention, and building creative ecosystems that last. Whether you're an aspiring creator or simply seeking to live with more intention, this episode is a masterclass in meaningful modern living.Topics covered
* Craig’s early years in the BBS/ANSI art scene and how it shaped his creative drive
* Escaping post-industrial America and finding healing in the structure of Japanese life
* The joy and challenge of learning Japanese, and how language opens cultural doors
* From blog software in the '90s to essays that changed the course of his career
* Silicon Valley vs. Tokyo: ambition, trade-offs, and choosing a slower life
* The transformative power of walking: from ancient pilgrimages to solo introspection
* Building a reader-funded membership model and launching handcrafted books
* How a 200-word essay led to $100M+ in economic impact for a rural Japanese city
* Addiction, self-worth, fatherhood, and the emotional repair of being seen
* The cultural weight of jazz kissa, pizza toast, and public bathhouse rituals
* Anti-influencer media: binaural audio, slow video, and presence in a distracted world
Links
* Craig’s blog
* Things Become Other Things - Craig’s new book
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