Ancient Wisdom, Modern Lives

Why We Need Ancient Wisdom Today

People crave advice, but mostly they get modern-day snake oil. That's why we need ancient wisdom now more than ever. Here's what I mean.

Feb 18 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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March 2025

What in Blazes Are the Ides of March?

A lighthearted romp through treachery, betrayal, and murder

Mar 16, 2025 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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Democracy, Oligarchy, and Free Speech

An oligarchy replaces a democracy and a public figure is put on trial for his words. History or current events? Or both?

Mar 12, 2025 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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Money and Happiness: A Tumultuous Love Affair

Does money make us happy? Yes, except no, because, well, it's complicated...

Mar 11, 2025 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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February 2025

Why do People Suffer? Five Ancient Answers

Timeless and time-tested answers to frame suffering in a better light

Feb 24, 2025 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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Interest Rates Old and New: How High is Too High?

A short history of ancient interest rates, in light of a 10% cap on credit-card interest rates proposed in the US Senate by Bernie Sanders and Josh…

Feb 9, 2025 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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January 2025

In the AI of the Storm

We should all embrace AI instead of fearing it. Here's why.

Jan 30, 2025 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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Happy Year of the Snake

Why is there a year for such a despicable animal as the snake? There might be a very good reason...

Jan 29, 2025 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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December 2024

The Surprising Connection Between Hanukkah and Christmas

Hanukkah and Christmas, which happen to coincide this year, happen to have a surprising shared history. Here it is.

Dec 25, 2024 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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Positivity Is Poisoning the Holidays (but It Doesn't Have To)

Here is an antidote the poisonous pressure to be happy, especially during the holidays.

Dec 23, 2024 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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Hope, Evil, and Fear, as Reflected in Dickinson, Solzhenitsyn, and Munch

In honor of Emily Dickinson, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Edvard Munch, here's a meandering romp through hope, evil, and fear, and back to hope.

Dec 13, 2024 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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We're All Charlie Brown During the Holidays

Holiday gift-shopping presents deceptive, ever-moving goalposts that seduce us with the promise of the impossible. Good grief!

Dec 12, 2024 • Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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