Ancient Wisdom, Modern Lives

What in Blazes Are the Ides of March?

A lighthearted romp through treachery, betrayal, and murder

Mar 16 • 

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 • 

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 • 

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 • 

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 • 

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 • 

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 • 

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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Monday Motivation: Learning to Slow Down

"Time is money," they say, so you should try to do things as quickly as possible, right? Wrong! Here's why, and here's how to slow down.

Dec 9, 2024 • 

Dr. Joel M. Hoffman

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