Words of Wisdom — June 20, 2014

John le Carre on Seeing the World

“A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world.” – John le Carre

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A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world.” – John le Carre

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A black and white photo of albert einstein laughing.

Starts With A Bang

Einstein’s 7 rules for a better life

The most celebrated genius in human history didn’t just revolutionize physics, but taught many valuable lessons about living a better life.

A person holding a robotic glove at a trade show.

The Present

We tested the most advanced haptic gloves in the world

HaptX gloves provide high-fidelity touch feedback of virtual spaces (and they look cool, too).

A man with long hair and a beard, embodying the concept of free will.

Thinking

Yes, we have free will. No, we absolutely do not.

A volley of new insights reignites the debate over whether our choices are ever truly our own.

A collage of Adam from Michaelangelo's 'Creation of Adam' and Venus from Boticelli's 'The Birth of Venus' featuring red censor bars over the subjects' mouths.

The Past

A very short history of the F-word

Today, the F-word is enjoying a renaissance the likes of which it hasn’t seen since, well, the Renaissance.

Gertrude Bell, a formidable traveller, archaeologist and diplomat, defied the action fallacy by challenging conventional wisdom and achieving remarkable success in her endeavors.

Business

The “action fallacy” tells us that the most effective leaders are unseen

We rightly celebrate Winston Churchill as one of the world’s greatest leaders — but for all the wrong reasons.

Up Next

Technology & Innovation

Pope Francis and Holding “Amoral” Subjects to a Moral Standard

Critics debate whether Pope Francis has any standing to comment on matters of world economics. Andrew Napolitano at Fox News questions whether Francis possesses the competency to discuss youth unemployment. Elizabeth Stoker of The Week argues that the pope has the duty to hold world economics to a moral standard.