A History of Lighting in the Home: From Rushlights to Light Bulbs

A man in the 17th century sitting at a desk and writing by the light of an oil lamp illustrates the history of lighting

How did people illuminate their homes before electricity? What creative solutions did our ancestors use to push back the darkness after sunset? The history of lighting reveals a fascinating progression. In his book At Home, Bill Bryson explains that, contrary to popular belief, pre-electricity life didn’t end at sunset. People simply found ingenious ways to light their evenings—though often with smelly, expensive, or dangerous consequences. Keep reading to discover how lighting evolved and transformed the way we experience nighttime at home.

Maryanne Wolf’s Proust and the Squid: Book Overview

A drawing of a woman with dark hair and an orange sweater reading a book and sitting on the floor

What happens in our brains when we read? How did humans develop the ability to transform marks on a page into meaning and understanding? Maryanne Wolf’s Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain explores the evolution of reading from ancient civilizations to our digital present. Wolf reveals how the brain adapts to this invented skill, reshaping pathways as we learn to connect symbols with sounds and meanings. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will make you look at a basic skill with new eyes.

The Reading Brain: How Neuroplasticity Makes Reading Possible

A cartoon drawing of a brain reading a book illustrates the reading brain

What happens in our brains when we learn to read? How do different writing systems shape our neural pathways? In her book Proust and the Squid, Maryanne Wolf explains how the reading brain is made possible through neuroplasticity. Despite having no dedicated reading center, our brains rewire themselves in three profound ways. Read on to explore how this remarkable adaptation changed human history and continues to shape our minds today.

How Do Children Learn to Read? Maryanne Wolf Explains

A child reading a book illustrates the question, "How do children learn to read?"

How do children learn to read? Why does the journey to becoming a fluent reader take years? Cognitive neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf explores how children learn to read by tracing development from infancy through adolescence. From recognizing speech sounds as babies to mastering complex metaphors as teenagers, children build reading skills through distinct phases. Read more to explore the fascinating science behind how a child transforms from a babbling toddler into a capable reader.

Maryanne Wolf: Dyslexia Calls for Varied Solutions

Maryanne Wolf's dyslexia research is illustrated by a picture of the cognitive neuroscientist in 2020

What if reading struggles aren’t just weaknesses but signs of a differently organized brain? How can understanding the true nature of dyslexia help children develop effective reading skills? Maryanne Wolf’s dyslexia research reveals that reading difficulties exist on a spectrum. This calls for tailored interventions that can reshape neural pathways while recognizing the unique strengths that often accompany these challenges. Read on to get Maryanne Wolf’s perspective on dyslexia from her book Proust and the Squid.

Jellyfish Age Backwards by Nicklas Brendborg—Overview

An artistic image of a jellyfish swimming in the ocean

Why do people get sick and die from old age, while some other organisms don’t? Is there a way to prevent aging in humans—or even to reverse it? In Jellyfish Age Backwards, biotech researcher Nicklas Brendborg uses Turritopsis dohrnii—the immortal jellyfish—as an entry point to explore the latest research on longevity. Brendborg weaves together cutting-edge science, evolutionary biology, and practical insights about the topic. Continue reading for an overview of Jellyfish Age Backwards.

How and Why We Age: The 2 Top Scientific Theories

An elderly man sitting in a rocking chair, pondering the question of why we age

Why does human health decline as we age? Do all creatures age in the same way? Biotech researcher and author of Jellyfish Age Backwards, Nicklas Brendborg, explains the top two theories on human aging: genetic wear-and-tear and planned obsolescence. However, he notes that these aging patterns don’t hold true across all of nature. Read below to learn more about human aging process theories.

Leonard Mlodinow’s Subliminal (Book Overview & Takeaways)

A woman with long wavy gray hair reading a hardcover book

Why do you sometimes make decisions without knowing exactly why? How much of your everyday thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are shaped by processes you’re not aware of? Leonard Mlodinow’s Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior explains that the vast majority of our brain’s processing happens beneath the surface of awareness. This hidden mental activity shapes how we interpret our observations, form beliefs, and experience the world around us. Keep reading for an overview of this thought-provoking book.

An Insight Mindset: How Uncertainty Leads to Breakthroughs

A woman with brown wavy hair looking up in thought with a window behind her illustrates an insight mindset

What does it take to have breakthrough ideas and moments of clarity? How can we train ourselves to welcome the unexpected insights that lead to innovation rather than resisting them? In his book Seeing What Others Don’t, Gary Klein reveals that developing an insight mindset begins with embracing uncertainty. His research shows that the most innovative thinkers approach problems with curiosity and openness, viewing contradictions as valuable learning opportunities. Keep reading to discover how developing an insight mindset can transform your life and work.

Reading in the Digital Age Is Altering Our Brains (Maryanne Wolf)

A man reading a book on a mobile phone at nighttime with a bookshelf in the background illustrates reading in the digital age

Is our relationship with reading fundamentally changing as we move from traditional to digital formats? What does this shift mean for our cognitive abilities and future intellectual development? Reading in the digital age represents a significant transformation in how our brains process information. Cognitive neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf explains that our current shift to digital reading is rewiring our neural pathways in ways that bring both opportunities and risks. Keep reading to discover how screens are changing not just what we read but how we think—and what we can do to preserve the valuable cognitive skills traditional reading has given us.