Short Stuff: Hobo Signs

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis examines the spiritual and social decline of the Appalachian white working class through the life story of its author, JD Vance. Growing up in a post-industrial Ohio town, Vance encountered the symptoms of community and familial dysfunction—drug and alcohol abuse, unstable marriages, lack of education, and evasion of hard work—that underscore the failing values of the culture from which he came.

Although Vance eventually escapes the poverty and dysfunction of his roots, attending college and Yale Law School, he finds that even economic mobility can never permanently erase the social markers of his hillbilly upbringing.

In Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right, sociologist Arlie Hochschild seeks to understand the social, cultural, and emotional forces driving right-wing politics, in an effort to move past the partisan divide and approach American politics from a position of empathy for those on the right. By breaking down this empathy wall, we can come to truly inhabit the emotional world of the right, giving us insight into why these voters believe what they believe—and why those beliefs might make sense given these voters’ experiences.

Born a Crime is the story of a strong-willed black mother and her mixed-race child as they traverse life in South Africa during apartheid. When comedian Trevor Noah was born in the mid-1980s, his birth was a crime under the laws of apartheid, forbade whites and blacks from mixing and procreating. Growing up during and after apartheid, Noah struggled to understand where he belonged in this racially divided environment.

Through anecdotes from Noah and his mother’s life and details regarding the elements and consequences of apartheid, Noah provides an insider’s perspective of racism, survival, abuse, love, and the importance of heritage in a society built on difference and oppression.

Delve into the ubiquity of a mundane yet indispensable term in the English language with hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant in the "Stuff You Should Know" podcast. Their "Short Stuff: History of OK" episode meticulously unpicks the threads of the word "OK's" etymology, emphasizing its chameleonic adaptability across various grammatical roles. From its days as a humorous 1830s abbreviation trend to a staunch staple of the American lexicon, the hosts explore the word's capacity for shifting significance, mellowing into a universally recognized sign of tepid agreement.

Beyond just the origin story, this episode also highlights the social implications and the stylistic nuances of "OK" in contemporary usage. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital communication, where tone and intent are paramount, the choice between "OK" and "okay" can be significant. Encouraging listeners to engage with language evolution, Josh and Chuck blend linguistic insights with personal anecdotes, inviting you to consider the impact that even the smallest parts of our vocabulary can have in our day-to-day interactions.

Around 1.5 billion people around the world speak English—roughly 20 percent of the human population. How has our language achieved this global status? How did English evolve over time into the language we speak and write today? What are its unique quirks, strengths, and shortcomings that set it apart from the world’s other languages? The Mother Tongue takes us on a journey through the history of the English language, exploring its richness and variety, and pointing the way toward what the future might have in store for it.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis examines the spiritual and social decline of the Appalachian white working class through the life story of its author, JD Vance. Growing up in a post-industrial Ohio town, Vance encountered the symptoms of community and familial dysfunction—drug and alcohol abuse, unstable marriages, lack of education, and evasion of hard work—that underscore the failing values of the culture from which he came.

Although Vance eventually escapes the poverty and dysfunction of his roots, attending college and Yale Law School, he finds that even economic mobility can never permanently erase the social markers of his hillbilly upbringing.

Science and reason create technological marvels, but they’re less successful at shaping human behavior. Since humans are irrational creatures, irrationality can be a useful tool for pushing various agendas big and small. In Alchemy, Rory Sutherland suggests that to solve economic and political problems, we should leverage people’s illogical—and even magical—ways of thinking. If business and political leaders can better understand the human psyche, they can use it to tackle the issues of the modern world.

As vice chairman of the advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather, Sutherland merged commercial advertising with behavioral science to “hack” the human mind. In this guide, we’ll examine what Sutherland believes are the faulty assumptions of standard economics, the peculiar quirks of human perception, and why meaning is more important than fact. We’ll delve into the underlying research on behavioral psychology and discuss the implications of using irrationality to influence the public at large.

In The Definitive Book of Body Language, communication experts and best-selling authors Allan and Barbara Pease argue that body language plays a key role in shaping interactions between people. The authors explain that during verbal interactions, people pay more attention to the facial expressions, gestures, and postures they see than the words they hear. Therefore, knowing how to interpret body language—and show the right body language—can help you communicate more effectively.

You’ll come away from this guide understanding:

• How your body language reflects and influences your emotions
• Why other people respond to you the way that they do
• How to adapt your body language to garner positive responses from others

We’ll also expand on the authors’ thoughts with psychological research, additional insights, and practical methods from other communication specialists and self-help practitioners.

Do you donate to charity because you care? Or are you lying to yourself and others about the true reason? In The Elephant in the Brain, software engineer Kevin Simler and economics professor Robin Hanson controversially argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives—and that your own brain is hiding them from you. These hidden motives shape everything from our conversations and purchasing decisions to our schools and health care systems. The authors say if we learn to recognize these “elephants,” we can improve our individual behaviors and our social institutions.

As we explore Simler and Hanson’s theories, we’ll cover topics like why we’re constantly deceiving each other, why charitable giving is actually selfish, and why the purpose of education is to certify future employees. Along the way, we’ll challenge some of the authors’ arguments by providing alternative explanations, and we’ll explain how you can put their insights to work in your own life.

Around 1.5 billion people around the world speak English—roughly 20 percent of the human population. How has our language achieved this global status? How did English evolve over time into the language we speak and write today? What are its unique quirks, strengths, and shortcomings that set it apart from the world’s other languages? The Mother Tongue takes us on a journey through the history of the English language, exploring its richness and variety, and pointing the way toward what the future might have in store for it.

Bill O'Reilly's Legends and Lies by David Fisher explores the iconic figures and untold stories of the American frontier. Uncover the adventures of trailblazing pioneers like Daniel Boone and Kit Carson, whose remarkable courage and skills paved the way for westward expansion.

Follow the complex legacy of lawmen like Wild Bill Hickok and Bass Reeves as they navigate a rugged and often lawless territory. Experience the mythical rise of infamous outlaws who defied authority with daring robberies, as well as the triumphs and tragedies of Native American conflicts from both perspectives. This chronicle provides an intimate look at a pivotal era in American history through the lives of its most captivating individuals.

In his memoir Confessions of a Bookseller, author Shaun Bythell takes you behind the scenes of running an independent bookstore. He divulges the challenges of sourcing inventory, managing fluctuations in book supply, handling eccentric customers, and navigating the shift to online sales.

Bythell's life is interwoven with the unique community of Wigtown, where the bookstore stands as a cultural hub for local artists and traditions. Delve into the world of second-hand bookselling—a world of quaint eccentricities amidst ever-changing technologies.