William Zinsser’s book On Writing Well emphasizes clarity and brevity. He urges writers to cut excess, avoid jargon, and express ideas simply. Don’t fret about style. Strip your sentences, and your ...

I discovered the writings of Charles Bukowski—who some call “The Poet of Skid Row”—in the 70s, when I was a young man. At the ...

My grandfather traveled by boat from eastern Europe in 1909. He told me he was sick and couldn’t eat the greasy stew that was served twice a day. They stopped at multiple ports taking over 25 days to ...

The histories of tiramisu, chicken tikka masala, and General Tso’s chicken must go back a long way, right? Turns out no, they’re from the 1970s in the first two cases, 1955 in the third. Other famous ...

Sign up here to get What’s in my NOW? a week early in your inbox. Breville Tea Maker – I’m a tea snob and this little wonder ...

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“Winsome” is the kind of word no one ever says out loud; if you encounter it, it’s only in text. But “winsome” is exactly the right word to describe the Musnet series, which follows an impoverished ...

Good news for U.S. passport holders this week. First of all, the State Department is leaping into the modern age and you can now renew your passport online after a successful beta text. Just don’t ...

Some of my most intense reading experiences have been listening to an audible book. When I was commuting to work, audible books transformed my commute from dread to anticipation. The best books would ...