Longtime readers of my blog know how much James Suzman’s first book influenced my thinking and views of possessions, community, ownership, modernity, and a range of similar topics. A top question I’ve asked anyone who might know is how populations that didn’t grow despite sharing our biology that has grown exponentially for centuries. If knowing history is wise and knowing history farther back wiser, James’s living with the San Bushmen[…] Keep reading →

I posted last year about finding syringes in Washington Square Park. I still find them. Wednesday, I met my dad at Penn Station as he was passing through Manhattan and had some time. The weather was warm but not too hot, so we chose to sit outside. We went to the steps of Moynihan Hall, the new train station across Eighth Avenue that used to be a post office. Here’s[…] Keep reading →

Andrew co-hosted me on MAGAMedia with past guest Rob Harper, so we’ve spoken there several times, but this conversation is our first one-on-one. We start by talking about our meeting and how talking to each other means talking about issues we normally don’t in our usual circles, but that we enjoy learning from each other, not getting angry despite different viewpoints. We both want to increase meaningful communication as opposed[…] Keep reading →

Isn’t a refrigerator essential? Isn’t life with them better? I thought so. I’ll quote my mom from my podcast to illustrate where I came from: I grew up where it was easily ninety degrees every single day. In fact, where I worked, the store if it got ninety degrees outside we got to close the store and go home because it was that unsafe. To me, air conditioning was wonderful.[…] Keep reading →

Mark Goulston hosted me on his podcast My Wakeup Call. He is the bestselling author of Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior and Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone among other books. Recent guests on his podcast include Ram Charan, Jordan Peterson, and the CEO of the 76ers (I grew up in Philadelphia). We’ve also overlapped many, including Jeff Madoff and Dorie[…] Keep reading →

If you choose to act on sustainability, you will face darkness. You will want to give up. You will feel alone, misunderstood. I don’t say so to dissuade, but to prepare to face a part of all of us. Nobody is polluting because they are monsters. We’re all human. What is the alternative to confronting this part of us? To give up? To try to ignore and forget and try[…] Keep reading →

I spoke to my father in the months leading to last November’s election. He lives in Pennsylvania, a state that could have gone either way. He was concerned about the outcome. I suggested speaking to people who might vote differently than him to influence them. He wouldn’t. He would only speak to people who were voting his way. It’s easier not to face conflict, let alone resolve it, at least[…] Keep reading →