Conservative columnist David Brooks explores the four commitments that define a life of meaning and purpose: to a spouse and family, to a vocation, to a philosophy or faith, and to a community. Our personal fulfillment depends on how well we choose and execute these commitments. Brooks looks at a range of people who have lived joyous, committed lives, and who have embraced the necessity and beauty of dependence. He gathers their wisdom on how to...

Shares expert advice for how to avoid and diffuse drama-related challenges including jealousy, gossip, and cyberbullying, offering insights into the psychology of drama based on the experiences of real girls.

"Harvard University's Joseph Henrich, Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, delivers a bold, epic investigation into the development of the Western mind, global psychological diversity, and its impact on the world"-- Perhaps you are WEIRD: raised in a society that is Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. If so, you're rather psychologically peculiar. Henrich illuminates the origins and evolution of family structures,...

This lighthearted story about manners and behavior provides an opening for parents to talk with their child about socially acceptable behavior.

Down the road from a working-class British pub, along the brick wall of a narrow alley, if the conditions are exactly right, you'll find the entrance to Slade House. A stranger will greet you by name and invite you inside. At first, you won't want to leave. Later, you'll find that you can't. Every nine years, the house's residents -- an odd brother and sister -- extend a unique invitation to someone who's different or lonely: a precocious teenager,...

"Resonating with our most profound life experiences, this book explains why we trust other people and form lifelong bonds, and why we ignore these connections at our peril. Pinker answers crucial questions about human relationships in a digital age, such as: How important is face-to-face interaction as children develop new skills, when adults fall in love, when they negotiate business transactions, and as they age? How did humans evolve such finely-tuned...

Two brief stories demonstrate the importance of staying calm and thinking about how to solve the problem when things do not work on the first try.