When people travel, what do they see? They see sights, points of interest, experiences they’ll remember the rest of their lives. But when people travel, they forget that they are the most interesting thing. An American could go to India and see the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal has been in Agra for hundreds of…
Read MoreLetting go of a decade
A new decade will start in a few days. So many people are using this as a chance to share what they’ve learned over the last ten years. Me, I tried pursuing what I wanted, falling in with what I thought were opportunities to practice them, building up to writing a book in the middle…
Read MoreRyszard Kapuscinski’s “Five Senses of Journalism”
I’m no good at any languages outside of English. I’m not pretending to be a translator, but for the last month or so I’ve been putting a book in Spanish through Google translate, for the simple reason that I want to know what it says. It’s by one of my favorite authors, Ryszard Kapuscinski. I…
Read MoreOn James Michener
I’ll admit one of my favorite authors, and one of the inspirations behind why I do what I do is James A. Michener. He’s one of the few authors I get exhausted reading because it is somehow dense with content and a breezy read. I’m intimidated by some of his longer works because I know…
Read MoreTravel can be good, but it can encourage the worst in us
Last night I saw “Lawrence of Arabia” for the fourth time in my life, and the second time in a theater. The last time I saw it was in 2012 just before I started working for the publishing company. I was in awe then (and now) and just how otherworldly and vast the desert looks…
Read MoreMake the world go away
While interning with Shanghaiist I was having a drink with my editor, and we speculated why so many journalists become alcoholics, and we decided the reason they do is because a journalist has to know everything about everything that is happening all the time, and alcohol calms one down. It’s nonsense, but that’s how conversations…
Read MoreLowell Thomas’ big break
Lowell Thomas is, depending on how you measure it, the first broadcast journalist. He died before my time, and most of his legacy is buried in archives of analog tape that hasn’t been put on the internet, but I’ve drawn on him for inspiration from time to time. His big story was with T. E….
Read MoreRevisiting the Sunset Cafe
Two and a half years ago I wrote the first newspaper article I’d written in a while, about the closing of Meyers’ Ace Hardware Store in Bronzeville. The store sat in what used to be the Sunset Cafe, and later the Grand Terrace Cafe. When Louis Armstrong arrived in Chicago, he was hired by Carroll…
Read MoreFinding my purpose
This blog is not it, but it’s a step in the right direction I haven’t been to Okinawa (yet), but their word “ikigai” resonates with me. There are plenty of articles and books exploring this concept, and the earliest reference to it I could find is from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, reflecting on what he learned…
Read MoreA guide to China in Chicago
The world’s largest country and where you can find it in the Windy City. China is Illinois’ largest international trading partner. There is also a large Chinese community in Chicago with plenty of opportunities to experience cultural events, business connections, and more. Start here The Chinese consulate is an absolute essential to get in contact…
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