Causeries are what most people would call blog posts: informal, conversational thoughts or short essays. Recent posts are listed below. Or click above on the title of this post to browse by categories of topics.
Causeries
The dynamic continuities of history
History is as much about the present as it is about the past. Historical thinking involves connecting our present to a continuity that has been going on for millennia.
Writing my way through writer’s block
Writer’s block is an imaginary obstacle conjured by an anxious, insecure, fearful ego. Its best antidote is writing.
On the ranch in 1980
1980 we spent the entire year, all twelve months, on the avocado ranch. It was our magical time in paradise. We were alive then with youth, not quite knowing how happy we were.
Listening for the wisdom
One of the most powerful things in the world is listening” — Scott Neumyer Detail of woodcut illustration from The Adventures of Philip on His Way Through the World by William Makepeace Thackeray (1889), courtesy Internet Archive via Wikimedia Commons (digital image by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) Talking, especially about oneself, seems easy to many […]
Composting my way to a better life
The metaphor of composting works for more than writing. From the compost we spread on barren grounds to the fruits we enjoy and share with others, every small exertion somehow bears fruit.
Contested parks: recreational enjoyment or profitable development?
America has long been confused about whether nature is for us to adore and enjoy, or for us to profit from. This confusion has been painfully clear in our divisive attitudes toward national parks.