Culture

The book cover for 'Unseen Places' by Anna Kodé features a light blue background. In the center, an orange sphere with a single black eye and a small orange band around it is encircled by a thick, spiraling orange line. The title 'Unseen Places' is in large blue letters at the top, followed by the subtitle 'Rediscovering the Art of Observation' in smaller black text, and the author's name 'Anna Kodé' in large black letters at the bottom.

Unseen Places: The Joy of Discovering Something New by Anna Kodé

Anna Kodé’s Unseen Places explores observation, curiosity and the hidden stories of everyday life, from Italian construction watchers to bonobo apes.

David Byrne, a man with short, wavy gray hair, looks directly at the viewer with a serious expression. He is wearing a blue and white striped suit jacket and is leaning forward with his arms crossed on a dark surface. Behind him, a large, bright red book titled "SLEEPING BEAUTIES: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up" by David Byrne is prominently displayed.

David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties: When Great Ideas Wake Up

David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties explores forgotten ideas, overlooked inventions and artists who waited decades or centuries to be rediscovered.

A black and white promotional poster for a Netflix documentary titled "Who Is Martin Mull?" features a man in a suit, but his lower body is replaced with a collage of images. The man, Martin Mull, has light hair and a mustache, wearing a patterned suit jacket and tie with a dog's face on it. He holds a small, decorated guitar in his left hand and rests his right hand on his hip. His legs are replaced with various images, including a dog's head, a woman's legs in boots, and a chair. The title "WHO IS Martin Mull?" is in a yellow and red retro font at the bottom, with "ONLY ON NETFLIX" below it.

Martin Mull Took Every Job Except Being Ordinary

Martin Mull was more than a television actor. From comedy and music to painting, his unusual career made him impossible to put in one box.

A cheerful yellow smiley face keychain figure, wearing a red shirt with "Smile" written on it, sits prominently in the foreground. It is surrounded by many flat, round yellow smiley face discs, with a large, glowing red neon smiley face sign providing a warm backdrop.

The Secret Origin of the Smiley Face

Harvey Ball created the iconic smiley face in 10 minutes for $45. Here is how a simple insurance-company design became a global symbol and an Acid House icon.

A white goat with large, curved horns and glowing red eyes is centered against a stark red background. The word "EVIL" is painted in large, rough black letters above the goat, with the 'V' positioned directly above its head.

What Is Evil? Are Humans the Only Animals Capable of Evil?

What if evil isn’t a thing at all, but the word we invented for what happens when one person meets their own needs by dominating another person’s life?

Two women dressed as witches, complete with pointed hats, sunglasses, and capes, water ski side-by-side on a sunny day. They both wear dark, strapless swimsuits and are actively skiing, creating wakes behind them. The mood is playful and unusual.

Where Did the Witch Hat Come From? The History of the Pointy Hat

There is no evidence that Salem’s accused witches wore the stereotypical pointy hat. Here’s how fashion, prejudice, art and popular culture created the iconic witch hat.

Snoopy, the white beagle from Peanuts, stands on a bright yellow background, looking down with a happy, expectant expression. His paws are clasped together in front of him, and he is surrounded by three red dog bowls filled with different kinds of food.

When Snoopy Became Snoopy: A Trip Back to 1967

Peanuts: Your Choice, Snoopy takes us back to 1967, when Snoopy, Woodstock and the Flying Ace were becoming the characters we know today.

A red book titled 'Mestra' by Madeline Miller, a short story, stands upright against a dark background. The background features a decorative pattern resembling ancient Greek pottery, with gold-colored figures and foliage on a black surface. The figures depict women in classical attire, one seated and holding a branch, and others standing and holding vessels.

Mestra: The Forgotten Greek Myth Madeline Miller Revives

Madeline Miller returns with Mestra, revisiting a forgotten Greek myth about family, survival, transformation and the power to resist impossible odds.

Whatever Happened to Celebrity Bowling?

Celebrity Bowling put stars like William Shatner, Bob Newhart and Alex Trebek on real bowling lanes. Here’s what happened to the strange 1970s TV show.

Mo Willems Is Writing a Book for Grown-Ups, and I Cannot Wait

Mo Willems is writing a book for grown-ups, sharing stories, artwork and a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process behind The Pigeon, Elephant & Piggie and more.

All The Right Movies: The Kid Who Stayed for the Credits Wrote a Book

A look at All The Right Movies, the book packed with behind-the-scenes facts, interviews and stories movie fans will love.

A whimsical, hand-drawn illustration on a light blue background, featuring various Scottish symbols and creatures. The central text reads "A FEW DAYS IN SCOTLAND" in a banner, surrounded by images of a Highland cow, a thistle, a bagpiper, a puffin, a unicorn, Nessie-like creatures, sheep, a bottle of whisky, and a brick of tablet.

I Really Like Mike Lowery’s Doodles

I discovered Mike Lowery through his Scotland sketchbook and quickly fell in love with his funny drawings, travel sketches and wonderfully weird ideas.