Showing results for "Ethics of Life" in Biographies & Memoirs

U.G. Krishnamurti famously described enlightenment as a neurobiological state of being with no religious, psychological or mystical implications. He did not lecture, did not set up organizations, held no gatherings and professed to have no message for mankind. Known as the ‘anti-guru’, the...

*Canada Reads 2019 Longlist *Winner of the 2017 Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction Do no harm is our most important rule, but we break it all the time trying to do good. In this deeply personal book, winner of the 2017 Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction...

There is no higher praise we can give people than to say they have good character. But what does this mean, really? What makes this quality so essential to achieving personal success and fulfillment? More importantly, how can we build our own character and live more satisfying lives? Reflecting society's diversity, the contributors to this unique collection of essays speak from various cultural and professional backgrounds to share their observations on living with integrity, honesty, and compassion.

Noted transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau spent two years, two months, and two days chronicling his near-isolation in the small cabin he built in the woods near Walden Pond on land owned by his mentor, the father of Transcendentalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Immersing himself in nature and solitude, Thoreau sought to develop a greater understanding of society amidst a life of self-reliance and simplicity. Originally published in 1854, Walden remains one of the most celebrated works in American literature.

A tale of adventure, pushing limits, humanity and the transformative power of challenging expeditions to help us grow wiser, more compassionate and purposeful with our livesWild Wisdom recounts the story of social entrepreneur and philanthropist Christine Amour-Levar and the all-female...

An exploration into the lives of people who embrace two or more religious traditions, and what this growing community tells us about change in our society Named a best book of 2018 by Library Journal In the United States, we often assume religious and spiritual identity are pure, static, and...

Martín Prechtel’s experiences growing up on a Pueblo Indian reservation, his years of apprenticing to a Guatemalan shaman, and his flight from Guatemala’s brutal civil war to life in the U.S. inform this lyrical blend of memoir, cultural commentary, and spiritual call to arms. The Unlikely...

Issa Rae preferred working alone. She was particular that way. But as her career grew, she understood that sharing control didn’t necessarily mean losing it—or her vision. And that sometimes, carefully chosen Hollywood allies could actually enhance it. From rom-coms to blockbusters, from writers’ rooms to film sets—including Barbie—the former independent spirit discovers the superpower of collaboration while remaining unapologetically herself.

Issa Rae was born in Los Angeles but never felt she was quite the city’s type. Though each inspiration destination—from Potomac to Harlem—left its mark, Issa chases her dreams back to her sun-soaked roots. It’s there that Issa finally finds her voice, her wings, and the vibrant heartbeat of a creative community. Issa’s true muse had been waiting all along for her to come home.

Even at seven years old, Issa Rae meant business, conducting herself with entrepreneurial authority on a toy phone in her bedroom. Eventually, it was a matter of convincing others that she had a lot to say and getting them to listen. From her first web series, Awkward Black Girl, to network disappointments to HBO triumphs, Issa charts her aspirational journey—self-doubts and all—of being taken seriously, finding her voice, and shaping it into a groundbreaking career.

From the imagination stage to actually making the magic happen, writer-producer-actress Issa Rae is a multitasking phenomenon. She’s also an inveterate procrastinator. But even that’s part of her creative strategy. Blending personal anecdotes with practical insights, Issa explores the challenges of having to constantly deliver, the importance of “workations,” and the value of embracing a unique creative rhythm in an increasingly demanding world.

Remember a mortifying moment that made you self-aware? Honestly, Issa Rae remembers a few. In this illuminating essay, Issa follows her shoulda/coulda/woulda journey from awkward schoolgirl to a Hollywood life under the spotlight. Along the way she offers unfiltered insights into unwittingly courting controversy, curating a cautious but always authentic identity, and navigating the gap between private truth and public perception.