The Unwritten Epic of You
Ever feel like your life is too ordinary to be a story? Think again. This piece explores why your stories matter more than you know and how your unique perspective is a form of literature waiting to be recognized.
Magical Realism | Listening Comprehension Practice
Improve your English listening for TOEFL, IELTS, and SAT with this university lecture on magical realism. Includes a full script, vocabulary, and 10 exam-style questions.
Literature & Us 1 | The Human Algorithm: Why Books Beat Bots in the Age of AI
In a world of AI and data, are books obsolete? Discover why literature’s power to cultivate empathy, critical thinking, and human connection is more vital than ever.
The Pen as a Lever: How Great Books Sparked Real-World Revolutions
Explore how literature acts as a powerful catalyst for social and political change. Discover case studies like “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and “The Gulag Archipelago” that prove a single story can change the world.
This Week’s Theme: Literature and Us
Explore this week’s theme, “Literature and Us” , with new podcasts, articles , and quizzes that reveal why stories are essential in the age of AI. Plus, launch our new 10-episode series, “The Story of Literature: A Global Journey”, and discover the power of storytelling.
The Psychology of Peace: How Empathy, Forgiveness, and Trust Outperform Aggression
Peace begins in the mind. Explore the psychology and neuroscience behind conflict and reconciliation—why empathy, forgiveness, and trust beat aggression—and learn practical language, speaking tools, and writing techniques to build peace where you live.
The Economics of Peace: Why Stability Out-Earns War—In Budgets, Jobs, and Daily Life
War drains treasuries; peace fills them. This deep dive shows how stability boosts trade, investment, innovation, and human capital—and offers practical language, speaking tips, and a writing clinic to turn insight into action.
Peace Parks | Listening Comprehension Practice
Practice high-level listening with a lecture on Peace Parks—transboundary wildlife corridors co-managed across borders to protect biodiversity, grow ecotourism, and support conflict-free livelihoods. Includes advanced vocabulary and a 10-question MCQ quiz with detailed feedback.
Echoes of a Silent Past: What If War Was Never Invented?
Imagine a history with no battles, no soldiers, no weapons. We explore a world without war, speculating how technology, art, and even our own identities would be different. Would we be more advanced or forever stuck in the past? A thought experiment that will change how you see our present.
Who Benefits From War? Following the Incentives That Keep Peace Out of Reach
If everyone says they want peace, why is war so common? This deep dive traces the incentives—from industry and politics to identity and media—that profit from conflict, and shows how to redesign them so peace can compete and win.
From Foes to Neighbors | Listening Comprehension Practice
Sharpen your listening for international exams with a lecture on contact theory—how intergroup contact, equal status, common goals, and institutional support turn rivals into neighbors via co-ops, joint projects, and daily empathy builders. Includes advanced vocabulary and a 10-question MCQ quiz with detailed feedback.
The Ripple Effect of Calm: Does World Peace Begin With You?
Does world peace feel like an impossible dream? We explore the profound question of whether collective harmony can be achieved without individual inner peace. Dive into the connection between inner peace and world peace, and discover if the path to a better world starts within your own mind.
