Category Archives: Life
“Journey by Moonlight” by Antal Szerb
Despite my best efforts at revealing a lot of personal information about myself on this blog, most people don’t understand me at all. It’s not for lack of trying, they inquire about my life’s story, they spend days talking with me, they … Continue reading
Loneliness doesn’t kill, people do.
If you want to lead a healthy life and avoid disease and early death, there is an abundance of medical studies with often conflicting advice. Once coffee is bad for you, then coffee is good for you. Once wine is … Continue reading
Suicide is not such a bad thing
Hier findet Ihr die deutsche Fassung dieses Artikels. September 10th is “World Suicide Prevention Day”. Well, at least it is safe to assume that this day was not conceived by the greeting cards industry, for once. Yet the question remains: Suicide Prevention … Continue reading
The three books that influenced me the most
When I was recruited to give a speech at the TEDx conference in Targu Mures, Romania, I was asked to submit a list of the three books that influenced me the most. I have read hundreds, maybe thousands of books, and from … Continue reading
I will give a TEDx Talk on 12 September 2015
“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes,” said Andy Warhol in 1968. That premonition came true 20 years later with the TED conferences. Including the independently organized TEDx conferences, there are now several of these events every day, all over … Continue reading
“In the Sea there are Crocodiles” by Fabio Geda
Every week now, thousands of refugees make it to Europe. Thousands die trying. In debates on immigration, refugees are referred to by the numbers in which they arrive, in economic or in legal terms. It’s time to read the account of one … Continue reading
Who Kills all the Old People?
I usually dismiss all conspiracy theories. I don’t believe in large groups of people getting together and controlling everything else, with nobody – except some blogger in his pyjamas – finding out about it. As someone who subscribes to the theory … Continue reading
6 July is International Kissing Day
Yes, there is a day for EVERYTHING. And today, it’s International Kissing Day. I’d like to draw your attention to some countries where kissing in public is still a crime and is being actively prosecuted: Dubai, Singapore, India, Iran, Indonesia. … Continue reading
My First Day at School
In Germany, on your first day of school your parents prepare a “Schultüte”, which is full of sweets and pencils and crayons and other useful stuff for school. This must have been in 1982. Links: More about education, because I’ve … Continue reading
Monday Morning
Monday morning. The beginning of a new week. A fresh start. Well-rested, with enough sleep and an empowering breakfast behind you, you get to the office. Your desk is still empty, as is the e-mail inbox. Slowly and with a relaxed pace, you … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 