Emily Brooks

As a whole, yes, it can produce things that will rival Katy Perry’s greatest hits. It can produce books that will rival James Patterson’s greatest novels. But I don’t think it will ever produce something like Merzbow, Japanese noise music made from the sounds of seals and distorted drill bits. It won’t make that because it’s not what most people... See more

“A third place is a familiar public spot where you regularly connect with others known and unknown, over a shared interest or activity.”

As the news looms larger and larger, we all feel a bit smaller every day. But third places shrink our world down to fit us; there, we are recognized by others in a world that often does not recognize how soft and tender we each are. These community spaces are fundamental supporters of our psychological wellbeing, as was researched in California... See more

I used to be an advocate of productivity. I coached clients on how to squeeze every ounce of potential from the hour. I believed productivity was the means and the key to a purposeful life. In actual fact, my convictions on the subject were ramrod straight and sharp like a new razor.

Then without warning, things fell apart in April of this year,... See more

But a place outside of home and work, Oldenburg argued, is necessary for public wellbeing. “What suburbia cries for are the means for people to gather easily, inexpensively, regularly, and pleasurably,” said Oldenburg. “A ‘place on the corner,’ real life alternatives to television, easy escapes from the cabin fever of marriage and family life that... See more