I couldn’t put this book down. The writing is gorgeous: lyrical, immersive, richly textured and slyly skeptical of the historical record. Did you know Cleopatra spoke nine languages and was a master of finance and political strategy? At the height of her power, she controlled the entire eastern Mediterranean coast, while keeping those enslaving, conquest-obsessed, sexist Romans at bay.

Crazy! Delighted to let you know

Juneteenth—celebrated on June 19th by most Black Americans—commemorates the legal end of slavery in Texas on June 19th, 1865, more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863.

In honor of Juneteenth, I’m reposting the following essay.

How I Challenged a Privileged White Male Friend’s Racism The hardest part? First, I had to listen to him.

The opening “Half Lesson” is titled: Your Brain Is Not for Thinking. It’s not? No. Your brain’s most important job is predicting your body’s energy needs before they arise so you can efficiently make worthwhile movements and survive to pass your genes to the next generation.

This short, accessible, frequently amusing and deeply subversive book exploded pretty much everything I’ve understood about the brain and how it works. That’s quite a statement given I’m a psychiatrist—my medical specialty is the brain.

For example, memories are not filed like paperwork—that’s a metaphor. They are actually recreated on demand. What! Yes.

Finished! What a slog. 42 boxes! At about 45 books a box that’s a staggering 1,890 books liberated from my library’s bookshelves. As I filled box after box with increasing weariness, what kept me going

…Briefly, after Biden’s inauguration, my fear eased. But, once again I am losing sleep. And what good is that?

I was doing great letting go—releasing books into boxes then sending them on their way to loving new homes—despite a strong urge to cling. Hoarding is selfish. Books need to circulate and be read. But after folding closed the 36th box (at 45 books a box, about 1600 books), I hit the wall.

…Last week, one of the floor-to-ceiling bookcases in my library pulled out of the wall. Death by an overloaded seven-foot monster did not appeal.

How time flies when you’re having a pandemic! While bookie and I never got out of the house for a launch party or book tours, some very nice things happened.

My favorite—