Category Archives: Lending Insight

Published in 1984, Jay McInerney’s novel, ‘Bright Lights, Big City‘, remains one of the sharpest, funniest portraits of life in Manhattan during the 1980s. McInerney’s hero is nameless, telling his story in the rare second person point of view. The … Continue reading →

“A Man Called Otto” features Tom Hanks in the role of a surly curmudgeon who’s actively trying to take his own life. In other words, this is not your typical Tom Hanks movie.

“Stay True” is a memoir by Hua Hsu, a well known writer for The New Yorker and The Atlantic on issues of race, multiculturalism,and the immigrant experience. Hsu’s latest book stays in line with these themes while also delving into … Continue reading →

“The Catcher in the Rye” frequently appears on lists, such as “Top 10 Books You Were Forced to Read in School.” Many Americans have read, or pretended to read, the classic novel by J.D. Salinger. Holden Caulfield, the angst-ridden protagonist, … Continue reading →

The 2022 feature documentary, “Tukdam: Between Worlds,” delves into the strange and unexplainable post-mortem state of “tukdam,” in which a person dies while meditating yet continues to seem very much alive. Tibetan Buddhist monks who die in this state often … Continue reading →

  The name Suleika Jaouad may ring a bell. At the young age of 23, Jaouad was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and given a 35% chance of survival. She faced years of intense chemotherapy and a grueling … Continue reading →