Origins of Woke Ideology: Douglas Murray on 4 Social Shifts

Origins of Woke Ideology: Douglas Murray on 4 Social Shifts

How did wokeism become a major ideology in the West? Does it fill a particular vacuum? How has social media made a difference? In The Madness of Crowds, Douglas Murray explains how woke ideology has gained a foothold in mainstream Western society. He identifies four major societal shifts that he believes influenced these ideological changes. Read more to learn about the origins of woke ideology.

2 Personal Beliefs About Success You Should Leave Behind

2 Personal Beliefs About Success You Should Leave Behind

How do the people around you define success? Do they get it right, or do their expectations make you feel like you come up short? Author Paul Millerd contends that many people hold two mistaken personal beliefs about success. First, you must meet certain cultural benchmarks to be considered successful. Second, there’s a certain “happiness destination” you should aim for. Read more to learn about these beliefs and what Millerd recommends you embrace instead.

Sam Harris on Determinism: Every Event Is Caused by Other Events

Sam Harris on Determinism: Every Event Is Caused by Other Events

What’s determinism? Why does Sam Harris adopt this philosophy? Does it necessarily imply fatalism? According to Sam Harris, determinism is the way the world works: We don’t (and can’t) have free will. Like other determinists, he believes that what we feel about our agency misleads us; what we experience when we’re thinking about a decision doesn’t indicate the true causes of our thoughts and actions. Read more for Harris’s explanation of the determinist perspective in the debate over free will.

How to Write Complex Characters Your Readers Can Relate To

How to Write Complex Characters Your Readers Can Relate To

How is it possible that people can relate to a fish named Nemo? Why is Annie Wilkes (the kidnapper in Stephen King’s Misery) so terrifying? You’re not one-dimensional, nor is anyone else. Real people are complex, and fictional characters must reflect that complexity if they’re going to be true to life and relatable. We’ve put together some insights into complex characters from Stephen King, Robert McKee, Lisa Cron, and Thomas C. Foster. Keep reading to learn how to write complex characters that will help bring your story to life.

Is Wokeness Bad? Douglas Murray Counts the Ways

Is Wokeness Bad? Douglas Murray Counts the Ways

Is wokeness bad? Does it harm society or have the potential to do so? Douglas Murray has a definite response to those questions. He believes that wokeness is hard to challenge without suffering public ridicule and shaming, which is part of the problem. But, we must fight this ideology, or our society could become even more fragmented, chaotic, and conceivably violent. Continue reading to learn why Murray believes wokeness is bad for society.

How to Find Your Freelancer Niche: Take the Path of Trial & Error

How to Find Your Freelancer Niche: Take the Path of Trial & Error

How do you go about finding your niche as a freelancer? How can you be sure that you’ve found it? Paul Millerd stepped off the default career path and embarked on “the pathless path” of freelancing. He now helps others find their way. He shares two criteria that you need to look for and shares advice on how to reach those goals. Keep reading to learn how to find your freelancer niche in today’s world.

Compatibilist Free Will: What It Is & Why It’s Wrong (Sam Harris)

Compatibilist Free Will: What It Is & Why It’s Wrong (Sam Harris)

Do external factors determine our choices and behaviors? Or, do we operate freely? Compatibilists say “Yes.” Compatibilist free will describes the belief that both external factors and free will cause our behavior. Compatibilists bring together the ideas of determinists and libertarians, contending that we’re dealing with an “and” rather than an “or” when it comes to the way our will works. Continue reading to get an explanation (and an argument) from Sam Harris on the matter.

Basic Story Structure Is More Complex Than You Might Think

Basic Story Structure Is More Complex Than You Might Think

If you have a beginning, a middle, and an end, do you have a story? Is that all there is to story structure? Story-writing experts generally agree that effective stories loosely follow the same pattern. This is called story structure, and most everyone knows that the basic story structure is beginning-middle-end. But, it’s not quite that simple. Read more to get advice from Rob Biesenbach and Robert McKee on how to leverage the basic story structure for the greatest impact.

How to Make Society Better: 2 Important Actions You Can Take

How to Make Society Better: 2 Important Actions You Can Take

Where do you look to find meaning in life? How do you perceive injustices in society? In The Madness of Crowds, Douglas Murray shares his concerns about where society is heading. He offers two practical steps that each person can take to turn things in a positive direction: depoliticize your personal identity and gain a healthy perspective on injustice. Keep reading to learn how to make society better with these recommendations.

Freelancer Motivation: 3 Ways to Keep Going Strong on Your Own

Freelancer Motivation: 3 Ways to Keep Going Strong on Your Own

Do you work for yourself and find it hard to stay motivated? What untapped sources of motivation are out there waiting for you? With a traditional job, it’s easy to know whether you’re on the right track—either you’re performing well and achieving traditional benchmarks, or you’re not. When you’re self-employed, it’s a little more complicated. Continue reading to learn three sources of freelancer motivation you should tap into.