Parenting a Child With a Disability: Illness vs. Identity

A sketch of a mother and a child wearing glasses illustrates parenting a child with a disability

What does it mean to value a life beyond its capabilities or perceived “normalcy”? How can parents navigate both accepting their child’s identity while seeking appropriate support for their disability? In Far From the Tree, Andrew Solomon explores the complex intersection between illness and identity when parenting a child with a disability. He presents a nuanced view that balances the medical model of disability with the social model that recognizes disability as both a natural variation and a socially constructed experience. Keep reading to discover how parents can embrace their child’s unique identity while advocating for a more inclusive world.

Horizontal Identities: What Sets Us Apart (Andrew Solomon)

A young man in a wheelchair in a park illustrates horizontal identities

How do certain traits become meaningful parts of our identity? Why do some differences from our parents shape how we see ourselves while others don’t? Andrew Solomon explores the distinction between traits we get from our parents (vertical identities) and those that set us apart from them (horizontal identities). This framework helps us understand how families navigate unexpected differences and how people develop a sense of self when they differ significantly from their parents. Keep reading to discover how horizontal identities affect both parents and children and how families can embrace differences rather than trying to “fix” them.

My Child Is Different: How to Parent Exceptional Children

A mother and a teenager (who's wearing a T-shirt with a pride flag on it) illustrates parenting exceptional children

What’s it like to raise a child with a completely different identity from your own? How can parents navigate the complex emotions and practical challenges that come with raising exceptional children? In Far From the Tree, psychologist Andrew Solomon examines “horizontal identities”—traits that exceptional children have that their parents don’t share or expect. He explores how parents face the dual challenges of understanding unfamiliar differences and overcoming the desire for their children to fit conventional definitions of “normal.” If you’ve ever said, “My child is different,” continue reading to find strategies for parenting exceptional children and to see how this

Frames of Mind by Howard Gardner: Book Overview

A drawing of a woman sitting cross-legged and reading a red book

Do you wonder what your unique intelligence profile might look like? Have you ever felt smart in ways that traditional IQ tests don’t measure? In his book Frames of Mind, Howard Gardner proposes that humans possess seven distinct types of intelligence rather than a single general capacity for learning. Gardner’s theory challenges the traditional view of intelligence, suggesting each person has different strengths across multiple intelligences. Continue reading to discover how understanding your own intelligence profile could transform your approach to learning and problem-solving.

What Is the Nature of Intelligence? Howard Gardner Explains

An artistic depiction of the human brain illustrates the question, "What is the nature of intelligence?"

What is the nature of intelligence? Is intelligence an objective thing, or is there some subjectivity to it? Howard Gardner explores this fascinating topic in his book Frames of Mind, where he presents criteria for identifying various forms of intelligence. He argues that the nature of intelligence is far more complex than traditional IQ tests suggest. Keep reading to discover how Gardner’s groundbreaking ideas about the nature of intelligence might change your understanding of human capability.

What Is Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences?

Three image panels (two men and one woman) depicts the question "What is Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences?"

What is Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences? Are there truly different types of intelligence beyond a single IQ score? Is there a scientific basis for the theory? Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences challenges the traditional view that intelligence is a single trait. In his book Frames of Mind, Gardner proposes that humans possess several distinct intelligences, each handling different kinds of information and problem-solving abilities. Read on to understand Gardner’s theory and consider how your brain might be wired for unique forms of brilliance that standard IQ tests never measure.

Princess Diana’s Relationships Outside Marriage: A Quest for Love

Princess Diana looking away from Prince Charles illustrates Princess Diana's relationships outside of their marriage

Why did Princess Diana pursue relationships outside her marriage to Prince Charles? What drove her interest in certain men during this tumultuous period? In his book Diana, Ken Wharfe offers firsthand observations of Princess Diana’s relationships that reveal the complex emotional landscape behind her associations with James Hewitt and Oliver Hoare, painting a picture of a woman seeking genuine connection during her troubled marriage. Keep reading to explore the hidden details of these significant chapters in Princess Diana’s life, told through the eyes of someone who witnessed it all.

Bill Bryson’s Shakespeare: The World as Stage (Book Overview)

A young woman with long dark hair and red dress sitting down and reading a book in a room with stone walls and a window

How did a man from a small English town become history’s most celebrated playwright? What enabled Shakespeare to survive the deadly diseases of 16th-century England and go on to create masterpieces? Bill Bryson’s Shakespeare: The World as Stage unravels the mysteries surrounding the Bard’s life, from his humble beginnings in Stratford to his unparalleled rise in London’s theater scene. He explores everything from Shakespeare’s suspected portraits to his innovative contributions to the English language. Continue reading to take a journey through time to discover the remarkable story of literature’s greatest voice.

The 3 Conceptual Intelligences: Howard Gardner Explains

A drawing of a person writing in a book or journal with concepts depicted as objects illustrates conceptual intelligence

How does your brain process language, numbers, and music? What makes some people naturally gifted in writing, mathematics, or musical composition? In his book Frames of Mind, Howard Gardner identifies three distinct conceptual intelligences that shape how we learn and interact with abstract ideas. Linguistic, logical-mathematical, and musical intelligences each follow unique developmental patterns and are associated with different areas of the brain. Read more to explore these fascinating mental capabilities and discover how they manifest in both everyday skills and extraordinary genius.

Why Princess Diana’s Activism Inspired Both Praise & Criticism

Princess Diana with ambassador of peace Sri Chinmoy at Kensington Palace in 1997 illustrates Princess Diana's activism

What did Princess Diana’s activism truly mean to her beyond the public eye? How did her unconventional approach to charitable work reshape the role of royalty in social causes? In Diana, Ken Wharfe reveals the genuine heart behind Princess Diana’s activism, from her groundbreaking work with AIDS patients to her fearless campaign against landmines. Her hands-on approach and heartfelt bond with those in need marked a huge shift from traditional royal philanthropy. Read more to learn how the People’s Princess transformed charitable work from formal ceremony into meaningful action.