Higher Life

Spirituality is the quest to develop the spiritual side of your human nature. It has many different shades of meaning for each person. Often shaped by religious and societal norms, spirituality frequently evades many of us as we plod through our daily existence. Our busy lives keep our focus on our day-to-day affairs, and many of us don’t have the energy or inclination to dedicate the precious resources of time and effort into developing this critical aspect of ourselves.

Best friends Waffles and Mochi know that delicious food brings people together. So, when they start new jobs at a supermarket, they want to make a special treat for their coworkers. But what should it be? Their search for an answer will take them around the world as they investigate ingredients, find flavors, and make new friends.

James E. Lovelock says the Earth (Gaia) is a superorganism, made up of all living things, interacting with the air, the oceans, and the surface rocks of the planet. He suggests Gaia takes an active role in keeping the planet safe for life, with automatic feedback mechanisms making adjustments as needed. Lovelock describes feedback mechanisms that are widely accepted. It is the implication that Gaia is somehow self-aware that is controversial.

The era after World War II saw America's urban planners treat the lives of city-dwellers with disdain. It spawned a philosophy of urban renewal that valued the efficient movement of cars more than it valued the lives of people, and that wiped out entire neighborhoods dismissed by bureaucrats as slums. Published in 1961, Jane Jacobs's The Death and Life of Great American Cities examines the shortsightedness and failure of this philosophy. The book turns away from strict statistical study and abstract planning theory in favor of observations.

College admission has become a cutthroat process. Top schools seemingly become more and more difficult to gain entry to with the ever-increasing applicant pool of the best and brightest. For the ambitious student, it can seem like a jungle of insurmountable obstacles and questions. How much does GPA matter? Do I have to have a sport? The essay isn't that important, right? Community service isn't that big of a deal, right? All of these questions and more crop up when trying to navigate high school to advantageously position yourself for college entry.