My Top Performing Medium Stories

Lessons in civility — The midterms offered some relief to those of us concerned about the future of democracy in the United States. Elections deniers in swing states lost their bids, most eventually conceding defeat. …

A 30-year project based on the law of diminishing marginal utility — In 1991, I took an economics class that changed my life. My professor spoke broken English, often responded to students dismissively, and by all other accounts, did little to advance the college teaching profession. Yet, she told one impactful story that sparked an idea, one that enabled me to curb…

Ego plus celebrity plus success makes a dangerous combination — Would you take medical advice from a world-renowned pastry chef? Of course. Why wouldn't you? If they're recognized experts in one domain, they must know something about science, foreign policy, and economics. As absurd as that statement reads, it models how we often inflate an individual's expertise in one subject…

The six steps — I’m 51 years old, and to this day, whenever I tell my mother I have a cold or she notices I have the sniffles, she always asks, what are you taking for it? “Nothing,” I respond. Despite Mankind’s many marvels of modern medicine, we still lack a cure for the…

Here’s how I reclaimed it — Not long ago, I wrote several viral stories about productivity. At the rate I pumped out material, I considered myself an authority on the subject. …

Good intentions but terrible execution — I was one of the lucky ones, born to parents wealthy enough to pay for my college degree back before the cost exploded into the stratosphere. I don't object to allocating tax dollars to aid today's borrowers, many of whom fell victim to predatory loan programs. It's good news for…

If you’ve never fallen for a con, you haven’t lived — In 1995, nothing proved as insidious to desperate, demoralized, and downcast souls as the 3 AM infomercial. Most of the wares peddled on these shows were of nominal cost, but if you happened to be in the market for financial freedom, watch out. You could find yourself bewitched by a…

The five techniques — You know when someone’s judging you harshly even when they won’t say it to your face. Their eyes narrow, lips tighten, forehead creases. They usually refrain from shaking their head unless they want to provoke a response. …