Francois-Marie Arouet, more famously known as Voltaire, was a French playwright, novelist, and philosopher, etc. who lived from 1694 to 1778. His name is often mentioned when historians discuss the Age of Enlightenment, a period that saw many societies set aside superstition, dogma, and intolerance, and embrace reason, moderation, and acceptance. He may have been … More A Little Voltaire, S’il Vous Plait
I’m delighted to announce the Rye Field Publications release of The Old Money Book in Taiwan. My experience with Mia and her team there has been wonderful. Your eyes do not deceive you: the cover is unique. Apparently, animated characters are very effective in marketing self-help books to Taiwanese readers. I am very excited to … More Just Published! The Old Money Book in Taiwan
This week, I met David, our longtime foreign correspondent, for lunch at the legendary Le Procope restaurant in Paris. It was a chance for us to catch up in person, as David travels frequently and too many of our conversations are conducted by email rather than face to face. The last time I patronized the … More Lunch at Le Procope Paris
Like many if not all European countries, France has its own national healthcare system. My personal exposure to it during my years here has been minimal. I’ve been lucky in that my medical needs here in Paris have been limited to a single, fairly routine eye surgery, regular dental visits, and regular visits to the … More The American Hospital of Paris
As a young man, my formal education was cut short. As a result, I’ve spent my later years reading the works of great authors that I should have read years ago, exploring history I should have already been familiar with, devouring the biographies of others in order to gain a better understanding of my place … More Jane Austen: The Original Snark
My first reaction on this blog to the rash of headlines about artificial intelligence was, in retrospect, a little reactionary and a little short-sighted. I simply prefer a human experience when I conduct a transaction to an interaction with AI. Call me old-fashioned, a lot of people do. I initially saw AI as an option … More The Economic Tsunami
Every year at this time, I offer up my best advice for a back-to-school wardrobe that is lean, economical, durable, versatile, and timeless. There are rarely any surprises: polo shirts, oxford cloth button downs, khakis, chinos, or corduroys, deck shoes and LL Bean boots, wool crew neck sweaters, and the inevitable blue blazer. Nothing with … More The Annual Old Money Back To School Wardrobe List
Years ago on this blog, I warned of the dangers of social media. Now, one by one, governments, school districts, and concerned parents are restricting the use of mobile phones and access to social media for children under the age of 16. Entire countries have banned the use of mobile phones in classrooms. Lovely. Wonderful. … More The Moat Around Your Mind
Every couple of weeks, I receive an email from an American who’s considering moving abroad. They want to know about my experiences. They want to know what I was thinking. They want to know the costs. They want to know the trade-offs. They want, in short, to know if they should leave the US, too. … More Should I Stay or Should I Go?
It’s been eventful here recently, hence the extended absence from the blog. On the professional front, I’ve been digging into revisions on the novel (an Italian renaissance trilogy) for the past couple of months. The manuscript is finally in a presentable condition, even though involved parties (agents, editors, and publishers) will certainly have their comments … More Update From Paris