CATEGORY: GREAT THINKERS (13 min)
 

The Nonconformist

Ever found yourself reading a great thinker for class . . . and wishing he wrote more simply?

Thomas Sowell is one of those unusual intellectuals who conveys rich ideas in plain language. No jargon. No academic terms.

He doesn’t want to make his readers feel stupid—he wants to connect with them.

3 Things to Know About Thomas Sowell

In City Journal, Coleman Hughes explores Thomas Sowell’s thought and legacy. Sowell is best known for economics, but his writings also cover history and political philosophy.

Here’s what you should know about Sowell:

• His fans include a wide variety of interesting people, from Steven Pinker to Kanye West
   
• While many economists ask why poverty exists, Sowell “reverses the explanandum” to ask a better question: Why does wealth exist?
   
• He fits in none of today’s popular identity boxes, making his ideas challenging—and essential to understanding a wide variety of cultural phenomena

Whether you’re familiar with Sowell or not, this article is a great introduction to a great thinker.

Bonus Tip: Follow Sowell’s quotes on Twitter for great insights.

CATEGORY: COMMUNITY (10 min)
 

Building Community in a Time of Loneliness

Are you going to college this fall?

It’s not a trick question, but in the days of COVID-19, it sounds like one. What does “going to college” even mean now?

It might mean you’re taking classes online. Maybe you’ll be on campus, just with restricted class sizes and campus access.

Either way, the situation is complicating community for . . . well, everyone.

Three Ways to Keep Community Alive

In the Imaginative Conservative, Zachary Schmoll offers some suggestions for intentional community building:

1. Start with your local community. No matter where you are, look for ways to get involved in your house of worship, a charity, or any other nonprofit association.
    
2. Embrace subsidiarity, or the focus on local relationships over online ones. Schmoll argues that this is your first circle of influence and accountability.
    
3. Whatever you do, prioritize community. No, it won’t always be convenient. But it’s one of the most important things you can have.

We’ll add a fourth suggestion: Consider starting a reading or discussion group. This is a great way to foster meaningful community and discussion—and it’s easier than you think. Discussion groups also help you build meaningful community in an online setting, which, for better or worse, is becoming a reality.

CATEGORY: POETRY (5 min)
 

Why You Need Poetry

Believe it or not, reading poetry is good for you.

In this week’s archive pull, Fr. Dwight Longenecker teaches you the rewards of reading and writing poems.

One of the biggest reasons for reading poetry is that it puts you in touch with your emotions.

And people think conservatives care only about facts and logic . . .