Christian Science Monitor | Editor's Blog

Millennial generation: What's love got to do with it?

Each generation approaches courtship and marriage differently. But even Generation Y, which is reticent about going to the altar, is looking for the same thing: a deep and fulfilling relationship.

Reinvention: The rewards of trying again

First-time wonders deserve our awe and applause. But almost every good thing in life -- from careers to ideas, products to poetry -- is more reinvention than invention.

Green energy isn't always good energy

Wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal seem mostly benign -- in part because they are still a small part of the energy equation. But when green gets big, it can be controversial.

Why play's the thing

While discipline and practice are crucial in life, we need play time to let creativity bloom, to imagine the impossible, to ask the 'what if' questions.

Beyond education: How do you build geniuses?

Developing nations like India are trying to take a great leap forward in education to match their coming leap in population. Can they produce enough good thinkers to produce enough new jobs?

At the dawn of 2012: future imperfect

Predictions are tough, said Yogi Berra, especially about the future. So when you finish reading all the forecasts for the new year, step back and remember: The world's not going to end.

Progress report: Getting better globally

Up close, there are grave problems in the world -- hunger, repression, discrimination, violence. But when you take the long view, you can see evidence of progress on many fronts.

Campaign 2012: Using horse sense to decide

Public opinion has been swinging wildly, but as the 2012 campaign moves into higher gear voters will start making up their minds. Maybe herd mentality isn't a bad way to decide.

After Iraq: What will history say?

As the last US forces leave, we see the eight-year intervention in Iraq only as a sketchy outline. WIth time, a clearer picture will emerge -- and a softer memory may descend.

What kind of leaders do we need?

Leadership used to be associated with gut instinct and my-way-or-the-highway command. Today's leaders know that they have to build teams -- and let teams build the future.

Plymouth Rock: more than a homely boulder

Thanksgiving is a great day for family, food, and football. But what really makes the day great is the idea at the heart of it -- the transformative power of gratitude.

Egypt's future? A democracy -- sort of

The engine of politics is chugging and sputtering as Egyptians prepare for their first post-revolution election. The outcome may not look like a western democracy, but the key is to keep the engine running.

The China paradox: communist capitalism?

The one-time "workers' paradise" is now an economic superpower. The Chinese people are pursuing profits. Will they be able to pursue freedom, too?

Is this the era of leaderlessness?

Their politics may be diametrically opposed, but the Occupy Wall Street protesters and the tea party activists have one thing in common: a deep distrust of leaders. Are they onto something?

What an e-reader can't give you

From the Kindle to the iPad, e-readers are revolutionizing reading. They are handy, instantaneous, and spreading like wildfire. What they will never give you is the pleasure of wandering through the aisles of a bookstore.

Why we need to get smarter about energy

From climate change to economic security, our parlous energy supplies constantly remind us of the need for new ways power the modern world. That reminder becomes all the more urgent when a storm shuts off the lights.

The lesson of Apple: design matters

One man's relentless quest for simple, elegant design in everything from unseen circuit boards to hip retail outlets was evident in the very first Apple computers.

Before 9/11: The tale of an Afghan 'lion'

Journalist Ed Giradet met the remarkable Ahmed Shah Massoud during the Afghan insurgency against the Red Army. Twenty years later, on the eve of 9/11, he tried to see him one last time.

Office vacancy: White-collar woes

White-collar jobs are under unprecedented pressure -- not just because of the sluggish economy but because of structural forces like outsourcing and automation.

Back to school: Doing right by the 'strivers'

In all the attention that is being paid to improving basic skills in American schools, the best and brightest students are too often overlooked. That's bad for them -- and worse for us.