Author: Edward Ortiz

Book Review: The Last Days of Socrates

I have been focusing part of my reading plan on the subject of philosophy. My main interest is the Stoics, but I took a little detour to examine Socrates. After all, the Stoics considered him a role model and a sage. I read The Republic by Plato, which focuses on justice and what a just … Continue reading Book Review: The Last Days of Socrates →

Marriage Is a Partnership, Not a Competition

I recently read an article in The Economist that discusses, among other things, how men suffer serious psychological distress when their wives earn more than they do or become the primary breadwinner in the household. The article specifically states: "Men whose wives and partners are the primary earners are roughly one and a half times … Continue reading Marriage Is a Partnership, Not a Competition →

Book Review: The Federalist

The Federalist, edited by J.R. Pole, was a great read, but I'm glad the American Heart Association says it's fine to drink up to five cups of coffee a day because I needed a few of those—especially while reading Alexander Hamilton's essays. Still, the book was absolutely worth it. For those who may not know, … Continue reading Book Review: The Federalist →

Puerto Rico’s Constitution and the Island’s Unfinished Political Story

Two years ago, I wrote a post titled Reflecting on Puerto Rico's 72-Year Constitutional Legacy. As the island approaches the 74th anniversary of its Constitution on July 25, I decided to update that post. At some point, Americans will have to decide what to do not only with Puerto Rico but also with American Samoa, … Continue reading Puerto Rico’s Constitution and the Island’s Unfinished Political Story →

Book Review: Intervention Earth

“People think we’re raising the alarm because human pressures are increasing, but that’s not the case at all. It’s just that we are learning how the planet works, and the more we learn, the more we realize how vulnerable she is.” — p. 27 As controversial subjects go, climate change is near the top of … Continue reading Book Review: Intervention Earth →

Our Route 66 Adventure Through Illinois

Back in March, we visited the state capital of Illinois, Springfield, and one of our stops was the Illinois State Fairgrounds, where one of the Route 66 markers is located. After taking pictures and reading the information about this historic highway, along with the map highlighting the Illinois portion of the route, we thought it … Continue reading Our Route 66 Adventure Through Illinois →

If Everything Is a Priority, Nothing Is

Summer is here, and people are starting to enjoy outdoor activities with their families and friends. Others are traveling and looking for a chance to recharge after working hard since the Christmas holidays. But once we get into August, things will ramp up again as kids return to school and life becomes busy once more. … Continue reading If Everything Is a Priority, Nothing Is →

Book Review: The Righteous Mind

“People bind themselves into political teams that share moral narratives. Once they accept a particular narrative, they become blind to alternative morals worlds.” (p. XXIII) Photo by Ed Ortiz In early June, I wrote a post titled The Human Side of Economics. In it, I discussed a review by The Economist of Alvin Roth’s book, … Continue reading Book Review: The Righteous Mind →

What Kind of Leader Are You Under Pressure?

It has been a while since I last wrote a post about leadership, so while reading the latest articles in the Harvard Business Review, I came across a piece titled “6 Ways Leaders Harness Stress” that I found particularly interesting and decided to share with my WordPress community, because after all, we are all leaders.  … Continue reading What Kind of Leader Are You Under Pressure? →