Topic: Ben Franklin

Why I won't miss Oprah after her last show

'The Oprah Winfrey Show' ends May 25 but others who dispense wisdom will fill that American demand for self-help advice. Oprah had her turn, and knew when to quit.

Letters to the Editor – Weekly Issue of May 9, 2011

Readers write in about the root problem of overpopulation, servitude to technology, and the overhyped demise of traditional news.

Classic review: John Adams

President John Adams wins overdue accolades in David McCullough's searching biography.

Daylight savings ends: Time to 'fall back'

Daylight Savings Time ends in the wee hours of Sunday morning, so set your clocks back an hour. But where did this tradition come from?

On July 4, the Founders didn't create America; America created the Founders

The principles of the Declaration of Independence were already fiercely held in the hearts and minds of everyday Americans before July 4, 1776.

Hamlet’s BlackBerry

Mining Plato, Shakespeare, and Thoreau for tips on better living in the digital age.

Parrot and Olivier in America

A French aristocrat and his British servant travel to America to study its penal system in this unlikely but delightful early 19th-century buddy comedy.

Wait! Daylight Saving Time will cost me money?

Turn your clocks forward Sunday morning. But Daylight Saving Time will cost you, according to one study.

The Rumford fireplace - energy-efficiency rediscovered

In the 1800s, a Rumford fireplace was the latest word in energy efficiency. They're still being built.

Five things you may not know about the Fourth

Buried in the history of this annual celebration are some surprises.

On Constitution Day, the document lives on in political debates

In many ways, views about the Constitution are reflected in the debate over how President Obama is handling the issues of the day.

How Lincoln Learned to Read

Daniel Wolff examines the lives of 12 Americans and the educations that made them.

Lasers That Stoke the clouds

What's in your wallet?

People carry money about, save it, and spend it, but often know almost nothing about it.

Readers' picks

Readers tell us what they are reading.