Don't buy society’s definition of success. Because it’s not working for anyone. It’s not working for women, it's not working for men, it's not working for polar bears, it's not working for the cicadas that are apparently about to emerge and swarm us. It’s only truly working for those who make pharmaceuticals for stress, sleeplessness and high blood pressure.

I usually start with a big question, such as whether people today are happier than in the past, or why men have dominated women in most human societies. And then I follow the question instead of trying to follow my own answer, even if it means I can't formulate any clear theory.

It would be futile to attempt to fit women into a masculine pattern of attitudes, skills and abilities . . .

Don't miss the moment. It's all we have

Have you noticed that when we die, our eulogies celebrate our lives very differently from the way society defines success?

Ninety nine percent of the time it's not urgent and to create a culture where you are constantly plugged in and expected to be always-on is to create a culture of burnout.

The harder you try to suppress the truth, the more inevitable it is that it will find a way to come out.