Thomas Jefferson was much more than a president. Over his long lifetime, Jefferson worked as a lawyer, philosopher, architect, diplomat, and statesman. As a young man, he was a dedicated student at the University...
Toni Morrison was a Nobel Prize winning American novelist and poet responsible for novels like Song of Solomon, Beloved, and The Bluest Eye. Throughout her career, Morrison addressed difficult issues like sexual assault, race...
Walt Whitman is one of the most modern poets in the sense that his ideas and meanings have shaped the world we live in. And although these verses were written some 150 years ago,...
What does the book The Plague by the French author Albert Camus have to tell us today? Camus was an author, journalist, playwright, political activist and reluctant philosopher, born in Algiers on November 7,...
Nikola Tesla is often called the father of modern electricity. In fact, many credit him as being the coiner of the idea of an electric railway that operated throughout the world. It was in...
An Alabama-born motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar helped many people recognize their inner selves and do their best in that which they desired. His interest in helping others stemmed from his firm Christian faith and...
Mother Teresa or Saint Teresa of Calcutta was born in 1910 in North Macedonia to Albanian parents and spent the majority of her life in India as a nun. Throughout her life, she focused...
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in 1963 in Brooklyn, New York, but he grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was competitive from childhood, playing many sports and striving to win at all of...
Alan Watts brought Eastern wisdom and teachings to the West. Through his books and public speaking, Watts served as an ambassador of Eastern philosophy. Watts’ journey began early in life. He was born in...
Vincent Thomas Lombardi was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1913. From humble beginnings, Lombardi became an American professional football coach known for his absolute dedication to winning. From 1959-1967 Lombardi was head coach...
“The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.” Frida Kahlo, this truly inspiring Mexican painter who lived...
Frederick Douglass (February 1818 – February 20, 1895) may very well be the most famous figure in American history for his incredible life and survival as a slave, his success in breaking free from...
Arguably one of the world’s most famous Jewish girls and certainly the writer of one of the most read diaries, Anne Frank is still remembered and celebrated around the world. Her words have given...
Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist who became the catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. On December 1, 1955, Mrs. Parks boarded a bus after clocking out of her job...
To reflect on John Lennon’s legacy on the 40th anniversary of his death is the least we could do as a tribute to this great rock artist. A prolific songwriter, a peace activist, and...
Initially almost unknown in Scotland, the country of his birth, John Muir – an explorer, mountaineer, writer and advocate of U.S. forest conservation – lived a hundred years ago, but expressed opinions about the...
A heir to a 600-year tradition, the 14th Dalai Lama (born Lhamo Thondup in China in 1935) is the spiritual and political leader of Tibetan Buddhism. According to this religion, all the Dalai Lamas...
The image of a heavyweight boxer is the first thing that comes to mind when we want to commemorate the legend that Muhammad Ali was. This Olympic gold medal winner is known as a...
Besides Bruce Lee’s legacy as an actor and martial artist, his school of thought is often mentioned when it comes to the combination of bodily and mental health. An avid reader himself, Bruce Lee...
Born in Brussels, Belgium in 1929, Audrey Hepburn was a talented performer, recognized for her elegance and grace. Besides working with elite actors like Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire and Cary Grant in the 50s...
What can one say about Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926- August 5, 1962) and why are we so interested in the words of this incredibly sensuous, naturally photogenic actress? Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in...
Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) is considered the father of Modern South Africa and one of the most important freedom fighters in modern history. After becoming one of South Africa’s first lawyers, Mandela joined...
Mark Twain once stated, “The two most interesting characters of the nineteenth-century are Napoleon and Helen Keller.” Unaffected by her own deafness and blindness, Helen Keller, born in 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, presented a...
The American romantic comedy film Forrest Gump came out in 1994 and went on to become an international classic – not just due to the impeccable acting and great storytelling but also the tiny...
Thomas Lanier Williams III (1911-1983) was born in Columbus, Mississippi, of English, Welsh, and Huguenot ancestry. He adopted “Tennessee Williams” as his professional name around 1939 and kicked off his career with the 1940s...
Kurt Cobain had a brief career as the frontman of Nirvana, yet still remains, several decades after his tragic death, one of the most celebrated musicians of all time. As a tribute to this...
Robert Nesta Marley is a timeless artist whose songs touch the essence of the human heart and soul and have been recognized accordingly. As a recording artist, Bob Marley sold more than 20 million...
The 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, is widely regarded as one of the greatest leaders in American history. Holding the distinction of being one of the most influential statesmen and writers...
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – also known as King Day and MLK Day, among others – is a federal holiday observed in the United States to celebrate the life and the brilliant legacy...
Winston Churchill, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, was one of the most-important men in the world during that history-changing time. He also holds the distinction of...