Articles, Reports, and More – A Writer At Large

How the March on Washington transformed America: Looking back on the 60th anniversary here and here. With more reflections here, here, here, here, and here (start at page 50).
Puzzling the Brain: Simple line drawings can transform the brain–and help heal traumatic injury.
Missed lessons: We had a chance to rethink education during the COVID shutdown. We blew it.
Woodrow Wilson’s failed campaign for the League of Nations … and his “bookend” relationship with Donald Trump (here).
The 3.5 percent solution: How getting bodies on the streets–lots of them–can transform politics.
The dangerous stoicism of Lou Gehrig: Did the Yankee legend succumb to a life of unacknowledged trauma?
The most important person you don’t know: Gene Sharp and the power of nonviolent action.
In the clearing stands a boxer: The rise, fall, and redemption of Gerry Cooney.
The other guy’s March on Washington book: Background on the “greatest demonstration for freedom in our nation’s history.”
Malcolm Gladwell’s rejection letter: Sorry, dude, it’s lazy, sloppy, and incoherent.
Steven Pinker whiffs: MIT’s rock star linguist doesn’t score with his writing guide.
Landmark: Looking back at the Lau bilingual education case, which established the right to equal education opportunity for nonnative English speaking students.
The first woman to run for president: It wasn’t Hillary, or even Shirley Chisholm.

Writing to Read: Kids write stories even before learning to read
The 0.1 percent solution: Why mayoral control of public schools doesn’t do the job
How children learn: It’s not by pressuring and pummeling them
Cheating 2.0: How technology fuels an arms race of cheaters and enforcers
Dropping the ball: The failure of physical education
The brain game: Education as a battle for global growth and dominance
Seymour Papert’s microworld: An early computer visionary in education

How exercise sparks learning: Neurologist John Ratey’s research on jazzing the brain.
The NBA’s primary answer: Organize the nominating system like the draft.
Marie Wilson just doesn’t stop: The feminist icon plots a woman’s rise to the White House.
New Yorkers for president: The Empire State’s potential bid for the Oval.
Perilous moves: Russian chess master Garry Kasparov faces the toughest king.
Squeaky wheels: The NIMBY threat to wind farms in Massachusetts.
First, No: How saying ‘No’ often gets you to “Yes’ faster.
The limits of stimulus: Obama’s shovel-ready projects weren’t always shovel-ready.
Nobody Turn Me Around: Excerpts from the book about the 1963 March on Washington.
Minute by minute: How the Educational Radio Network covered the March on Washington.
Where is Greater Boston? Understanding Boston’s evolving identity (see chapter 1).
Ins and outs of politics in Massachusetts: How this Byzantine system works, or not (see chapter 1).
Heart of the City: How Boston’s neglected neighborhoods could experience a Renaissance.

Come together: Why the building industry needs consolidation.
‘New York Works’: A report detailing strategies to create 100,000 new middle-class jobs in New York City.
A strategy for middle-class jobs: Focus on the hopeless cases (image)
Scaling up: New York is a haven for small businesses. But why don’t those businesses grow faster?
‘If I can make it there . . .’ Can manufacturing survive in New York City?
‘No Walking‘: Why kids don’t walk to school any more.
Alexander the Great: The genius of architect Christopher Alexander.
Ring around the city: Can Boston build a circumferential transit system?
Where is Greater Boston? Reflections on the phenomenon of the Hub (chapter 1)
Stupid Dome: A ridiculous vision of the stadium of the future

The longest game: When Red Sox and Orioles prospects played 33 innings.
Going global: The NBA’s plan to make basketball the world sport.
Baseball’s Ritilin addiction: Greenies are out, prescriptions are in.
Finley’s work: Outfielder Steve Finley’s secret to health and longevity.
Ivy jock power: Could Harvard, Yale et al., reclaim greatness on the field and court?
‘Take Me Out To Ye Olde Ball Game’: How they played the game in the 1800s.
Brotherly love: Non-Hall of Fame ballplayers appreciate their more accomplished sibs.

The Year of Reading Dangerously: Andrew Miller’s memoir is a one-trick pony.
Once Upon a Time: Fairy tales, Marina Warner shows, use unreality to connect us to reality.
The Innovators: Real genius, Walter Isaacson shows in this history of the computer, comes in teams.
The Brain’s Way of Healing: The brain can heal just about everything, Norman Doidge shows, if we can take care of it.
How exercise sparks learning: Neurologist John Ratey’s research on jazzing the brain.
The Might Pinker has struck out: Steven Pinker could have been a contender, but instead write a mess of a writing guide.
Get sticky: If you’re a pol or a Mad Man, here are tips for making your message stick.
Perilous moves: Russian chess master Garry Kasparov faces the toughest king.
Squeaky wheels: The NIMBY threat to wind farms in Massachusetts.
First, say no: How saying ‘No’ often gets you to “Yes” faster.

Scaling up: New York is a haven for small businesses. But why don’t those businesses grow faster?
‘If I can make it there . . .’ Can manufacturing survive in New York City?
Getting home: Increase housing supply by removing unnecessary regulatory burdens.
Ring around the city: Can Boston build a circumferential transit system?
Where is Greater Boston? Reflections on the phenomenon of the Hub (chapter 1)