Highlights from April 14 to April 20

From the ever-expanding Googleverse to the snarky payoff of celebrity gossip, life is splintered and refracted in a million ways by contemporary communication tools. The media has a profound impact on how we perceive ourselves and our world.

Most of us wish we could improve certain things about ourselves. Lasting change is difficult—many of our habits are deeply ingrained, and certain core personality attributes may be immutable. But many more things can be changed.

Love is the most profound emotion known to human beings. For most people, romantic relationships are the most meaningful element in their lives. But the ability to have a healthy, loving relationship is not innate. Almost all of us have experienced a failed relationship, and most of us have to work consciously to master the skills necessary to make them flourish.