What does it really mean to live the good life? For decades, mental health research has zeroed in on what goes wrong—studying disorders, diagnoses, and treatments. But for Luke Kalb (PhD ’17, MHS ’08), an associate professor of Mental Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, there’s more to the story. His research pushes beyond managing illness and explores what helps people flourish. Instead of only asking how to fix mental distress, he’s asking what builds a life worth living for the majority of people who aren’t in crisis. Kalb's work focuses on an often-overlooked area of public health: positive mental well-being. “Roughly 20% of Americans will experience a psychiatric disorder in their lifetime,” he...

It’s not uncommon anymore to find someone rereading "The Stranger" on a crowded subway or quoting "The Trial" in a social post. Despite declining attention spans and the barrage of digital distractions, certain literary works are quietly resurfacing—those written by Camus, Kafka, Dostoevsky, and Orwell. These aren’t just intellectual pursuits. They resonate because they reflect something many feel but can’t always articulate - a daily grind that feels both urgent and meaningless. Why Mundanity Hits Harder Today Modern life is fast, loud, and constantly changing. But beneath the surface lies a stillness—a sameness that many have come to recognize. Mundanity isn’t just about routine; it’s about the deeper sense of repetition and fatigue that can wear...

Few songs from the 1960s have left as strong an impact as "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones. Released in 1966, this haunting track quickly became a defining piece of its era. With its dark lyrics and hypnotic melody, the song resonated deeply with listeners facing personal struggles, political unrest, and the reality of war. Keith Richards once described The Rolling Stones' style as "cynical, nasty, skeptical, and rude." Their music reflected the chaos of the decade, and "Paint It Black" was no exception. As the Vietnam War raged on and social tensions escalated, the song became an anthem for those who felt anger, sadness, and disillusionment. A Song Born in a Time of Turmoil...