Stories to elevate your daily life and shine a light on the good in humanity.
Most Read /DayWeekMonth
American Goulash (Beefaroni)
American Goulash (Beefaroni)
Our homemade Beefaroni (American Goulash) recipe has ground beef and elbow pasta cooked in a flavorful, cheesy, red sauce.
02-6-2026
4 Everyday Choices That Strengthen a Marriage
4 Everyday Choices That Strengthen a Marriage
Marriage expert Arlene Pellicane explains how small, consistent habits create stronger, happier marriages over time.
02-6-2026
How to Reduce the Impact of RMDs
How to Reduce the Impact of RMDs
Managing required minimum distributions is a key part of protecting retirement income and minimizing taxes.
02-6-2026
Veggie Wrap With Peanut Sauce
Veggie Wrap With Peanut Sauce
This recipe creates a light yet filling meal that’s perfect when dinner needs to move at your pace.
02-6-2026
How Can I Enhance My Home With Hardscaping?
How Can I Enhance My Home With Hardscaping?
Walkways, patios, decks, walls, and firepits don’t just look good; they guide movement, manage water, reduce maintenance, and more.
02-6-2026
‘Challenger:’ Compromising Safety for ‘Go Fever’
‘Challenger:’ Compromising Safety for ‘Go Fever’
Adam Higginbotham’s account of the 1968 disaster and its aftermath shows how NASA oversold the Space Shuttle.
02-6-2026
Ornate Underground Roman House Featured in Live Video Tours
Ornate Underground Roman House Featured in Live Video Tours
A livestreamed tour will soon grant public access to a lavish Roman house buried beneath the Palatine Hill for centuries.
02-6-2026
Beyond FICO: A Strategy for Productive Debt or Personal Leverage
Beyond FICO: A Strategy for Productive Debt or Personal Leverage
Not all debt is bad: Productive debt builds assets and cash flow, while consumer debt funds depreciating expenses.
02-6-2026
Ask the Builder: DIY Wood Preservatives
Ask the Builder: DIY Wood Preservatives
The intriguing yakisugi is a technique used by the Japanese to protect wood.
02-6-2026
How Major US Stock Indexes Fared Feb. 6
How Major US Stock Indexes Fared Feb. 6
The U.S. stock market roared back, as technology stocks recovered much of their losses from earlier in the week and bitcoin halted its plunge, at least for now. The S&P ...
02-6-2026
‘Melania’: Our Stunning First Lady Radiates Warmth and Compassion
‘Melania’: Our Stunning First Lady Radiates Warmth and Compassion
A behind-the-scenes look at the three weeks leading up to the second Trump inauguration.
01-31-2026
Producer Marc Beckman on ‘Melania,’ a Historic Film That Captures a First Lady
Producer Marc Beckman on ‘Melania,’ a Historic Film That Captures a First Lady
Senior adviser to First Lady Melania Trump explains how the film 'Melania' documents a process never revealed before: preparing for the inauguration.
01-31-2026
Frank Foley: The Brave Spy Who Saved Thousands During the Holocaust
Frank Foley: The Brave Spy Who Saved Thousands During the Holocaust
One humble, faith-driven, and quiet man risked his own life to grant travel paperwork to 10,000 Jews during World War II.
01-31-2026
Crucial Lessons From Ancient Rome: The Corruption of Family and Society
Crucial Lessons From Ancient Rome: The Corruption of Family and Society
The collapse of the family structures during the late Roman empire left the society vulnerable.
01-31-2026
My Version of ‘Cupid’s Cloud’ Is Perfect for Valentines and Galentines
My Version of ‘Cupid’s Cloud’ Is Perfect for Valentines and Galentines
With its rosy pink color and a few sliced strawberries for garnish, this whipped dessert is seriously cute piled into cocktail glasses.
01-31-2026
13-Year-Old Swims 4 Kilometres to Save Stranded Family, Credits God for Survival
13-Year-Old Swims 4 Kilometres to Save Stranded Family, Credits God for Survival
The teenager swam 4 kilometres and ran another 2 in dramatic rescue effort.
02-4-2026
‘Million-Dollar Dip’ Is the 5-Minute Appetizer That Gets Every Party Started
‘Million-Dollar Dip’ Is the 5-Minute Appetizer That Gets Every Party Started
This million-dollar dip is rich and indulgent, combining cream cheese and tangy mayonnaise with sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, and toasted almonds.
02-1-2026
You Really Should Eat More Beans. Here Are 3 Recipes to Get You Started
You Really Should Eat More Beans. Here Are 3 Recipes to Get You Started
Beans are immensely affordable, uniquely adaptable, and flexible.
02-4-2026
Mapo Tofu: A Fiery Warmup for a Cold Day
Mapo Tofu: A Fiery Warmup for a Cold Day
Mapo tofu roughly translates to "pockmarked grandma's tofu," which is named for the elderly Chengdu woman who created the dish in the 19th century.
02-2-2026
New Study: Medieval Farmers Worked With Nature, Not Against It
New Study: Medieval Farmers Worked With Nature, Not Against It
Medieval farmers practiced techniques that balanced productivity with ecological health.
01-31-2026
IRS Urges Qualified Taxpayers to Claim Earned Income Tax Credit
IRS Urges Qualified Taxpayers to Claim Earned Income Tax Credit
Last year, more than 23 million people received $2,916 on average under the program.
01-24-2026
3 Big Changes for Retirement Planning This Year
3 Big Changes for Retirement Planning This Year
New retirement rules for 2026 could affect how you save, contribute and manage taxes—here are three key changes to know.
01-22-2026
‘Melania’: Our Stunning First Lady Radiates Warmth and Compassion
‘Melania’: Our Stunning First Lady Radiates Warmth and Compassion
A behind-the-scenes look at the three weeks leading up to the second Trump inauguration.
01-31-2026
A 300-Year-Old Flame Still Burns: The World’s Oldest Restaurant Is Full of History and Mystery
A 300-Year-Old Flame Still Burns: The World’s Oldest Restaurant Is Full of History and Mystery
Sobrino de Botín has survived invasions, civil war, and global pandemics without ever closing its doors.
01-14-2026
Revealing Michelangelo’s True Colors
Revealing Michelangelo’s True Colors
The restoration work on the Sistine Chapel revealed not only hidden hues in the frescoes but also information about the man behind the masterpiece.
01-10-2026
America’s Oldest Retreat for Healing
America’s Oldest Retreat for Healing
The Homestead hotel in Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains opened a decade before the Revolutionary War.
01-13-2026
This French Beef Casserole Is the Best Thing You’ll Make All Winter
This French Beef Casserole Is the Best Thing You’ll Make All Winter
Hachis Parmentier is a little softer and more classic than shepherd's pie.
01-11-2026
Laughter in the Oval Office: Presidents and the Healing Power of a Well-Timed Joke
Laughter in the Oval Office: Presidents and the Healing Power of a Well-Timed Joke
Faced with crises at home and abroad, presidents found that brevity and wit could lighten the weightiest office in the nation.
01-22-2026
A Parenting Secret Weapon: The 30-Minute-Per-Day Rule
A Parenting Secret Weapon: The 30-Minute-Per-Day Rule
Quality time spent together shapes a child more than any material investment ever could.
01-30-2026
Producer Marc Beckman on ‘Melania,’ a Historic Film That Captures a First Lady
Producer Marc Beckman on ‘Melania,’ a Historic Film That Captures a First Lady
Senior adviser to First Lady Melania Trump explains how the film 'Melania' documents a process never revealed before: preparing for the inauguration.
01-31-2026
American Essence
Get your first American Essence Digital Issue with a Bright subscription.
American Essence issue
Vol. 4 Issue 5
American Essence issue
Vol. 3 Issue 4
American Essence issue
Vol. 3 Issue 3
American Essence issue
Vol. 3 Issue 2