MSI Press Blog

Every age has its frontiers. Some generations explored continents. Others unlocked the atom, mapped the genome, or connected the world through digital networks. Today we stand at the frontiers of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and space exploration. Yet another frontier is emerging far closer to home. It is the frontier of meaning. For much of modern history, people looked to established institutions to provide a framework for understanding life. Religious traditions offered answers to spiritual questions. Political systems promised collective purpose. Educational institutions shaped worldviews. Journalists served as trusted interpreters of events. Whether individuals agreed with these institutions or not, they occupied a recognized place in society. They helped create a shared narrative about what was true, valuable, and worth pursuing. Today that authority has weakened. Trust in institutions has declined across much of the world. Scandals, polarization, misinformation, comme...

When a spouse dies, memory plays tricks on us. Grief is not just about missing someone—it’s about trying to make sense of a life that is now suddenly only past tense. One of the most complicated truths of bereavement is that we often don't remember our loved ones as they truly were. We remember them as either an icon —glorified, idealized, a figure bathed in soft light—or as an ogre , the shadowy figure who made life hard in their final days. Neither version tells the full truth. The "icon" memory is seductive. It’s easier to remember only the best—the laughter, the shared victories, the warm touches and private jokes. We place them on a pedestal so high we forget the arguments, the disappointments, the human flaws. It's a comforting illusion, but it can leave us feeling confused when our true memories sneak back in. We wonder if we’re betraying them by remembering anything less than perfection. On the other end of the spectrum is the "ogre" narrative, espec...