Classical Music

1. Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog: This insightful, respected music journalist covers the wide world of classical composing and performance, with interviews, articles, reviews and plenty more.

2. Deceptive Cadence: Presented by NPR Classical, Deceptive Cadence offers up everything the classical music and opera buff could ever want — including some amazing recordings!

3. Re:harmonized: Get a peek at classical, world and opera music from a composer’s perspective, with a few other interesting topics thrown into the mix as well.

4. Classical Iconoclast: Doundou Tchil covers a wonderfully broad range of classical music subjects, providing some of the internet’s most provocative and intelligent commentary.

5. Classical Beat: Anne Midgette with the Washington Post hopes her blog about the classical music scene past, present and future will stoke discussion and keep the love alive.

6. PostClassic: No matter what the naysayers tout, classical music is by no means a dead or dying genre, as Kyle Gann gleefully points out.

7. Sandow: Greg Sandow opines on the directions in which the classical music scene may (or may not) be heading.

8. Iron Tongue of Midnight: Bookmark this active, intelligent blog and refer to it as often as possible when prowling for information about a staggering array of classical music topics.

9. Sequenza21/: Vibrant Sequenza21/ serves as a wonderfully informative hub for anyone wanting to participate in or learn more about today’s extremely active classical music scene.

10. Proper Discord: A former classical musician rants and raves about issues associated with the eclectic genre’s critique and performances.

Opera Commentary and Critique

11. Opera Chic: A young, classically-trained American musician living in Milan discusses her impressions of the Italian opera scene — and beyond.

12. Opera Cake: Fans of European opera will love this Paris-based blog, which also branches out to review performances in other cities and countries as well.

13. Opera Fresh: Opera Fresh tries to cover as much as it can about the diverse performing art, but seems to mainly focus on interviewing and talking about sopranos.

14. Opera Now!: Both a blog and a podcast, the delightful Opera Now! looks at the diverse genre with considerable humor and excellent insight.

15. wellsung: Jonathan Ferrantelli and Alex Baker clearly adore opera, contributing some of the internet’s most cheeky and intelligent reviews and commentary on the subject since 2005.

16. opera chanteuse: Opera can be just as fashionable as it is entertaining, as this blog’s commentary on the various aesthetics the performing art employs so helpfully illustrates.

17. Opera Today: Bookmark Opera Today and follow all the latest news and views from venues and companies around the world.

18. Wagner Opera: Anyone studying Wagnerian opera might want to turn towards this resource for a few interesting pointers and opinions.

19. COMMANDOpera: Visit COMMANDOpera for reviews, commentary and news regarding the scene worldwide, as well as a few bits and pieces about other performing arts on occasion.

20. Parterre Box: Step into the weird world of opera, which isn’t nearly as staid, dull and unflinchingly traditional as many people believe.

21. Opera Tales: Although busy Renassiance Man Renaud Loranger doesn’t update his blog as frequently as some of the others listed here, his experience and analysis are nevertheless required reading.

22. OperaBlog: Learn all about how digital media has revolutionized the way opera performances reach audiences around the world — and, of course, catch up on a little critique and commentary along the way.

23. The Handelmania Podcast: This podcast is presented blog-style and features interviews with and performances by some of opera’s most beloved names.

24. Il Corriere della Grisi: Opera students with a particular proficiency in Italian will love visiting this resource, chock full of musings and content to pique their interest.

25. Likely Impossibilities: One young musician shares her love of opera through in-depth reviews and opinion pieces. She occasionally touches upon general classical music subjects as well.

26. The Opera Tattler: Three experienced opera professionals discuss the hefty amount of performances they attend, reviewing both the events themselves and the surrounding audiences.

27. I’d rather be sleeping (but opera is keeping me awake): Supernumerary Susan provides an insider’s view of opera from the perspective of a performer assigned no singing or speaking roles.

28. Forum Opera: Opera fans and students who know their way around Italian (or Google Translate) will absolutely love this blog, website and community where anything and everything about their beloved art converges.

29. We left at the interval…: Despite the infrequent update schedule, We left at the interval…offers up some excellent reviews of Parisian opera performances.

30. I HEAR VOICES: Catch up on intelligent reviews and commentary of various performances by different German opera houses right here.

Performing Arts

31. Ionarts: Though based in Washington, D.C., Ionarts and its bevy of correspondents appeals to anyone wanting to learn as much as they can about classical music, opera, film and more.

32. AndrewAndJoshua: Stop here to read about opera, classical music, dance, theatre and other useful performing arts trends and topics.

33. Family Circle: Peer into the vibrany NYC art scene through the eyes of a non-professional non-native enchanted by the myriad performing arts options available.

34. Superconductor: Brooklyn-based freelance writer Paul Pelkonen delivers a staggering array of content regarding the city’s vibrant performing arts community, with particular attention paid to opera and classical music.

35. Willy or Won’t He?: Italian culture, the performing arts — especially theatre, opera and classical music — come alive in this thoroughly engaging read.

36. Sounds & Fury: Read detailed rants and raves about a broad spectrum of cultural topics, including opera, literature, theatre, culinary arts and plenty more.

37. Theatre Blog: Despite the title, The Guardian’s group blog does diverge into coverage of other performing arts events and topics, though theatre does comprise the bulk of its content.

38. In the Muse: Anyone harboring a love of (or a need to study) music history will absolutely adore the Library of Congress’ amazing archive of photos, sheet music, stories and other primary and secondary resources.

39. Alex Ross: The Rest is Noise: This music critic for The New Yorker writes about…well…pretty much what one would expect. Almost every genre imaginable crops up at some point here, including opera and classical.

40. Performing Arts: About.com’s Angela Mitchell makes all the performing arts wonderfully accessible to new and old students, professionals and hobbyists alike.

Singers and Voice Coaches

41. Intermezzo: A sassy soprano and former piano player blogs about all things opera, particularly as it pertains to the London scene.

42. Not Just Another Pretty Voice: Opera singer, rock star and writer Amanda White keeps readers updated on her music career, opinions on the industry and plenty more subjects.

43. Trying to Remain Operational: Comedy and opera collide in Jennifer Rivera’s delightful little corner of the web, where she also posts videos and answers questions about life as a professional vocalist.

44. A Liberal’s Libretto: As the title implies, the official blog of bass-baritone James Newman merges politics, opera and social media together into one incredibly interesting resource.

45. A Soprano Steps Out: Step into the digital shoes of one singer, who shares many intimate ups and downs of a life spent performing on stage.

46. Kashu-do: The Way of the Singer: Whether pursuing a career as an opera singer or critic, vocal coach and performer Jean-Ronald LaFonde’s blog provides some incredible advice and stories of value to fans of all proficiencies.

47. Once More With Feeling: Get excellent insight into both opera singing and the theatrical life courtesy of a vocal teacher and performer with over 25 years in the business.

48. Expressions of Love: One Singer’s Journey: Rebecca Fromherz’s romantic passion and zeal for life comes through in both her singing and her writing.

49. The Opera Audition: Though not maintained by a singer, The Opera Audition comes courtesy of a director hoping to provide aspiring professionals a look into the casting process.

50. The Next Hundred Pounds: Find out how one professional opera singer lost weight and stays in shape, as well as the impact such measures have had on both her health and her career.

1. The slob: This roommate was more dirty than your average slobby roommate. She showered once weekly, piled garbage thigh high, and left bodily fluids to soak into her mattress.
2. Stabbing and ID theft: A freshman at the University of Arizona was stabbed 23 times by her roommate, who had previously stolen her credit cards and money from her bank account.
3. Surprise you have AIDS: This roommate picked up the mail and changed the results of a routine HIV/AIDS test to reveal that the other roommate had tested positive. Not only that, she let her roommate go on believing the false results for two days, even waiting until she had told her boyfriend the results.
4. Paying the bills: This roommate was constantly short on money to pay the bills, until she started prostituting herself at home.
5. The hotel: This roommate turned from timid into a social butterfly overnight, leaving the dorm room unlocked to be visited by friends at all hours, allowing them to eat food, use her roommate’s laptop, whether her roommate was there or not. The last straw was drawn when the innocent roommate woke up to discover not only a wide open door, but also a couple of strangers making out on her futon.
6. Bad vibes: This roommate didn’t believe in close contact with electronics. She attempted to spray lemon juice and baking soda on the TV to get rid of the bad vibes.
7. The new drug dealer: This roommate had a great plan to buy cocaine in bulk to sell it to college students, but instead snorted it all himself. He got so high, he had to be talked down while listening to David Bowie.
8. The bathroom: This summer rental was home to an aggressive swinger, and a woman awaiting her court date for assaulting a police officer. On top of that, the owner allowed customers from their late night food joint to use the bathroom.
9. The used tampons: This roommate left her used tampons in the apartment. She made sisterhood puppets out of them, as well as wall decor.
10. Captain Planet: Captain Planet took going green to an extreme level, not allowing 409 in the house, and monitoring what his roommate ate.
11. The denting deer head: This roommate stored deer heads in the garage, one of which fell on a roommate’s brand new car. She also leaves the doors unlocked, and sometimes even wide open.
12. The dead cat: This roommate left a dead cat in the oven for a week, and let a tarantula run around free range. He also idled his motorcycle inside without opening any windows, invited crackheads over, and left feces in various locations. This story tops off with a fake kidnapping, showdown, and 911.
13. Poop treasure hunt: If you can stand it, this roommate story shares photos of feces left in a number of locations, and even inside of possessions.
14. The bleeder: This roommate woke up to find blood all over her room and bathroom walls. Apparently, her roommate, who also had no problem stealing clothes and jewelry, tore apart her room looking for a condom, but had no idea she was bleeding.
15. Wordless wonder: When this girl moved in, she never spoke a single word to her roommate, not even responding to words, waving, and pointed questions about why she never spoke back.

1. Churchill: A Study in Greatness by Geoffrey Best: Winston Churchill is a man who led his country through some pretty difficult times, helping them to come out stronger and better on the other side. Learn what made him such a great leader and an inspiration to his countrymen in this biography.
2. The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T.J. Stiles: He may not have always been easy to get along with, but Vanderbilt knew how to build a capitalist empire. Read this book to study his drive, stubbornness and competitiveness– qualities that helped him to rise to the top of his field.
3. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by MLK, Jr.: His tragic death cut short the life of this prolific speaker and leader, a man who played a big role in changing the social dynamics of our country. In this book, you’ll hear the story of his life in his own words.
4. Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America by Elliot J. Gorn: Mary Harris, perhaps better known as Mother Jones, was one of the foremost union organizers and rabble rousers of her time. This biography will let you see into her life, documenting both the hardships and the successes.
5. Shackleton’s Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell: Few people have chosen to brave the extremes found at the bottom of the world and this man, explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, was one of the first. This book is full of stories about his life that provide valuable lessons of leadership, humor and compassion.
6. It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by Michael Abrashoff: While military-style leadership isn’t for everyone, the stories about his time of the USS Benfold this former Navy Captain tells in this book are enlightening no matter what kind of leader you’d like to be.
7. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin: Lincoln faced three challengers for the Republican nomination of 1860: William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates. Impressed by their abilities, Lincoln later appointed them to his administration. In this book, you’ll learn how his leadership abilities allowed him to turn these rivals into allies and work towards the greater good.
8. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin: You might expect an autobiography of a founding father to include tales of his work during the American Revolution, but this book leaves off in 1760 — well before those tumultuous years. So what does it have to offer? It tells the tale of a young man who worked his way up in the world through hard work, determination, wisdom and enterprise — something every leader can be inspired by.
9. Failure is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond by Gene Kranz: Most people have seen the inspiring tale of Apollo 13 brought to life on the big screen, but this book tells the tale of the real life man who was there for it all and helped turn NASA from a ragtag group of young whiz kids into the efficient and innovative place it is today.
10. Hero for Humanity: A Biography of William Wilberforce by Kevin Charles: Few may be familiar with the name of William Wilberforce, but he was a pivotal figure in British politics who worked to abolish the slave trade and improve the quality of life of the country’s poor. His utter determination and conviction in his beliefs makes him an inspirational figure to read about.
11. Mother Theresa: A Complete Authorized Biography by Kathryn Spinko: Read this biography of the famous Mother Theresa to understand what true compassion, humility and love really are and how they can serve you well as a leader.
12. Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris: In this biography, you’ll be able to read about both the faults and virtues of a president who did so much to establish our nation.
13. Ghandi by Geoffrey Ashe: Leading with non-violence, compassion and determination, Gandhi changed the face of a nation and freed his people from colonial rule.
14. When Pride Still Mattered: Lombardi by David Maraniss: When Lombardi took over coaching the Green Bay Packers in 1959, they were a losing team with little hope of pulling it together to win much of anything. Under his leadership, the team would go on to win two NFL titles and two Super Bowls.
15. Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy: A political figure that remains popular to this day, over 50 years after his death, JFK’s biography isn’t about himself but about politicians who stood up for their beliefs even if it meant making a great personal sacrifice.
16. Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela: There are few leaders in the world who are as inspirational as Nelson Mandela. In this book, you’ll read about his years in prison and how he emerged to lead a nation out of apartheid and into the modern era.
17. Margaret Thatcher: A Portrait of the Iron Lady by John Blundell:Learn about the achievements of Thatcher during her time as Prime Minster, an inspiration for women who want to take on a leadership role of any kind.
18. The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt by Eleanor Roosevelt: Roosevelt was no regular old first lady. She was a strong and able leader and supported women’s organizations and youth movements and fought for consumer welfare, civil rights, and improved housing– never wavering in her commitment to human rights and justice.
19. Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein: Warren Buffet is known for his billions, but the story of the man behind the moneys is perhaps a much more interesting one and is told in this biography.
20. Estee: A Success Story by Estee Lauder: This brilliant business leader’s biography will inspire you to found a enterprise of your own, documenting the enthusiasm, determination and charm that allowed her to rise to the top.
21. iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business by Jeffery S. Young and William L. Simon: After a forced departure from the company he helped to found, Jobs’ future in the tech world was anything but assured. In this biography, you’ll learn how he turned his second chance into the thriving business that Apple is today.
22. Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson: Read this biography to learn how Richard Branson has built a fortune by doing things his own way and not always listening to the naysayers
23. Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire by James Wallace and Jim Erickson: The story of a geeky kid creating a multi-billion dollar empire gets a fresh take in this biography, showing you that sometimes a great idea and stone cold determination can be better than a college degree.
24. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama: Love him or hate him, Obama has the distinction of being the first African-American president, something that wouldn’t have been possible in decades past. In this biography, you’ll learn about his upbringing, his father and his early struggles that helped him get where he is today.
25. Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of The Dalai Lama by The Dalai Lama: Since the Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1950, the Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India. Check out this book to read of the great honors and great tragedies that have formed the man he is today.

Storage

These tricks can help you make room for all of your cooking tools.

1. Keep big items on your fridge: Mixing bowls and large utensils can live on top of your refrigerator.
2. Get your cookbooks out of the kitchen: Place cookbooks in bookcases somewhere outside of the kitchen.
3. Use door storage: Store items on the inside of doors for extra space.
4. Hang fruit baskets: Get fruit and other items up off the counter.
5. Stack your cabinets: Build your cabinets all the way up to the ceiling to get more space.
6. Buy portable shelving: With portable shelving, you can store items and set them just outside of your kitchen space.
7. Hang your pots and pans: Instead of trying to find cabinet space for pots and pans, hang them from your ceiling.
8. Store dishes where you eat: Keep your dishes in your eating area to free up space in your kitchen.
9. Use the space above cabinets: Take advantage of the storage area above your wall cabinets.
10. Try a kitchen cart: Add to your work space with a kitchen cart that can move.
11. Use a roll-out pantry: If you don’t have a lot of room in your pantry, use roll outs to maximize space.

Decor

Make even a small cooking space look beautiful with the help of these decor tricks.

12. Set up magnetic hooks: Free up drawer space and hang pot holders, trivets, and towels on magnetic hooks.
13. Add a mirror: Add a decorative wall mirror to add depth and the illusion of space.
14. Invest in flooring: Get an eye catching floor job to improve the look of a small kitchen.
15. Use a light color palette: A light color palette and natural light can make a small kitchen feel open and airy.
16. Get European appliances: European appliances often have small appliances with maximum utility.
17. Create a small container garden: Get food from your own kitchen with a small container garden.
18. Use under-cabinet lighting: Lighting under your cabinets can create the illusion of more space.
19. Paint the insides of your cabinets: With glass cabinet doors, paint the inside of your cabinets the same color as the walls.
20. Minimize contrasts: Minimizing contrasting colors in your kitchen can make it look more airy and spacious.
21. Use glass doors: Put glass doors on your cabinets for more interest and an open feel.
22. Keep it simple: Be careful not to overload with patterns, textures, and drawer pulls, which have visual clutter.
23. Buy new, slimmer appliances: Pick up slimmer, smaller models of appliances for more kitchen space.
24. Use short curtains: Short curtains in light fabric can offer more natural light that can make your kitchen appear more spacious.
25. Go stainless: Stainless steel reflects light, making your kitchen look larger.
26. Replace dark flooring with a lighter shade: Dark colors can make your design look cluttered, so pick out a lighter shade.

Organization

These tricks will help you keep your small kitchen organized and usable.

27. Add baskets: With decorative baskets, you can add style and space to your kitchen.
28. Keep non-kitchen items out of the kitchen: Avoid using a junk drawer, storing homework, and more in your kitchen.
29. Put lazy susans in cabinets: Make the back of your cabinets more accessible with a lazy susan.
30. Put everything away: Counter space is so important, so put appliances and other space hogs away in cabinets.
31. Clean out your fridge: Focus on finishing what’s left over to clear your refrigerator.
32. Install risers and shelves: Increase cabinet space with metal risers and shelves.
33. Get rid of clutter: Be careful not to hang on to items that are damaged or you no longer use.
34. Use your backsplash: Mount spices, utensils, and more to take advantage of unused space.
35. Use collapsible items: Collapsible colanders, tupperware, and measuring supplies can make more space by squashing down.
36. Turn a wardrobe into a cabinet: Store kitchen items in an Ikea wardrobe.
37. Store unused items higher up: If you have utensils and other cookware that you don’t use often, put them higher in less accessible cabinets.
38. Practice nesting: Use mixing bowls, measuring cups, pots, pans, and other kitchen items that can nest inside each other.
39. Hang items with pegboard: Go vertical and use all of your wall space with pegboard and hooks.

Cooking

Using these tricks, you can cook beyond the limits of your small kitchen.

40. Be confident: Learn how to be confident and thrive even in a tiny kitchen.
41. Cook multiple dishes at once: Plan to cook all of your oven items at the same time.
42. Use a slow cooker: Slow cookers can stretch your small kitchen’s appliance power.
43. Go double duty: Use a toaster oven, a device that’s cheap and small with several functions.
44. Clean constantly: Use the same few tools for the whole meal, and rinse them in between use rather than using several different tools.
45. Use a trash bowl: Keep scraps out of your real food and keep your cutting board clear for ingredients only by using a trash bowl.
46. Learn how to cook in a microwave: You may be limited to cooking in a microwave at college, so find out how to do it well.
47. Serve a one-dish meal: Make an elegant single course meal instead of trying to tackle soup, salad, entree and dessert.
48. Cook one meal at a time: Buy, prep, and cook one meal at a time, eat it til it’s gone, and then cook something else.
49. Rule out recipes with too many ingredients: Avoid using too many ingredients that you’ll have to buy and store.
50. Learn to cook neatly: Smitten Kitchen recommends learning how to prep before you start cooking, keeping everything within arms’ reach, and keeping your counter clean.

Language

Get help with your grammar, vocabulary and idioms here.

1. French Word-a-Day: Get three posts daily that teach you about everyday vocabulary words and little stories about French life.
2. French Language: Laura Lawless’ blog teaches French grammar and vocabulary, and offers some posts about traveling and French culture, written in French.
3. Naked Translations: Native French speaker Celine is a professional freelance translator from English into French. Read her blog to gain insight into the nature of her work and to improve your own understanding of the language.
4. Translator’s Musings: An English to French translator documents the horrors and hilarity of the job, and shares examples of translations that can help language students improve their own skills.
5. Canal Academie: This language learning website features streaming news, historical facts and more to help you broaden your vocabulary.

Literature and Film

Celebrate French films, books and art.

6. The Giants of French Literature: The Modern Scholar Blog’s podcast celebrates the giants of French literature.
7. Cinema dans la lune: Mathieu Tuffreau blogs for Le Monde to share movie reviews and news.
8. Maitresse: Lauren Elkin is a PhD candidate who has been living in Paris since 2004, and here, she writes about books, art and culture.
9. My French Film Festival: Keep up with what happened at this year’s French Film Festival.

Food and Wine

French cuisine is legendary, from its haute cooking styles to country, rustic foods. Get recipes and learn about wine making here.

10. French Letters: Learn more about the French attitude towards food, and get French recipes, too.
11. Southern Fried French: Experience what French food has to offer when you this South Carolina transplant’s blog.
12. 18thC Cuisine: This clever blogger cooks the way an 18th-century habitant would have eaten in France, after a mix of American and other cultures infused traditional cuisine.
13. La Tartine Gourmande: Browse recipes by topic, or scroll through past posts to discover fun little anecdotes expanding on French food culture.
14. Chocolate & Zucchini: This popular blog is written by Clotilde, who lives in Montmartre and loves writing about healthy but sometimes indulgent foods.
15. David Lebovitz: David lives the sweet life in Paris, writing cookbooks, foodie books and this blog, which also includes his favorite spots to eat in Paris.
16. My French Cuisine: This blogger actually lives and cooks in California, but the site is devoted to French cooking and even shares French food idioms.
17. French Revolution Blog: Even if you’re a busy American, you can afford the time to make simply chic meals by reading this blog.
18. Wine Terroirs: Learn about vineyards and wine tasting in France from this blog, written by a French photographer.
19. Made in Cantal: Browse recipes by main dish or to learn about restaurants, cheeses and the French style of cooking.

News and Culture

From keeping up with the news to browsing photo blogs, these sites celebrate what’s current in France.

20. Le Figaro: One of France’s leading newspapers, you can find a lot of news and opinion on Le Figaro’s blog.
21. L’Express: Browse this publication’s blogs for dynamic discussion on style, culture and more, from France.
22. French Politics: French translator and visiting scholar chair at Harvard’s Center for European Studies Arthur Goldhammer comments on French politics from an American viewpoint.
23. The Paris Blog: One of the most popular digests on Paris life, written in English, this is a great blog for anyone interested in real, daily life in the City of Love, not just expats.
24. 39Vaugirard.com: Travelers to France — and those wanting to keep up with daily life — will get helpful tips, including everything from iPad apps to new laws to environmental news.
25. French Friday Blog: This culture and entertainment blog selects the best magazine covers, commercials, campaigns and videos to highlight.
26. French Today Blog: This community blog features posts on day tripping, learning French, cooking and more.
27. French Culture: If you can’t get to France, read this blog, "the official website of the cultural services of the French Embassy in the United States." You’ll find French activities and food in cities like Houston, Miami, Boston and more.
28. Paris Breakfasts: This photographer uploads numerous photos of her adventures, from dog-watching at cafes to cheery national holidays.
29. Little Brown Pen: If you think Paris is a gray and dreary city, read this blog for vibrantly colored photographs of the city.
30. French News Online Blog: Jump in the debates in French politics and economics on this sometimes radical news blog.
31. France 24 Blogs: These English-language blogs comment on culture, fashion, international events, and more.
32. Des series et des homes: Keep up with French TV and entertainment here.
33. Observatoire de la Diversite: This blog intends to study the problems that France and Europe has with diversity.
34. Americanexpatinfrance’s blog: This blogger writes to help other American expats adjust to the French lifestyle.
35. La Coquette: American girl Elisabeth has returned to her roots and moved to France, writing about style, culture and shopping in Paris.

Study Abroad and Travel

From expat blogs to students abroad, these blogs will help you understand what it’s really like to live and travel in France.

36. Lost in Cheeseland: Besides restaurant reviews and commentary on life in Paris, read this blog for its interviews with Americans who’ve moved to France, which can help you make the transition too.
37. Invisible Paris: While this city is known for its impressive art history and museums, this blog celebrates the everyday signs and scenes that make it unique.
38. Partager Paris and more: If you’re new to Paris, you’ll find great hang-out spots to try, and if you’ve never been, you’ll still discover tips for throwing French dinner parties and more.
39. The Paris Sharing Blog: Learn about the vacation industry in Paris, including lodging ideas and more.
40. Paris Daily Photo: Let this blog inspire you to hurry up and move to Paris, already!
41. Why Travel to France: While this blog’s design isn’t very modern, it has an impressive archive of photos, locations, shopping, and other travel ideas for the entire country.
42. Julie’s Paris: Julie offers tips for Americans traveling to France, from taking enough money to trying out specialty spots.
43. chronicles dune frays: This Oregon-native now lives on the French Riviera and documents life there.
44. The Paris Traveler: From lodging tips to main attractions, this blog has clever ideas and informative recaps for travelers to Paris.
45. HiP Paris Blog: Whether you’re staying for a few weeks or a lot longer, the Haven in Paris Blog has tips on finding the perfect place to stay (or live), cooking ideas, living green, traveling and more.
46. La Belle in France: Stephanie writes about all the culture, beauty and opportunities in the Cote d’Azur.
47. City-Guide: French ELLE highlights the coolest things to check out in Paris and the surrounding areas.
48. La Vie en France: Paulina Karpis chronicles her Lyon, France study abroad experience for the blog Her Campus.
49. Lost in France Blogs: Get guides to living and traveling around the country, and read blogs from various expats who’ve made the move.
50. France This Way!: A UK expat writes about making the transition, learning French, traveling, discovering the country’s quirks and history, and meeting other expats.

1. Principal foot fetish: Principals are supposed to lay down the law, not kiss students’ feet. But an Ohio principal of St. Anthony of Padua School had to resign after students and their parents complained to police of such fetish-y behavior. The principal — Robert Holloway — agreed to a bet in which he would have to pay students $15 each and kiss their bare feet 50 times if teachers lost the student-teacher volleyball game. And if for some reason you think that the occurrence could be seen as an inappropriate misunderstanding, you might change your mind after learning that 400 photos "depicting foot fetish behavior" were found on computers in Holloway’s office.
2. Real-life Principal Rooney: Gothamist details a perfect comparison between a real-life Orange County, NY, principal and the weasely Principal Rooney from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Outraged that two students — a 12-year-old and 16-year-old — were skipping school, Principal Ernest Jackson laughed off a call from the brothers’ mother and actually went to the students’ home and "let himself in." The guidance counselor who accompanied Principal Jackson figured it was time to go, but Jackson stayed. The boys called their mother, apparently telling her that their principal had walked in on them asleep in their underwear.
3. Sketchy finances: Principal Jose Maldonado-Rivera of Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering in Manhattan was essentially accused of extortion and carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a parent coordinator at his school. The principal made the coordinator — Monica Marin-Reyes — babysit his son without pay and even take him on a field trip to Puerto Rico, all for the trade of living in his apartment for free. The two ultimately hooked up, and Maldonado-Rivera — who had arranged a poorly organized and ultimately deadly field trip the year before to Long Island — was fired by the city.
4. Molesting seminary principal: If you send your kid to a seminary school, you probably think she’s on the right track to a moral, protected future. But a principal at a Utah-area seminary took complete advantage of a student and her family when he was charged with forcible sodomy and object rape of a 16-year-old female student. At the principal’s trial two years later, the student spoke up, saying that she had believed they had a real relationship but now realized she had been his "puppet," "toy" and "game."
5. Booze and strippers: There’s an argument that what you do on your own time is personal business, but people tend to get squeamish when elementary school principals show their shadier side. A Connecticut principal was quietly put on leave until the media dug up a police report about his drunken night at a strip club — and on the road. The principal had been drinking at a strip club called Centerfold’s and drove home when he was stopped by an officer and taken into custody until he could sober up. While the principal doesn’t seem to have been charged with a DUI, school staff were very reluctant to put him on leave — most likely preferring a resignation.
6. Racy survey: Principals are supposed to promote collaboration, diplomacy and fair treatment of all students, but a principal in East Harlem, NY, preferred to categorize student behavior by race. Parents were shocked to find that teachers had been given surveys to break down student behavior and called for the resignation of Dr. Claudia Moore-Hamilton, a black teacher at a mostly Hispanic elementary and middle school. Moore-Hamilton apologized via letter to parents and teachers, merely saying that her approach to school research was "inflammatory."
7. Child rapist: Willow Cottage Arts and Academic Program Director Melissa Stephens sexually abused one of her alternative students for at least a year, police discovered. Stephens was also the founder of the Tualatin, OR, school, where her 10-11-year-old male student attended. Arrested on school grounds, Stephens was charged with first-degree rape, sodomy and sex abuse.
8. Former politician becomes sexual abuser: An Alabama high school principal — who had previously served as a state legislator — was arrested on a sexual abuse charge in late 2010. James Thomas allegedly had an inappropriate and illegal relationship with a 17-year-old student the same year he was defeated in his re-election campaign for state political office.

Shopping

These tips will help you to outfit your dorm room with everything you need while still staying green.

1. Buy furnishings locally. If you’re going to college far from home, buy your furnishings locally instead of hauling them with you. It’ll save on gas and still give you access to everything you need. Some stores, like Bed, Bath and Beyond, may give you the option of purchasing remotely and picking up at your destination so you don’t have to move a thing.
2. Shop at resale stores. Not everything for your room has to be brand new. You can be green and save money by shopping used.
3. Browse Freecycle. Why pay for what you can get for free? Use sites like Freecycle to pick up great stuff for your dorms at little to no cost.
4. Buy organic cotton sheets. Organic cotton and other natural fibers like bamboo are incredibly soft, durable and don’t require any pesticides to produce.
5. Look for natural fibers. When shopping for blankets, rugs and towels look for natural fibers. They’re more environmentally-friendly, even though they may cost more to purchase up front.
6. Get a plant. A plant will not only help your room feel more homey, it will help to clean the air as well.
7. Look for recycled paper products. When buying paper towels, toilet paper or printer paper, opt for recycled materials.
8. Avoid disposable furniture. While it might seem like a bargain, cheap, particle-board furniture won’t last and will only end up in a landfill. Higher quality furniture will be a better investment for you and environment in the long run.
9. Buy things that will last you beyond the dorms. When purchasing things for your room, look for those that will work if you decide to move into an apartment later. That way you won’t have to spend money and resources when you get out.
10. Look for environmentally friendly storage solutions. This can mean getting canvas or metal baskets or looking for plastic bins that are made of recyclable materials.
11. Find or make reusable shopping bags. Don’t bring home loads of plastic bags. Instead, invest in some nice reuseable ones. Or make your own.
12. Skip heavily packaged items. Unless it’s something you really, really need, avoid purchasing items that come with way too much packaging. It’s wasteful and will be a pain to deal with once the item is unpacked.

Appliances

From fridges to air conditioning, use these tips to save on energy when it comes to appliances.

13. Look for Energy Star appliances.When buying a mini-fridge or microwave for your room, always do your research to find the most energy efficient models.
14. Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace those incandescent and halogen lights with compact fluorescents instead.
15. Turn off your computer when you’re not using it. It saves energy and will help your computer to get a much-needed break. If you don’t want to turn it all the way off, at least make sure it’s sleeping or in power-down mode.
16. Watch out for energy vampires. Chargers for phones, computers and the like suck up energy even when not in use. Use a power strip you can easily turn off to help reduce their impact.
17. Pay attention to the chill factor in your fridge. Keeping your fridge out of the sun and regularly checking its thermostat can help it use less energy over time.
18. Get rid of the AC. Most older dorms don’t have built in AC, but some do allow window units which can be big energy hogs. Forgo the AC if you can handle it, or only switch on to help you sleep or study rather than leaving it on all the time.

Cooking and Eating

Waste less and conserve more when it comes to cooking and eating with these ideas.

19. Avoid plastic water bottles. Instead of stocking up on plastic bottles of water, get a reusable, filtered pitcher. You’ll save tons of plastic from being wasted.
20. Kick the packaged snack habit. Instead, purchase snacks that aren’t individually packaged. Fresher snacks are greener and healthier to boot.
21. Find low-energy methods of cooking. Cooking in a rice cooker, toaster oven or crock pot can mean making delicious meals with much less energy.
22. Buy reusable silverware and plates. Instead of going with the disposable kind, invest in some nice cups and plates you can store and reuse in your room. If you’re worried about breaking glass, go for a recyclable plastic instead.
23. Reuse plastic grocery bags. Don’t throw out perfectly good plastic bags. Use them as liners for your garbage cans or find a number of other great uses for them.
24. Eat smart in the cafeteria. Only take what you know you can eat and avoid using a tray if you don’t have to in order to keep your diet and dorm greener.

Community

Dorm rooms are the perfect place to get close to others and spread your green ideas.

25. Start a club. Want to get the word out about greening the dorms? Start a club on campus to promote activism.
26. Go communal. Instead of having your own fridge or microwave, share with others in your dorm when possible.
27. Green your move out. Don’t simply throw out items when you move out of the dorm. Donate them to a resale store or give them to new students.
28. Share with your roomie. There are numerous items that can be shared between you and your roomie, saving space and materials.
29. Get others interested in your cause. Talk to others on your floor about being green. Post flyers and posters to help them understand just what you’d like to accomplish.
30. Talk to administrators about green ideas for the dorms. There are loads of ways to make dorms greener, and many ways that your college can start being environmentally friendly. Talk to them about your own ideas, you might just see change.
31. Embrace the small space. Living in the small space isn’t the worst thing in the world. It will help you use and waste less, appreciate what you have more.

Green Clean

Give some of these ideas a try to keep your dorm room and yourself clean while still remaining green.

32. Forego plug in air fresheners. They might make your room smell better, but they’re not good for the environment. Clean up your room instead or use natural air fresheners.
33. Do laundry in cold water. It will save on the energy used to heat water and will get your clothes just as clean.
34. Purchase earth-friendly toiletries. Toiletries can be full of harmful chemicals, so reduce your exposure by purchasing those that are better for your body and the earth.
35. Clean your room naturally. Ditch the harsh bleaches and chemicals for cleaning. Instead, choose products that are green or natural to tidy up with.
36. Take shorter showers. It might be nice to luxuriate in long showers, but you’ll be wasting loads of water. Instead, keep it short and sweet.
37. Get all natural flip flops for showering. Kick the plastic flip flop habit and go for natural materials instead.
38. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or washing your face. Be kind to the earth by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing your face.
39. Buy chemical-free detergent and fabric softeners. There are several brands out there that make great chemical-free detergents. These options are better for the environment and will leave your clothes wonderfully clean.

Saving and Recycling

Try out some of these tips to ensure your time in the dorms leaves as little impact on the health of the earth as possible.

40. Recycle class materials. Don’t just toss out old notes and papers from class. Put them in the recycle bin instead or use them as scrap instead.
41. Make your own. Rather than going out to buy decorations for your room, make your own using items you already have. There are numerous ideas out there you can use.
42. Never leave the lights on. Keeping the lights on when you’re not in the room is just plain wasteful. Always turn them off when you and your roomie are out.
43. Upcycle old items. Something might not be useful on its own anymore but can be nice when upcycled. Use these ideas to make your dorm room nicer.
44. Take old soda cans and bottles to a recycling center. If you’re like many students and have an addiction to caffeine, you probably have a few soda cans and bottles hanging around. Instead of tossing them out, recycle them.
45. Recycle boxes or invest in reusable containers for moving. Dorms can be pretty wasteful places when students are moving in and out. Do your part to reduce this by recycling and reusing anything you can.
46. Store instead of shipping. Instead of shipping your items back and forth between home and school when you go home for summer, store them locally.
47. Insulate windows. This can help use less energy when both heating and cooling your room.
48. Read online instead of printing. When possible, read your assignments online instead of printing them all out.
49. Buy rechargeable batteries. Devices like remotes and game controllers run through batteries pretty quickly. Instead of simply throwing them out, get some rechargeable ones instead.
50. Print on both sides of paper. When allowed (some professors don’t like it) print on both sides of the paper to use half as much.

Drawing and Painting

These blogs focus on helping students and art enthusiasts learn more about drawing and painting news and techniques.

1. lines and colors: On this blog you’ll find all kinds of posts about drawing, painting, cartoons, illustration, computer art and a whole lot more.
2. Drawn!: You’ll find a wealth of inspiration to help you become a better artist and learn more about the field here.
3. Drawing Tutorials Online: In need of a little instruction? This site can help, with hundreds of tutorials and podcasts.
4. Painting Blog: Visit this blog by Nancy Reyner to find weekly posts on art news, as well as some helpful acrylic techniques you can use.
5. Everyday Paintings: Oil painters will be interested in this blog, featuring posts on topics like mailing paintings, pouring mineral spirits and backing up your work.
6. A Life Drawing Blog: You don’t have to be enrolled in this art class to take advantage of the human-form drawing resources posted here.

Illustration

If you’re studying to work as an illustrator, these blogs are great sources of information on all things the art entails.

7. Pikaland: Keep up with illustration news and who’s big in the field through this blog.
8. Illustrophile: This blog is an excellent place to find inspiration and some ideas for new techniques.
9. Illustration Art: Learn more about the history of illustration from this blog that highlights some great works of the past.
10. illustrativo: From the cute to the haunting, you’ll get a chance to see some truly amazing illustrations here.

Graphic Design

Designers will find these blogs particularly inspiring.

11. Design Observer: This blog is a must-read for any designer hoping to keep up with the field, with news, job boards and much more.
12. Smashing Magazine: Check out this blogazine for some of the best design articles on the web, helping those in all aspects of design, from graphic design to industrial and product design.
13. Dexinger: Get information on contests, typography, up and coming artists and a whole lot more here.
14. Core 77: This design magazine and recourse can be a great place for students to learn more about working in the design world.

Photography

You’ll find news, lessons, equipment help and more on these photography blogs.

15. Digital Photography School: Even the most experienced photographers can use some help in honing their skills and a blog like this, full of amazing tutorials and articles, can be a big help.
16. PDN: Study the history of photography with the beautiful images displayed daily on this blog.
17. Fine Art Photoblog: Curated by a group of fine art photographers, this blog offers up photos that will inspire you to be better at what you do.
18. Photo Induced: If photojournalism is more your bag, give this blog a read.
19. The Imaging Buffet: With news and advice on everything from what gear to get to how to improve your digital images, this blog is a great read for any student hoping to learn.
20. DIY Photography: Learn more about lighting, setting up your studio, learning your camera and improving your technique with a little help from this blog.

Sculpture

Whether you’re interested in pottery, stone work or ceramics, you’ll find information in these blogs.

21. Dorset Sculpture: This sculptor shares some of his work and that of other artists he admires.
22. Art Pottery Blog: Learn more about fine-art pottery, from tiles to vases, on this blog.
23. Wood That Works: On this blog, you’ll be able to explore the kinetic wood carvings of artists David.
24. Bent Objects: This fun and entertaining blog makes a simple paperclip into art.
25. Stone Carving Blog: If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about stone carving, this site can help you get started.
26. Eves of Eight: You’ll get to see some beautiful ceramic sculptures by Kylo Chua here.

Dance

These blogs are a great resource for any student studying dance.

27. Dance Advantage: Whether you want to teach dance or take on a professional career in the field, this blog can help you see the resources that are out there and get you where you want to be.
28. A Dancer’s Days: Follow along as this dancer practices, pushes forward and works in a career in dance.
29. Dance25: You’ll find a host of dance tips and tutorials here, sometimes with helpful pictures.
30. loveDANCEmore: Learn more about dance news and events from this blog based in Utah.
31. My Son Can Dance: Unfortunately there’s still a lot of stigma attached to men in the dance world. Whether you’re a male dancer or just want to support someone who is, this blog by the mom of a dancer is a great, inspiring read.
32. Inside Ballet Technique: This blog will give you insights into the basics of better ballet technique.

Theater

Whether you love set design, costumes or being on stage, you’ll find help in your drama career here.

33. On Theatre and Politics: Blending articles on theater with the politics that sometimes influence them, this blog is an insightful read for any drama geek.
34. Unscripted: If you’re considering a career in acting, you may want to check out this blog for help with technique and finding gigs.
35. Bite-Size Business for Actors: Learn more about the business side of the acting world from this blog, something that may save you a lot of headaches later on.
36. Backstage Blog Stage: Get the latest buzz on the acting biz from this blog, with news, audition listings,, movie gossip and more.
37. Costume Design Blog: What would a movie be without great costumes? Read through this blog for some insights into both the art and the business of designing wardrobes.
38. Jonathan Paul Green: Think you want a career in set and production design? See what it’s really like on the blog of designer Jonathan Paul Green.

Film

Embrace the art of films through these blogs for directors and film lovers.

39. Film Directing Tips: As a young filmmaker, you can benefit from the directing tips found here from Director Peter D. Marshall.
40. Opinionator: Errol Morris: This New York Times blog from filmmaker Errol Morris, is an amazing read for anyone fascinating by the art of film.
41. Illiterary Fiction: From dealing with criticism to using digital film, you’ll find a wealth of helpful information here.
42. Real Indie Film: Follow independent film news through this blog.
43. IFC Blog: You can read some interesting and insightful articles here, touching on award-winning and amazing films you might not have heard about.
44. Criterion Collection: Any movie nerd has heard of the Criterion Collection, representing some of the best and sometimes most overlooked films ever made. This blog highlights these films, with essays, criticism and more.

Other

From art businesses to animation, you’ll find a wide range of topics covered in these blogs.

45. Art Biz Blog: Learn more about how the business side of art works– essential no matter what field you choose to enter.
46. Mosaic Art Now: If you’d like to experiment with mosaic or learn more about it, give this blog a read.
47. Thinking Animation: This animation blog can be a great resource for students hoping to start a career in the field.
48. Hollywood Animation Archive: Get inspired by the history of animation through the posts here that delve into animation archives.
49. Dreaming Spirals: If you have a passion for textile art, make sure to check out this blog for some inspiring photos.
50. Burnishings: With both digital and traditional work, this blog will help you to learn more about the printmaking process.

1. Pi Day: Celebrated on March the 14th in the US, this holiday recognizes the mathematical constant of Pi, which is often abbreviated to 3.14– hence the date of the holiday. Math geeks can celebrate by enjoying the wonders of Pi through math, watching the movie Pi, eating actual pie or some Pi-inspired art.
2. Square Root Day: The date of Square Root Day changes depending on the year. For instance, square root day could be 3/3/09 or 4/4/16, meaning this holiday only comes around once in a great while, so you should party it up while you can. Some ideas for enjoying square root day include cooking up some delicious root veggies, square dancing or anything else punny involving squares or roots.
3. Sonia Kovalevsky Mathematics Days: Women in math will love this event. Mostly celebrated at middle and high schools, this holiday isn’t set on a fixed date, but usually takes place in the spring. It is meant to encourage young women to pursue a career in a math or science field, inspired by Sonia Kovalevsky, an important Russian mathematician. Math geeks can attend lectures on this day or participate in workshops.
4. e Day: While not as well-known as Pi, e is also an irrational number that occurs naturally in the grand scheme of mathematics. Discovered by a number of mathematicians, it’s useful in helping puzzle out exponential and logarithmic functions. The rough numerical equivalent of e is 2.7, making the logical day to celebrate it February 7th. As to how you celebrate e Day, well, that’s up to you. You can only eat foods that start with e, read the poetry of ee cummings, watch the E! Network or just do some fun math related to e.
5. Math 2.0 Day: Use this holiday to celebrate the intersection of math and technology. Only July 8th, spend your day using math programs, attending tech lectures and appreciating the subject on the web.
6. Pi Approximation Day: Some prefer to celebrate Pi not on the decimal equivalent to Pi, but instead on the fraction that represents it: 22/7. Twenty two divided by seven gives you the approximate value of Pi, hence the name of the holiday. Celebrations of this day are pretty much the same as those on 3/14, so why not celebrate twice a year with twice the pie?
7. Odd Day: Odd day is a day that singles out those wonderful, wacky odd numbers. It occurs when three consecutive odd numbers make up a date– something that happens only six times a century. The last Odd Day was 5/7/09 and the next will be on 7/9/11. Enjoy Odd Day by, well, being odd.
8. Powers of Ten Day: This holiday is all about seeing the world in a different light, though different magnitudes of 10 to be more precise. It was celebrated on 10/10/10 and isn’t due to come around again for quite some time, so if you missed your chance to celebrate in 2010, you likely won’t live to see this holiday come round again.
9. World Maths Day: This is the day when math finally gets its due. Celebrated internationally on March 1st, the holiday recognizes all things mathematical, focusing special attention on getting kids enthused about a career in math or doing equations. You can celebrate World Maths (or Math if you’re not a fan of the British spelling) Day any way you like, so long as it involves the subject.
10. Mole Day: Know the math behind chemistry? Then you’ve likely heard of Avagadro’s number (6.02×10^23) that’s used as a basic unit of measure in chemistry, more commonly referred to as a Mole. It’s observed on October 23rd from 6:02 am to 6:02 pm, and can include enjoying anything mole related from mole sauce to Whack-a-Mole. The punnier, the better.
11. Pythagorean Theorem Day: Pythagoras’ theorem states that the length of sides of a right triangle will always fit the equation a squared + b squared = c squared. Thus, this holiday is celebrated on dates which meet this criteria. For example, 6/8/10 would be one such date. Enjoy this holiday by playing the triangle, doing some geometry and eating Greek food.
12. Math Storytelling Day: On Math Storytelling Day, those who love math can have fun making up and sharing math-related stories. They can involve puzzles, logic, human relationships, just about anything so long as there’s math in there somewhere. This holiday is observed on September 25th and can be a lot of fun for kids and adults alike.
13. Celebration of Mind: Held in honor or Martin Gardner’s birthday, this holiday held on October 21st encourages a fun and playful approach to mathematics and logic puzzles. Celebrants can mark the day by doing fun math puzzles, performing magic tricks, or even sharing math stories.
14. Fibonacci Day: If you’re a math nerd, you’ve more than likely heard of Fibonacci’s sequence. This sequence, made famous by the Italian mathematician, creates a spiral and begins with the numbers 1, 1, 2, 3, so the holiday is celebrated on November 23rd of each year. There are no set guidelines for celebration, so those who want to mark the occasion can do anything from delve into the sequence to enjoy Italian food.

1. Ramayana (5th to 4th Century BCE) attributed to Valmiki: One of Hinduism’s most beloved epic poems — not to mention an incredibly influential religious text — contains a wealth of proto-science-fiction goodness. The most notable example comes with the wondrous flying contraptions known as Vimana. Found in ancient Sanskrit works beyond the Ramayana, they fueled the imaginations of ancient astronaut conspiracy theorists with their depictions of gods in resplendent chariots. These vehicles took their riders into the ocean’s most treacherous depths and the furthest reaches of the cosmos, both of which later became science fiction staples. Along with, of course, the technology opening up such realms to a curious humanity.

2. True History (2nd Century) by Lucien: Some scholars consider this Greek-Syrian text the first known work of science fiction, rather than a narrative with certain now-familiar tropes. Lucien intended True History to serve as a satire of historical documents touting the veracity of mythological and fantastic events. Among these humorous journeys include extraterrestrial visitors, interplanetary battles and space travel. Hercules and Dionysus, for example, traveled to the moon and found themselves amongst a war for the Morning Star. The author infuses fantasy components into the narrative as well, anticipating at least two genres along with perpetuating satire and parody traditions.

3. Urashima Taro (8th Century) by Unknown: Time travel has become one of the archetypical science-fiction narratives, and this traditional Japanese tale solidified its place in the literary field. When a humble fisherman by the name of Urashima Taro rescues a small, helpless turtle, the Dragon God Ryujin rewards him with a 3-day visit to his resplendent palace. But when the man returns to his own world, he discovers he has flung unwittingly flung himself 300 years into the future. Many interpretations of this story exist, of course, with the earliest recorded manuscript dating back to the 8th Century.

4. One Thousand and One Nights (9th Century) by Various: Not every short story from One Thousand and One Nights contains science fiction elements, though some undeniably do. Pulling from Indian, Persian, Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Islamic lore, its adventuresome content with plenty of comfortable, familiar fantasy and sci-fi narrative devices continue to delight today’s audiences. One of the most notable stories, "Abdullah the Fisherman and Abdullah the Merman," involves a man granted the ability to breathe underwater, where he encounters a utopian, collectivist society of merfolk. Some of the other narratives involve automatons, cosmic travels, mummies, brass traveling machines and plenty more beloved flights of fantasy and science fiction.

5. Taketori Monogatari (10th Century) by Unknown: Sometimes known as "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter," "The Tale of the Bamboo-Hewer" and "Princess Kaguya," this Japanese folktale may not be an explicit work of science-fiction. But it still offers up some tropes very familiar to fans of the genre all the same. Princess Kaguya enters the world within a stalk of glowing bamboo, informing a childless farm couple that she comes from the Capital of the Moon. They adopt her, and the young girl’s beauty causes problems for her earthly family — not to mention the crippling homesickness.

6. The Book of Fadil ibn Natiq (1268-1277) by Ibn al-Nafis: Also referred to as Theologus Autodidactus in Latin, Ibn al-Nafis’ seminal work is considered one of the first explicitly religious novels ever written. Kamil, the story’s protagonist, bursts into existence through abiogenesis at the beginning. A relatively realistic fusion of adventure and bildungsroman follows, but the narrative’s conclusion features a devastating apocalypse straight out of science-fiction. Throughout the entire book, the author expresses his philosophies of natural history and science, theology, sociology, psychology and plenty other academic and intellectual subjects.

7. Utopia (1516) by Thomas More: Without Utopia, the literary world wouldn’t have utopian settings. And without utopian settings, there would be no dystopian counterparts. Playing off humanity’s collective ideals and paranoias, these sci-fi subgenres depict the extreme ends of human cooperation or despair — if not both at the same time! Unsurprisingly, Sir Thomas More’s highly influential, philosophical novel looks into the highest echelons of human productivity and collectiveness. In the eponymous land, citizens live in harmony and equality with each other, with no tiffs over religion or societal role or who pays for healthcare (here, it is the state). While they possess a military, it is for self-defense rather than conquest. Some of the ideas presented therein are tied to the time period, such as women forced to confess sins to their husbands on a monthly basis, but others are considered very progressive and liberal even today.

8. Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley: This essential work combines horror, fantasy and — of course — science-fiction for one of literature’s most compelling and terrifying existential inquiries. While Frankenstein has found itself bowdlerized and bastardized over the centuries, the original featured a well-spoken, intelligent monster capable of rational thought and action. In many ways, the true demon of the story was Dr. Frankenstein himself, who abused the brains and technologies at his disposal to create an ethically questionable, bizarre organic being.

9. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1869) by Jules Verne: Even today, the Nautilus is one of the most memorable vessels in literature — and not just in the science-fiction genre. Iconic Captain Nemo travels the seven seas attacking military vessels, and the American ship Abraham Lincoln pursues it. Until his masquerade is finally shattered, the general public accepts the accidents as a narwhal’s doing. Author Jules Verne anticipated the military application of submarines, basing the Nautilus on his inquiries into the then-nascent technology.

10. The Time Machine (1895) by H.G. Wells: Like Jules Verne and Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells lay a sturdy foundation for contemporary science-fiction authors. As with Verne, most of his scientific romances could’ve easily made this list, but The Time Machine left what is quite possibly the most visible legacy. Even those who never picked up the book may still know the tragic tale of a time traveler and his adventures amongst the Eloi and Morlocks, even if it’s just because of the massive impact it left on the later steampunk movement.