The things that people say in history books tend to be momentous: L’État, c’est moi … Four score and seven years ago … we shall fight on the beaches … and so on. No one, as far as I know, has ever ...

You’re standing in line at the supermarket or drugstore when a stranger speaks up. “Hello, how are you?” the stranger greets you. “Good, and you?” might be your response. Your conversation partner ...

Mr. Rosenblatt is the author of the forthcoming book “More Rules for Aging.” I try to let at least five people a day know that I’m thinking of them and wishing them well. Sometimes it’s in person; ...