The historical Buddha; dangerous efficiency; and a playful dance with gravity

Most popular of 2020 Today in Friday 25 December 2020 Most popular of 2020 in Aeon+Psyche Welcome to the first of our holiday newsletters highlighting some of our most popular articles and videos from 2020. Over the next week, we’ll bring you a showcase of favourite Essays, from Vikings and Aztecs to Schopenhauer’s semi-satisfied life; Ideas about musical virtuosi and Caesar’s sexuality; and Videos to transport you to Spain, Plato’s cave and 1920s Manhattan. Today we begin with the lovely [Film]( Clair de Lune, we argue for a little less [efficiency]( in life, and ask the question: who was the [historical Buddha]( – Brigid Hains, Editorial Director Religion Essay [Who was the Buddha?]( [When we strip away the myths, such as his princely youth in a palace, a surprising picture of this enigmatic sage emerges]( by Alexander Wynne Money and economics Idea [Why efficiency is dangerous and slowing down makes life better]( by Barry Schwartz Dance Film [Video Icon] [How the acrobat and choreographer Yoann Bourgeois plays with gravity and time]( 5 minutes [Share this newsletter with a friend]( You have received this email because you signed up to the Aeon+Psyche Newsletter list. © Aeon Media Group Ltd 2020. [Level 5, 100 Flinders Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia.]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( | [ADD US TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( | [CONTACT US](