By Richard Wiseman ReadOasis Step 3 In 1884, the great American Philosopher William James had a radical idea. James argued that if you behave as if you’re a certain type of person, you become that person. Decades of research has shown that James’s idea applies to all aspects of... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 A long time ago, there was a famous Arab leader. His name was Al Mansur. He was the ruler of all the Arabs, and so he was called the caliph. Al Mansur loved songs and poems. And he liked to hear poets speak their own verses.... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 What is the relationship between culture and health? The following study compares Italians, Japanese, and French with the British and Americans. First, we examine fat in the diet. The Japanese eat very little fat. The British and the Americans eat more fat than the Japanese. And... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Leonardo da Vinci began working on the Mona Lisa in 1503. But he didn't finish it for many years. In 1516, he took the painting from Italy to France. And he probably finished it there in 1519 before he died. Then the King of France bought... Read more
Get Your Goals By Richard Wiseman ReadOasis Step 3 I tracked the lives of 5,000 people as they attempted to achieve their New Year’s resolutions. Now most of them failed, but ten percent did obtain their aims and ambitions. But what were they doing that was so different?... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 The eye is the lamp of the body. Doctors can learn a lot about your health by looking at your eyes. And we all want to have good eyes. With our eyes, we communicate. We see green trees and colorful flowers. We read books, watch movies,... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Teachers are always trying to find new ways to improve their classes. This is called teacher development. For example, teachers can learn about new materials, books, and computer programs. They also can study about the latest ideas and theories. Besides this, teachers must learn about relationships.... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 A dying man met with his Lawyer, Doctor, and Minister. They met around the dying man's bed. The man handed each of them a fat envelope. Each envelope was full of money, $25,000 in cash. Then the dying man said, "I ask you all to make... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) "Then I saw the beauty of primitive music." W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues W.C. Handy at Age 19 W.C. Handy grew up in a small town in Alabama in the southern part of the US. His father was the pastor of a church,... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 The room is dark. You are alone. You are drinking a coke and downloading some songs from the Internet. Then you hear a crash. Your heart stops as you hear a man shout. "This is the police!" You catch your breath and say, "What?" Then another... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Bringing Home the Body of King Charles, 1884 Painting A long time ago there was a young king in Sweden. His name was King Charles the Twelfth. He ruled Sweden from 1697 to 1718. King Charles was famous for his courage. He would do anything to... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 Rakugo is a form of Japanese comedy. In rakugo, a storyteller sits on a stage. The stage is simple. The storyteller has a Japanese fan and a small cloth. And he or she performs conversations between people. In the art of rakugo, these conversations come alive... Read more
By Mark Twain ReadOasis Step 2 I was at a dinner in London given in honor of one of the most celebrated English military men of his time. I do not want to tell you his real name and titles. I will just call him Lieutenant General Lord Arthur... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) The bell rang. Jim's things were already in his red book bag, which looked brown under the white lights of the classroom. Zip! Zip! He closed the bag. He stood up and let out a sigh, "Ahhhh." Jim’s sigh was loud enough that other... Read more
ReadOasis Step 4 (Part 1) Ideas on Trial Galileo was old, weak, and ill. But he had to make the 200 mile journey to Rome in the middle of winter. Why all this trouble? The leader of the Church, the Pope, demanded it. Galileo must go on trial for... Read more
ReadOasis Step 5 (Part 1) Bugs Bunny “I'm trapped. Trapped. I gotta get out of this.I gotta think fast. Trapped. Oh boy, they've trapped a rabbit. Look, look fellows, I'm Rin Tin Tin.” Elmer Fudd “Now I got you. You're a dead rabbit.” Delivery Boy “Telegram for Elmer Fudd.”... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 When she saw her the bones in her hand she said "I have seen my death!" Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (1845-1923) was a German scientist who discovered x-rays. This was a great advance for physics and medicine, and it earned Roentgen the Nobel Prize in 1901. In November 1895,... Read more
By Jack London ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) The old Indian was sitting in the snow. His name was Koko. He was the old chief of his tribe. Now, all he could do was sit and listen to the others. His eyes were old. He could not see, but... Read more
By Sarah Orne Jewett ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) A little girl hurried through the forest. It was a summer evening in June. It was already eight o'clock. The forest was full of shadows. Sally wondered if her grandmother would be angry with her for being so late. Every... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Cats and dogs have different philosophies. A dog thinks, "These people I live with feed me, love me, and take good care of me. They must be gods." But a cat thinks, "These people I live with feed me, love me, and take good... Read more