On stage, George Carlin came across as a grouch, often vulgar and sometimes misanthropic. But with me he was patient and warm, happy to talk through the minutiae of his creative process and eager to share stories about his childhood, his evolution as a comic, and his influence.

Being best buddies with your spouse can mean a happy marriage.

Magical thinking springs up everywhere. Some irrational beliefs (Santa Claus?) are passed on to us. But others we find on our own. Survival requires recognizing patterns—night follows day, berries that color will make you ill. And because missing the obvious often hurts more than seeing the imaginary, our skills at inferring connections are overtuned. No one told Wade Boggs that eating chicken before every single game would help his batting average; he decided that on his own, and no one can argue with his success. We look for patterns because we hate surprises and because we love being in control.

For many of us, it's as plain as the nose on our faces—different smells conjure up specific memories. But what is it exactly that makes us connect the smell of barbecues with summer?

Self-help books are now a half-billion-dollar industry, but not all "off the shelf" advice is useful or accurate. Here, common distortions to watch out for, and where to go for sound, science-based guidance.

Loners are pitied in our up-with-people culture. But the introvert reaps secret joy from the solitary life.