Here's my pick for this week of longer articles from all over the web. If you've got a Kindle or other eReader, consult the first in this series for how to send them straight from your browser to your device to enjoy later

Excuses for Madness - MF Burnyeat

This London Review of Books review of William Harris' book on classical precedents for anger control is a gem. Get to grips with what Seneca, Aristotle and the Stoics thought about keeping a lid on your temper and find answers to questions such as 'is it manly to be indignant?' Also, next time you lose it, tell people you're experiencing a bout of 'post-Homeric rage' - it's all the rage.

Why America's China strategy is all wrong and how to fix it - Chas Freeman

'It is not in our interest to withdraw from Asia', writes Chas Freeman in The Atlantic. However, he does strongly advocate a change in the way the US deals with China, both to reflect the way the Asian superpower has evolved, and how the US is now operating with limited resources.

What does 'Keynsian' mean? - Jonathan Portes

Essential reading for anyone who wants to take part in the economic debate. 'Keynsian' is a word that is bandied about a lot, but few use it with true precision. In this superb column, Jonathan Portes, former Treasury advisor and Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research nails the different senses the word gets used. It's up to you which you mean when you say it, though...

A death in the family, but first, 97 Christmas dos - Simon Hoggart

I didn't think anyone loves those humble-brag Christmas round-robin letters as much as I do (I keep them behind the toaster to give me something funny to read while I wait for the kettle to boil) but it turns out that Simon Hoggart does. His Guardian round up of the most ridiculously bombastic missives he received this year is not to be missed.

Poker lessons from Richelieu - David A Bell

A lesson in how to manage a superpower from France's seventeenth-century political gambler, Cardinal Richelieu. If you want to learn the political lessons of keeping your cards close to your chest, making unexpectedly bold moves and betting more than you have, this Foreign Affairs piece has got it all.

Tags: Weekend reads