Harriot vs. Harriot

One of the latest episodes of This American Life is called “Minor Crimes Division.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: people litigating the pettiest of offenses. While the entire episode is very entertaining and is definitely worth a listen, Act I is the star for me. It’s called “Harriot vs. Harriot” and in it, author Michael Harriot shares the story of how his family resolved arguments. His mother created a court system called the Harriot Court where she presided over the proceedings as the judge, the kids would defend their positions, and they would swear to tell the truth on a copy of their favorite book: Encyclopedia Brown. All the little details in this story were so charming. Give it a listen, why don’t you?