On The Gist, the story behind the so-called Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times." Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker tells us about international efforts to find the recipe for a happy, lasting marriage. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, is a Donald Trump nomination inevitable or likely? Today's sponsor: Roku and HBO NOW. Roku players offer the biggest selection of streaming channels, like HBO NOW. Learn more and try HBO NOW free for one month by going to roku.com/thegist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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