Breifcases have lost market share to the messenger bag and laptop backpacks. You cannot get on a plane without seeing several people with a swiss gear laptop backpack. If any business travel is required = Laptop backpack google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=o... If he will be bringing work home - Messenger Bag bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do... Padfolios are good for taking notes in meeting and holding small amounts of papers but they do not work well to bring any amount of work home or for business travel.
When I was working, I would carry a briedcase, just to make sure I had all of my items that were needed everyday.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.