Podcast Episodes

Life at the Bottom: The Worldview That Makes the Underclass (Theodore Dalrymple)

Episode 207

A classic work on the underclass, which I use to define my program for distinguishing between the deserving and the undeserving poor, and treating each with justice. Plus, a variety of thoughts on mo…

Published on 4 years, 3 months ago

The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy (Christopher Lasch)

Episode 206

A much-discussed, yet somewhat overrated, book from a quarter century ago. Nothing in our society has gotten better since then, but as it is said, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Published on 4 years, 3 months ago

Political Romanticism (Carl Schmitt)

Episode 205

As Carl Schmitt comes back into fashion, I am reading all his works.  This is his very first, from 1919, an excoriation of those who prioritize aesthetics over politics, and who refuse to make decisi…

Published on 4 years, 3 months ago

The Demon In Democracy (Ryszard Legutko)

Episode 204

This is the book that explains everything that matters at this moment. You must read it.  Although I wrote this nearly five years ago, it has not aged a day, and remains, I think, one of my most usef…

Published on 4 years, 4 months ago

The Bear: History of a Fallen King (Michel Pastoureau)

Episode 203

My thoughts on political symbology, in particular that of Foundationalism, through the prism of this erudite book on European bears and their cultural history.

The written version of this review can …

Published on 4 years, 4 months ago

The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom (James Burnham)

Episode 202

James Burnham's classic work on power in politics.  Perhaps too gnostic, but nonetheless with much insight into today, particularly with respect to "democratic totalitarianism," on full display in th…

Published on 4 years, 4 months ago

The Saboteur: The Aristocrat Who Became France’s Most Daring Anti-Nazi Commando (Paul Kix)

Episode 201

Of masculinity, and the masculine virtues, and their loss in the modern age. (This article was first published September 27, 2018.)

The written, original version of this article can be found here, or…

Published on 4 years, 4 months ago

The Victorious Counterrevolution: The Nationalist Effort in the Spanish Civil War (Michael Seidman)

Episode 200

An analysis of how economic competence and success drove the Nationalist victory in the Spanish Civil War, accompanied, as always, by my own thoughts on what that means for us today.

The written vers…

Published on 4 years, 4 months ago

The Russian Revolution: A New History (Sean McMeekin)

Episode 199

An examination of lessons to be learned from the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, a time of ferment resembling ours,  including the crucial lesson that great change is always a step function, not gradua…

Published on 4 years, 5 months ago

Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs (Camilla Townsend)

Episode 198

It's always interesting to learn about the past, although we should not overrate the importance of justly-defeated peoples such as the Aztecs. But what is the limiting principle of moving mankind for…

Published on 4 years, 5 months ago