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Reason and Revelation in the Middle Ages (Etienne Gilson)
Episode 187
And now for something completely different, an eighty-year-old work about medieval philosophies. (The written version of this review was first published September 8, 2018. Written versions are avail…
Published on 4 years, 7 months ago
Empires of the Sky: Zeppelins, Airplanes, and Two Men’s Epic Duel to Rule the World (Alexander Rose)
Episode 186
A story of achievement and accomplishment, gripping in every detail, which highlights how far we have fallen from greatness. (The written version of this review can be found here.)
Published on 4 years, 7 months ago
Napoleon: A Life (Andrew Roberts)
Episode 185
The original Man of Destiny, a possible template for our own future Man of Destiny. (The written version of this review was first published September 7, 2018. Written versions are available here.)
Published on 4 years, 7 months ago
We (Yevgeny Zamyatin)
Episode 184
Yevgeny Zamyatin's We, from 1921, is the original dystopia that spawned all other twentieth-century dystopias portrayed in literature. Despite being the oldest dystopia, it is in some ways the most r…
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
Ultrasociety: How 10,000 Years of War Made Humans the Greatest Cooperators on Earth (Peter Turchin)
Episode 183
The prolific Peter Turchin offers another attempt to quantify and mathematize history. It's not bad, and it's fairly interesting, but it's not nearly as successful as his more famous Ages of Discord.…
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
How Democracy Ends (David Runciman)
Episode 182
From 2018, one of several then-current books about the impending end of democracy; although this one is less through a Trumpian lens, and thus has not dated as badly as others. With bonus references …
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
The Market Gardener: A Successful Grower’s Handbook for Small-Scale Organic Farming (Jean-Martin Fortier)
Episode 181
Thoughts on the practical effects and social impact of small-scale agriculture, along with thoughts on large-scale agriculture and fat people. (The written version of this review can be found here.)
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
Coup d’État: A Practical Handbook (Edward N. Luttwak)
Episode 179
From 2018, through the lens of a classic work of applied politics, thoughts on coups (which have not happened, nor did I predict them), and on social media's role in enforcing global rule of the Left…
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
I See Satan Fall Like Lightning (René Girard)
Episode 180
René Girard's exposition of the mechanisms of societal violence. Deeply insightful, and with potent lessons for the present moment. (The written version of this review can be found here.)
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
The Garments of Court and Palace: Machiavelli and the World That He Made (Phillip Bobbitt)
Episode 178
Phillip Bobbitt's interpretation of Machiavelli's world view and attempted synthesis of his works, along with the unlikely use of Machiavelli to claim virtue for the the modern neoliberal, consumeris…
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago