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12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos (Jordan B. Peterson)
Episode 117
Jordan Peterson has been taken off the board, apparently permanently, by himself or by his enemies, but that does not change the essential value of his work. (The written version of this review was f…
Published on 5 years, 6 months ago
Republics Ancient & Modern, Vol. 2: New Modes & Orders in Early Modern Political Thought (Paul Rahe)
Episode 116
Thoughts on whether the Enlightenment was necessary for the material progress we enjoy today (though perhaps not tomorrow). (The written version of this review was first published March 14, 2018. Wr…
Published on 5 years, 6 months ago
Against Masks
Episode 115
An analysis, meant to be a complete evaluation of why we, as a society, should not generally wear face masks in response to the Wuhan Plague. (The written version of this analysis, in web, PDF, and e…
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago
How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life (Seneca & James S. Romm)
Episode 114
Relevant in these days of incoherent hysteria about (exaggerated chances of) death, a famous Roman philosopher's reflections on death, collected by an outstanding modern classicist. (The written ver…
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago
SAM: One Robot, a Dozen Engineers, and the Race to Revolutionize the Way We Build (Jonathan Waldman)
Episode 113
It's a book about bricks, but more importantly, it's a book about automation, something that is grossly oversold to us today. But why is it oversold to us? (The written version of this review, in w…
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago
Can It Happen Here? Authoritarianism in America (Cass Sunstein, ed.)
Episode 112
A detailed evisceration of Left attacks on democracy in Hungary and Poland, along with much discussion of Left attempts to desperately hold on to their power in America. (The written version of this …
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago
Starship Troopers (Robert Heinlein)
Episode 111
On limitations of the franchise, and the role of women in the military, through the lens of a famous work of science fiction. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can …
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago
God Is Not Nice: Rejecting Pop Culture Theology and Discovering the God Worth Living For (Ulrich L. Lehner)
Episode 110
No politics here, in this examination of what used to be standard Christian theology, now often lost in the sea of liquid modernity. (The written version of this review was first published March 1, 2…
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief (Lawrence Wright)
Episode 109
In which I spend little time on Scientology, and a lot of time on the religious principles of a well-run state and society. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be…
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago
Windfall: How the New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens America’s Power (Meghan O’Sullivan)
Episode 108
Thoughts from 2018 on energy, a topic in turmoil in the past few weeks—along with analysis of the risible Paris Accords, yet another stupid attempt to hoodwink Americans. (The written version of this…
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago