Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchGreat Society: A New History (Amity Shlaes)
Episode 97
In these times of turmoil, why the 1960s were not just a mistake, but a societal evil, and how we can take advantage of today's circumstances to get back on track. (The written version of this review…
Published on 5 years, 9 months ago
The Middle Ages (Johannes Fried)
Episode 96
A short review, for once, of this excellent work, which discusses how the modern world, in thought and technology, was birthed by Europeans a thousand years ago. (The written version of this review …
Published on 5 years, 9 months ago
The Throne of Adulis: Red Sea Wars on the Eve of Islam (G. W. Bowersock)
Episode 95
Thoughts about obscure conflicts from fourteen hundred years ago, and what they tell us of today. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
Published on 5 years, 9 months ago
The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook (Niall Ferguson)
Episode 94
Of Niall Ferguson's excellent 2018 "The Square and the Tower," and of low-trust societies and the effects of technology on our political future. Prescient, from the viewpoint of 2020. (The written ve…
Published on 5 years, 9 months ago
The Collapse of Complex Societies (Joseph A. Tainter)
Episode 93
A book with some interesting points, but extremely narrow and deliberately self-blinkered. (The written version of this review was first published January 24, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF f…
Published on 5 years, 9 months ago
The Betrayal of American Prosperity: Free Market Delusions, America’s Decline, and How We Must Compete in the Post-Dollar Era (Clyde Prestowitz)
Episode 92
This 2010 book outlines much of today's even-more-pressing debates about whether America should implement an industrial policy. (The written version of this review was first published January 17, 201…
Published on 5 years, 10 months ago
Reflections on the Revolution In Europe: Immigration, Islam, and the West (Christopher Caldwell)
Episode 91
Christopher Caldwell's 2009 book on immigration to Europe is not bad, but it's been overtaken by events, and its analysis isn't subtle enough. (The written version of this review was first published …
Published on 5 years, 10 months ago
Age of Fracture (Daniel T. Rodgers)
Episode 90
This book, winner of the 2012 Bancroft Prize, offers some interesting ideas about ideas, but is primarily interesting for what it misses. (The written version of this review was first published Janua…
Published on 5 years, 10 months ago
Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights on China, the United States, and the World (Graham Allison)
Episode 89
An exploration of the supposed Grand Master's mostly banal thoughts. Also of multiculturalism, wine aunts, and our own future. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can…
Published on 5 years, 10 months ago
The Reckless Mind: Intellectuals in Politics (Mark Lilla)
Episode 88
Mark Lilla's polished examination of philotyrannical intellectuals of the twentieth century. (The written version of this review was first published January 14, 2018. Written versions, in web and PD…
Published on 5 years, 10 months ago