I am here to give you back your future. Human flourishing in the coming post-liberal West. The hour is late, and Moloch is within the gates. Foundationalism. Reality-focused writings, often on history and politics.
Episodes
Thursday Mar 12, 2020
Thursday Mar 12, 2020
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 was first published January 27, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
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.)
Saturday Mar 07, 2020
Saturday Mar 07, 2020
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 version of this review was first published January 24, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Sunday Mar 01, 2020
Sunday Mar 01, 2020
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 formats, are available here.)
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
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, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Saturday Feb 22, 2020
Saturday Feb 22, 2020
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 January 15, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
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 January 12, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Sunday Feb 09, 2020
Sunday Feb 09, 2020
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 be found here.)
Friday Feb 07, 2020
Friday Feb 07, 2020
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 PDF formats, are available here.)
Tuesday Feb 04, 2020
Tuesday Feb 04, 2020
Of why those who opposed Communism when it ruled are forgotten or dishonored, while those who supported it paid no price (yet). (The written version of this review was first published January 13, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)