The Worthy House (Charles Haywood)

Charles Haywood
undefined
Dec 17, 2019 • 19min

Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia (Christina Thompson)

An examination of a fascinating work on the settlement of Polynesia, with a focus on human accomplishment. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
undefined
Dec 16, 2019 • 16min

On Preemptive Apologies by Conservatives

On how conservatives hobble themselves with preemptive apologies that have been conditioned into them by the Left. (The written version of this review was first published September 19, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, can be found here.)
undefined
Dec 14, 2019 • 32min

How Democracies Die (Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt)

Just in time to explain the inevitable Left reaction to Boris Johnson's triumph, an analysis of the Left's hatred of actual democracy. (The written version of this review was first published September 25, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
undefined
Dec 12, 2019 • 17min

A Time to Die: Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life (Nicolas Diat)

A turn (mostly) away from current politics, to speak of eternal things. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
undefined
Dec 10, 2019 • 21min

Bullshit Jobs: A Theory (David Graeber)

The beginnings, through discussion tied to this mediocre book, of an attempt to understand the creation of value in society. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
undefined
Dec 5, 2019 • 25min

The Captive Mind (Czeslaw Milosz)

Yet another classic work that is, unfortunately, just as relevant today. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
undefined
Dec 5, 2019 • 26min

On the Subjective Mental State of Liberals

Some thoughts on how liberals view the world, derived in part from the New York Times's podcast, “The Argument.” (The written version of this review was first published November 4, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
undefined
Nov 30, 2019 • 29min

The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age (Tim Wu)

Read and reviewed Tim Wu's important new book on the effects of, and solutions for, economic concentration. Something both conservatives and liberals can get behind. Up the NeoBrandeisianism! (The written version of this review was first published November 18, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
undefined
Nov 19, 2019 • 23min

Frederick the Second: Wonder of the World 1194-1250 (Ernst Kantorowicz)

Thoughts on a long-dead king and his early-twentieth-century booster, Ernst Kantorowicz. I include a call for caesaropapist correction of Pope Francis, as well! (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
undefined
Nov 14, 2019 • 23min

The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction (Matthew B. Crawford)

A dense, but very worthwhile, set of ruminations not on our age of digital distraction, but on how the Enlightenment destroyed our connection to the real. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app