You can find a complete listing of all the articles on this site here. They are listed in reverse chronological order, and are all clickable links. Twenty-five articles are displayed per page, with the publication date included. To find older articles, click on the page numbers at the bottom.
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The Siege Of Acragas
Sicily had numerous Greek cities from very early times. These were colonial settlements that gradually grew into larger urban centers with the passage of years. But Sicily’s strategic position in the central Mediterranean meant that it was destined to become a battleground for regional powers. It was a pattern that would repeat itself down through…
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How Should I Decide What Career Path To Take? (Podcast)
A 23-year-old reader in a European country is undecided what career path to take. He has narrowed down his choices training in art or training in law. But he’s not sure which one is best for him. I offer my own thoughts, and then some thoughts gleaned from my translation of Cicero’s On Duties (which…
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8 Things Every Hiker Should Carry
Summer is a time for outdoor activity. Many of us will find ourselves hiking, camping, or just going on long walks. I thought this would be a good opportunity to make up a list of what I consider the most important things a hiker should have in his possession. [To read the rest of the…
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Conduct, Obligations, And Decision-Making: Details Of My New Book “On Duties” (Podcast)
This podcast discusses my new book, On Duties. It is the most explanatory, readable, and well-organized translation of Cicero’s classic that is available in English, and perhaps in any language. In this podcast, I provide the three reasons why this is so. I also discuss the great theme running through the book: the idea of…
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A Most Quiet Weapon: The De Lisle Carbine
The stories of forgotten weapons make for interesting reading. One such weapon was Britain’s “De Lisle carbine,” which remains one of the more obscure small arms stories of the Second World War. It is perhaps the most quiet weapon ever produced. Very few of them were made, and its full service record will probably never…
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“On Duties” Is Now Available For Pre-Order
I’m proud to announce that my new book, an annotated, fully explanatory edition of Cicero’s On Duties, is now available for pre-order. The Kindle version is available for pre-order now (with an actual release date of July 1), and the paperback version will be available on July 1 as well.
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Sunday Film Roundup (6/19/2016)
Waltz With Bashir (2008) Director: Ari Folman This is an Israeli animated film about the remembrances of veterans of the so-called “First Lebanon War” of the 1980s. For those who don’t know or don’t remember, Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982. The reasons for this are outside the scope of this review, but we can rudely…
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The Details On My Upcoming Book “On Duties”
At the end of this month, I will be releasing On Duties: A Guide To Conduct, Obligations, And Decision-Making. It is an exhaustively annotated, indexed, and topically referenced translation of Cicero’s famous treatise, along with commentary and supplementary essays.
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Australia’s Owen Gun: A Great Achievement
Australia’s Owen sub-machine gun is one of the little-known weapons stories of the Second World War. But the more we look at this story, the more we are amazed by its details. It was produced solely in Australia, and used solely by the Australian military. It was probably the best sub-machine gun of its era,…
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Sunday Film Roundup (6/12/2016)
Fires On The Plain (1959) Director: Kon Ichikawa The year is 1945, and the setting is the (just barely) Japanese-occupied Philippines. Japan has been losing the war and its army has been reduced by lack of supplies and manpower. As things go from bad to worse, discipline breaks down too, and the army begins to…
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Get Moving And Stay Moving (Podcast)
A young man from Australia writes that he feels a general malaise and depression, and finds it difficult to get motivated. I offer some blunt talk to put things in perspective. I also provide some specific guidance on how he can break out of his old patterns.
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Intuition Or Deliberation? (Podcast)
A reader wants to know how reliable his intuition is. Should he rely on it, or should he instead fall back on his powers of rational analysis and deliberation? It’s a great question.
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Sunday Film Roundup (6/5/2016)
Yes, I’m aware that it’s not yet Sunday. But so what? Why wait a day? Here are some recommendations.
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How Can I Get Motivated? (Podcast)
A follower on Twitter says that he’s having some problems focusing on his studies. He wants to know how he can get more motivated, and keep his motivation.
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Sunday Film Roundup (5/29/2016)
Opinions are opinions, and here are a few of mine.
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The Three Rings
An interesting fable is found in one of the published lectures of the late historian J.B. Bury. Some investigation into its lineage shows that it is of very old date, and has appeared in various literary sources. One was Boccaccio’s Decameron; another was the medieval chronicle Gesta Romanorum; and yet another was from Lessing’s drama…
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How Should I Leave My Corporate Job? (Podcast)
An engineer wants to know the best way he should leave his high-paying but low-satisfaction job, and start his own business. Are some ways better than others? What considerations should he be thinking about?
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The Revenge Of Clovis
Clovis I was one of the three truly foundational figures in French history, along with Julius Caesar and Charlemagne. As king of the Franks–rex francorum–he was the first sovereign to bring all of the recalcitrant tribes of the region under one dynasty and one regal roof. He founded a new dynasty and ruled for thirty…
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How One Man Turned His Life Around
We read so many media stories about how we have to “accept” or “deal with” mediocrity, or even things worse than mediocrity. It has all become so routine as to pass almost without comment. But every now and then an inspiring story will get the attention that it deserves. [To read the rest of the…
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Sunday Film Roundup (5/22/2016)
This was a good week for movies. Here’s the latest word from the front.
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Some Practical Ways To Gain Leadership Experience
What are some ways that a person can get real-world leadership experience quickly? We discuss some options. I also give my thoughts on the four most important leadership traits and principles.
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Disaster At Hadrianople
The worst military defeat that Roman forces suffered after the Battle of the Teutoberg Forest in 9 A.D. was the disaster at Hadrianople in 378. Both of these crushing defeats occurred at the hands of Germanic tribes. In the former battle, the emperor Augustus was haunted by the loss of three entire legions in the…
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Towards A Definition Of Art
I was recently talking to James Seehafer, the originator of the art school known as massurrealism. Although I am only an amateur in this subject, I have found myself thinking more and more about what can be called “art,” and what should not. Are we to imagine–as many careless people nowadays do–that anyone can create any…
Original copy of Cicero’s De Officiis (On Duties) published in Holland in 1642. From the collection of Fortress of the Mind.
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