Quintus Curtius

Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, is generally considered to have been a dismal failure as chief executive. Less well known is the fact that he was a brilliantly successful organizer of humanitarian projects around the world before he became president. His career illustrates the principle that no man is capable at everything. As leaders we should focus on evaluating character and talent, and seek to find the right person for the right job.

Russia was torn apart by civil war from 1917 to 1922. On one side were the Bolshevik communists (Reds) and on the other were the Russian nationalists (Whites). How were the Reds able to win the military struggle? We explore some answers.

I recorded this podcast a few days ago but was only able to upload it today. We talk about some impressions from brief visits to Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico.

I visited Key West a few days ago and had a chance to see the retreat of former president Harry Truman. The experience generated some thoughts and observations.

Stephen Kotkin's masterful biography of Joseph Stalin has a very keen analysis of the outbreak of the First World War. I discuss some of the relevant points made. We draw some general conclusions from these lessons.

Some comments on the H2 Sierra folding knife. This recording accompanies the written review of this knife that appears on my site on December 3, 2016.

What is homesickness, and how can it be dealt with? What does the word "saudade" mean in Brazilian Portuguese? We discuss these subjects and some related issues.

A reader asks whether I like Cicero more than other writers, and wants to know my opinions on Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. This leads to larger questions about feeling kinship with certain writers. This podcast was brought to you courtesy of delta2alpha.com

A recent experience reminded me that we should not be too quick to judge others. We really don't know all the struggles or burdens that the other man may have in his background. This is why we should try, whenever possible, to look at things from others' perspectives.

In its character and results, the 2016 U.S. presidential election was perhaps the most incredible contest since the fragmented 1860 election. Donald Trump's coming challenges, though, may be the greatest test of his life.

A reader explains that he often struggles with confidence and self-esteem issues. We offer some suggestions and perspectives. The truth is that while no one has all the answers, some techniques have proven to be effective.

When we see a friend is hurting, is it better to try to console him, or to ignore his problem?

Is it better to be feared or loved? This famous question is more nuanced than people think, and was addressed specifically by Cicero in "On Duties" as well as by Machiavelli in his "Prince" and "Discourses." Yet there has been much oversimplification and misunderstanding on this subject. We also discuss whether Stoicism lends itself to passivity and fatalism.

A reader asks for some travel advice for a young guy in his 20s who has never done much traveling before. In an unrelated question, we discuss why it's not a good idea to look for sympathy from your woman when you're feeling down or depressed.

Out of some recent emails, I've extracted five lessons that are worth remembering.

The question here is: "How do I avoid burnout?" But--as is often the case--I sense a hidden question lurking below the surface here that deals with isolation and loneliness. We discuss some answers.

So-called "experts" and pundits will always try to pigeon-hole you. They will try to categorize you as they see fit, in order to make themselves feel good. If you are pursuing your passions or mission, you'll notice people trying to "put you in your place." Some alleged expert will likely try to cut you down. Don't listen to them, and don't be intimidated by their perceived air of authority. The man in the arena is the one who drives history. It is not the critic or the hater. Do what you need to do, and keep moving forward. We go into more detail in this podcast.

A recent article on NPR claims to be mystified by the exodus of men from the workforce. Men seem to be dropping out of society in record numbers. Does NPR correctly identify the reasons? Or is there a spiritual crisis in masculinity?

We deal with a few questions received from readers. 1. What are the differences between wisdom and intelligence? 2. Is the educational system becoming more commercialized? 3. Is modern education too commercial? 4. I left a bad employment situation and don't really know how to feel about it. What should I do?

A reader is annoyed that someone is trying to tell him how he should approach and think about his parental responsibilities. This person is appears to be crossing lines of decorum, but I suspect there is more to the story here.