Mark Twain once said, “A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.” Glancing through book lists like the Great Books of the Western World or The Harvard Classics, it’s hard to argue with Twain’s sentiment. The great books often appear daunting, especially for novice or younger readers. Many ofContinue reading “Gateway to Philosophy: 5 Great Books to Get Reading”
Author Archives: Adam Bottenfield
When Civilizations Collapse (Part Two): Lessons From Rome’s Fall
Like the civilizations of the late bronze age discussed in our previous article, the Roman Empire declined due to a synthesis of several factors. Economic issues, barbarian invasions, weakening cultural bonds, and political corruption all contributed to the fall of the West’s greatest empire. Two factors particularly relevant to Americans today are military overextension andContinue reading “When Civilizations Collapse (Part Two): Lessons From Rome’s Fall”
When Civilizations Collapse (Part One): Lessons from the Bronze Age Decline
2012, Apocalypto, Mad Max – we’ve all seen disaster movies depicting the chaotic events that lead to civilizational collapse. Often the events portrayed are cataclysmic, thrilling, and unexpected, resulting in great loss of life and destruction of property. We allow our imagination to run wild with possibilities when we envision society crumbling. Even so, throughoutContinue reading “When Civilizations Collapse (Part One): Lessons from the Bronze Age Decline”
Reflections on Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations
For a Roman emperor and the most powerful man in the world, Marcus Aurelius lived a notably uncomfortable life. Choosing a life of stoicism rather than comfort, Aurelius shirked the luxuries that his high status provided him. He slept in a simple cot with an animal skin rather than a comfortable bed. He worked incessantly,Continue reading “Reflections on Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations”
The Gnostic Roots of the Trans Movements
Some things just won’t go away. Denim jackets, bell bottoms, vinyl – some things tend to creep back into the mainstream just when you thought society had finally forgotten about them for good. Not just fashion either: ideas have a habit of popping up again after thoroughly being put to rest years or even centuriesContinue reading “The Gnostic Roots of the Trans Movements”
Insights from Fulton Sheen’s Way to Happiness
The Venerable Fulton Sheen encouraged generations of the faithful through his radio and television broadcasts in the mid 20th century. The bishop’s words carried a weight unmatched in his popular television program Life Is Worth Living, where he spoke to a live audience without a script, often touching on important contemporary issues like communism andContinue reading “Insights from Fulton Sheen’s Way to Happiness”
Codex Gigas: “The Devil’s Bible” and other Illuminated Manuscripts of the Medieval World
At ThinkingWest we often discuss books that have stood the test of time. These “classics” arose from the tremendous impact of their ideas, masterful command of the language, and storytelling power – not from their physical appearance. “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” we often hear, but today we are going to do justContinue reading “Codex Gigas: “The Devil’s Bible” and other Illuminated Manuscripts of the Medieval World”
A Lost Practice: Coming-of-Age Rituals
The Man-Birth Far in the deserts of western Australia, among an ancient aboriginal people known as the Mardu, a metamorphosis occurs. As a male member of the tribe reaches around 10 or 12 years old, elders knock out a tooth and pierce his septum. The boy is symbolically “dead” and must remain silent throughout theContinue reading “A Lost Practice: Coming-of-Age Rituals”
Modern Leadership and the Abdication of Responsibility
289 BC: The legendary Greek general Pyrrhus of Epirus leads an army of over 20,000 warriors to defend his homeland against his brother-in-law Demetrius’s invasion. At the head of the invading forces is Demetrius’s foremost general Pantauchus, whose army numbers perhaps 11,000. As the armies clash, heavy fighting ensues and the outnumbered Pantauchus seeks PyrrhusContinue reading “Modern Leadership and the Abdication of Responsibility”
3 Ways St. Augustine’s Confessions Describes the Fallen Modern World
St. Augustine of Hippo was born in Northern Africa in the 4th century AD. A bishop of the Hippo Regius region in Numidia, he is widely considered one of the most influential early Christians, mainly due to his prolific writings. Despite his saintly status, Augustine lived a worldly life before his conversion, and documented hisContinue reading “3 Ways St. Augustine’s Confessions Describes the Fallen Modern World”