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A Conversation with Peggy Noonan

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Dec 4, 2024

Guest

Peggy Noonan

Peggy Noonan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and former speechwriter for President Reagan, discusses the significance of reading in our digital age, advocating for disconnecting from technology. She reflects on her spiritual journey within Roman Catholicism and grapples with issues surrounding political and church scandals. The conversation dives into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, the necessity of critical thinking, and the role of the written word in shaping our understanding of modern politics. A fascinating exploration of culture and faith!

52:08

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Episode notes

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ADVICE

The Importance of Reading

Read regularly to develop your mind and critical thinking skills.
Put down your phone and engage with books.

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ANECDOTE

Noonan's Faith Journey

Peggy Noonan discusses her Catholic faith journey, including a period of inactivity and later rediscovery.
She highlights the influence of authors like Walker Percy and Thomas Merton.

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ANECDOTE

Scandals and Faith

Russell Moore and Peggy Noonan discuss institutional disillusionment following sexual abuse scandals.
Noonan shares her experience challenging the Catholic Church on this issue.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Rediscovering Faith Amidst Turmoil

03:36 • 7min

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Redemption Through Scandal: A Historical Perspective

10:13 • 4min

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Redemption and Perception in Political Scandals

13:53 • 21min

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Unpacking Connections Through Historical Contexts

35:12 • 2min

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Divisions and Reconciliation in America

37:02 • 14min

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The Power of Books and Thoughtful Gifting

51:18 • 2min

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John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

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War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy

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A Certain Idea of America

Peggy Noonan

In 'A Certain Idea of America,' Peggy Noonan compiles her columns from The Wall Street Journal to reflect on the history and character of the United States. The book delves into the nation's remarkable figures, the challenges to its social fabric, and the enduring principles of its democracy. Noonan discusses themes such as patriotism, the country's founding ideals, and the importance of protecting and improving the nation for future generations. Her writing blends storytelling, historical insight, and journalistic rigor to explore what unites Americans even in divisive times.

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Blaise Pascal

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The Seven Storey Mountain

Thomas Merton

The Seven Storey Mountain is Thomas Merton's autobiography, written while he was a monk at the Abbey of Gethsemani. The book chronicles Merton's early life, his conversion to Roman Catholicism at age 23, and his decision to join the Trappist order at the age of 26. It is a unique spiritual autobiography that mirrors Dante's journey from hell through purgatory to paradise, reflecting Merton's transition from a worldly life to monastic life. The book has been highly influential and has touched millions of lives, translated into more than twenty languages and recognized as one of the most influential religious works of our time.

“You have to read in order to develop your mind and develop your ability to think,” Peggy Noonan said. “It’s no good to say, ‘Oh, I can’t help that I was born in 1990 and everybody has a phone.’ Too bad. Put it down.”

For decades, Noonan has been a Wall Street Journal columnist and author, known for her Pulitzer Prize–winning commentary on politics and culture. She and Moore reflect on Noonan’s career both in journalism and as a speech writer in the Reagan Administration. They talk about Noonan’s faith, her love for Christian history, and her long-standing relationship to Roman Catholicism. The two discuss sexual scandals in both church and government, the power of the written word, and the way artists see the world. They consider the concerning potential of artificial intelligence, the value of reading in a world overrun by technology, and the importance of critical thinking in our modern political culture.

Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include:

Peggy Noonan
A Certain Idea of America: Selected Writings by Peggy Noonan
Walker Percy
The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland by Fintan O’Toole
Pascal’s Pensées
“How to Find Grace After Disgrace”
Abbey of Gethsemani
Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson by Gordon S. Wood
The Shadow
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
“The godfather of AI: why I left Google”

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