Jake Howland, an author and Holocaust scholar, shares his insights on the resurgence of historical atrocities in modern rhetoric. He reveals how his travels through Eastern Europe shaped his understanding of Jewish identity and the complexities of historical memory. The conversation explores the dangerous overlap between ideological zeal and anti-Semitism, emphasizing the importance of intellectual honesty. Howland warns against the moral confusion of victimhood culture and the responsibility of addressing rising Jew hatred with clarity and courage.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
1981 Honeymoon in Eastern Europe
Jake Howland describes his 1981 honeymoon across Eastern European Soviet satellite countries.
They observed historical amnesia, especially in Vienna, where Jewish life traces were nearly erased.
insights INSIGHT
Liberals Producing Illiberal Youth
Modern liberals can produce illiberal, nihilistic youth who align loosely with oppressive ideologies.
This paradox resembles themes from 19th century literature about generational and ideological clashes.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Caution Wearing Jewish Symbols
Wearing a Star of David in areas with high Jew hatred is ill-advised for personal safety.
Recognize non-trivial genocidal hatred exists in some populations, especially in Western Europe.
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Nadezhda Mandelstam's 'Hope Against Hope' is a powerful memoir chronicling her life with her husband, the renowned Russian poet Osip Mandelstam, during the oppressive Stalinist regime. The book details their struggles against political persecution, censorship, and constant fear. Nadezhda's determination to preserve Osip's poems, often memorizing them to ensure their survival, is a testament to the enduring power of art and the resilience of the human spirit. 'Hope Against Hope' is a vital historical document and a profound reflection on love, loss, and the importance of preserving cultural memory in the face of totalitarianism.
Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Jean Ameri
Primo Levi
'Holocaust and Genocide Studies' is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes original research on the Holocaust and other genocides. The journal provides a platform for scholars from various disciplines to explore the causes, dynamics, and consequences of mass violence. It publishes articles, reviews, and essays that examine historical, social, political, and cultural aspects of genocide. By promoting interdisciplinary research and critical analysis, 'Holocaust and Genocide Studies' contributes to a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and other instances of genocide in order to prevent future atrocities.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" offers a stark and unforgettable portrayal of life in a Soviet labor camp. Through the eyes of Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, the novel depicts the harsh realities of daily existence under Stalinist oppression. Solzhenitsyn's masterful use of detail creates a vivid and immersive experience, allowing readers to feel the cold, the hunger, and the constant threat of violence. The novel's power lies in its unflinching honesty and its ability to evoke empathy for the suffering of its protagonist. Despite the grim setting, the story also reveals the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for hope even in the face of unimaginable hardship.
Rational Rabbis
Science and Talmudic Culture
Menachem Fisch
Menachem Fisch's 'Rational Rabbis' explores the intersection of scientific rationality and Talmudic culture, challenging traditional views by highlighting rational elements within Talmudic texts. The book develops insights from Karl Popper into a fuller theory of rational endeavor, bridging Talmudic study with modern Western intellectual traditions.
The Righteous Mind
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
Jonathan Haidt
In this book, Jonathan Haidt draws on twenty-five years of research on moral psychology to explain why people's moral judgments are driven by intuition rather than reason. He introduces the Moral Foundations Theory, which posits that human morality is based on six foundations: care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression. Haidt argues that liberals tend to focus on the care/harm and fairness/cheating foundations, while conservatives draw on all six. The book also explores how morality binds and blinds people, leading to social cohesion but also to conflicts. Haidt aims to promote understanding and civility by highlighting the commonalities and differences in moral intuitions across political spectra.
FATHERS AND SONS IN ATHENS
Barry Strauss
In this episode of Conversations with Peter Boghossian, Peter speaks with Dr. Howland who traces how historical atrocities resurface in today’s progressive rhetoric. From the psychology behind Nazi youth and post-Holocaust Europe to the ideological alignment between liberal activism and Jew hating narratives, the discussion spans generations of hatred cloaked in “righteous” causes.
Jake shares how witnessing the wreckage of post-Soviet Eastern Europe - marked by crumbling infrastructure, cultural amnesia, and the lingering shadows of totalitarianism - shaped the course of his scholarly life. His experience serves as a sobering prelude to today’s rise in Jew hatred. Their conversation culminates in insights about scapegoating, identity politics, and moral confusion. Peter draws out Jake's insights about victimhood culture, the legacy media’s complicity, and the dangers of ignoring history’s warnings. What happens when critical thinking is replaced by propagandistic slogans and moral clarity is abandoned for righteous activism? We know the answer. Nothing good.
Howland reminds us that confronting these challenges demands honesty and intellectual rigor, not obsequiousness and ideological surrender. At UATX, Howland and colleagues are doing just this by equipping students to think clearly, carefully, and critically and to be forthright in their speech. Peter and Jake understand that the stakes —freedom and humanity—are too high to ignore.
Conversations with Peter Boghossian 
