Old School with Shilo Brooks The Old Man and the Sea with Admiral James Stavridis
Oct 9, 2025
Admiral James Stavridis, a retired four-star U.S. Navy Admiral and bestselling author, dives deep into the impact of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea on his life. He passionately discusses themes of resilience, ambition, and the mentor-mentee bond illustrated between Santiago and Manolin. Stavridis shares how reading has shaped his leadership style and emphasizes the importance of literature in understanding human experience. He also addresses common civilian misconceptions about the military and reflects on the future challenges he foresees.
59:29
Childhood Library Habit
- James Stavridis became a lifelong reader because, as an eight-year-old in Athens in 1963, there was no television.
- His mother took him weekly to an English-language library and he returned with stacks of books that shaped his life.
A 5,000-Book Home Library
- Stavridis keeps about 5,000 books at home with roughly 1,000 collectible and many signed first editions.
- He calls the collection a "gentle madness" and proudly keeps both quantity and meaningful signed works.
Mind And Military Coexist
- Stavridis says the life of the mind and the life of the military can coexist and benefited his career.
- His dual identity helped him fit neither camp perfectly but added value in leadership and teaching roles.
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Intro
00:00 • 1min
How Stavridis Became a Lifelong Reader
01:18 • 1min
Scale and Nature of Stavridis's Personal Library
02:46 • 58sec
Reconciling Books with a Military Career
03:44 • 2min
Why The Old Man and the Sea Mattered to Him
05:56 • 6min
Summary of The Old Man and the Sea
11:57 • 11sec
The Mentor-Mentee Bond Between Santiago and Manolin
12:07 • 5min
The Old Man's Relationship with the Marlin as Ambition
16:47 • 6min
Meaning of the Sea: Perspective and Humility
23:03 • 5min
Ad break
27:38 • 35sec
Selected Passage: 'A man can be destroyed, but not defeated.'
28:13 • 5min
Ad break
33:17 • 28sec
Stavridis's 'Fish': Family and Writing Ambitions
33:45 • 4min
Who Benefits from Reading The Old Man and the Sea
37:24 • 2min
How Reading Improves Leadership
39:26 • 4min
Should You Stop a Book You Dislike?
43:03 • 2min
Reading Habits: Read Fast to Read Slow
45:13 • 2min
Recommended Re-Readable Novels and Authors
47:36 • 1min
Best Military History and Unexpected Picks
49:05 • 1min
Common Civilian Misunderstandings About the Military
50:26 • 2min
Which Naval Battle Stavridis Would Command
52:18 • 2min
What Keeps Stavridis Up at Night in 2025
54:04 • 3min
Outro
57:01 • 34sec
#9
• Mentioned in 357 episodes
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R. R.
Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth.
The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo.
The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return.
Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth.
The novel explores themes of good vs.
evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will.
#198
• Mentioned in 81 episodes
The Prince
Niccolo Machiavelli
Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers.
Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals.
The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess.
Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points.
The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues.
'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.
#935
• Mentioned in 28 episodes
King Lear
William Shakespeare
King Lear, written by William Shakespeare around 1604-1606, is a tragedy that follows the story of King Lear, who decides to retire and divide his kingdom among his three daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia.
The division is based on the eloquence of their declarations of love for him.
However, Lear's youngest and favorite daughter, Cordelia, refuses to flatter him and is disinherited.
The play unfolds with Lear's descent into madness, the betrayal by his elder daughters, and the subplot involving the Earl of Gloucester and his sons.
Ultimately, the play ends in tragedy with the deaths of Lear, Cordelia, and several other main characters, highlighting themes of deception, power, and the consequences of poor judgment.
#9944
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Thucydides
Book III
Thucydides
Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War is a classic work of historical writing, renowned for its detailed account of the conflict between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century BC. It's considered a masterpiece of historical analysis, focusing on the political and strategic aspects of the war.
Thucydides' emphasis on human agency and the interplay of power dynamics makes his work relevant even today.
His work is studied for its insights into international relations, military strategy, and the nature of conflict.
#644
• Mentioned in 36 episodes
The Godfather
Mario Puzo
Published in 1969, 'The Godfather' by Mario Puzo is a crime novel that follows the story of the Corleone family, one of the Five Families of the New York Mafia.
The novel spans from the early life of Vito Corleone to the rise of his youngest son, Michael, as the new Don. The story explores themes of loyalty, power, and violence as the family navigates internal conflicts, external threats, and the transition of leadership.
Michael, initially reluctant to join the family business, becomes deeply involved after an assassination attempt on his father and eventually succeeds Vito as the head of the family.
The novel is known for its realistic portrayal of organized crime and its impact on the characters' personal lives.
#9014
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Anabasis
H. Dakyns
Xenophon
Written in the 4th century BC, 'Anabasis' by Xenophon details the expedition of the Ten Thousand, an army of Greek mercenaries hired by Cyrus the Younger to help him seize the throne of Persia from his brother, Artaxerxes II. The narrative centers on the themes of leadership, adventure, and the trials faced by the Greek soldiers during their arduous retreat back to Greece following Cyrus's death in battle.
The work includes the initial military preparations, the gathering of Greek mercenaries, and the strategic plans for their expedition, as well as the return march from the interior of Babylon to the coast of the Black Sea.
#60
• Mentioned in 171 episodes
Moby Dick
Herman Melville
Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg.
Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs.
nature, and the existential questions of good and evil.
The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.
#13133
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Cannery Row
John Steinbeck
Published in 1945, 'Cannery Row' is a novel by John Steinbeck that captures the essence of a place and its people.
The story revolves around Mack, a leader of a group of homeless men, and their efforts to throw a party for Doc, a marine biologist.
The novel is characterized by its lack of a traditional plot, instead using vignettes to introduce various characters and explore themes of community, acceptance, and the fragility of life.
The setting is vividly described, reflecting the real-life fish packing industry of Monterey during the Great Depression.
Steinbeck portrays the characters, including Mack, Doc, Dora the madam, and Lee Chong the grocer, as complex and relatable, highlighting their virtues and the strong sense of community they foster despite their hardships.
#258
• Mentioned in 68 episodes
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
#667
• Mentioned in 35 episodes
Blood Meridian
Or, The Evening Redness in the West
Cormac McCarthy
Blood Meridian is a historical novel that depicts the brutal reality of the American West in the mid-19th century.
The story follows a 14-year-old runaway from Tennessee, known as 'the kid', who joins the Glanton gang, a historical group of scalp hunters.
The gang, led by John Joel Glanton and the enigmatic Judge Holden, is contracted to kill and scalp Native Americans but soon devolves into indiscriminate violence against various groups.
The novel explores themes of brutality, the loss of innocence, and the harsh realities of human nature, with Judge Holden serving as a central figure embodying philosophical and sadistic elements.
The book is known for its unflinching portrayal of violence and its allegorical exploration of human existence.
#201
• Mentioned in 81 episodes
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
The novel is set in a near-future New England in the Republic of Gilead, a patriarchal, totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government.
Offred, the narrator, is one of the 'Handmaids', women who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the ruling class, known as 'Commanders'.
The story explores themes of powerless women, loss of female agency and individuality, and the suppression of women's reproductive rights.
Offred's life is marked by her restrictive routine, her memories of her past life, and her interactions with the Commander, his wife Serena Joy, and other Handmaids, including her friend Ofglen who is part of an underground resistance movement.
The novel is a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense.
#469
• Mentioned in 45 episodes
The Old Man and the Sea
Ernest Hemingway
The novella tells the story of Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman who has gone 84 days without catching a fish.
Determined to break his unlucky streak, Santiago ventures far into the Gulf Stream, where he hooks a giant marlin.
Over the course of three days, he battles the marlin, showing respect and admiration for the fish.
Despite eventually killing the marlin, Santiago's catch is devoured by sharks on his journey back to shore.
The story highlights Santiago's endurance, his deep connection with nature, and the themes of struggle, dignity, and the indomitable human spirit.
#3668
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
All the Pretty Horses
Cormac McCarthy
Set in 1949, 'All the Pretty Horses' follows John Grady Cole, a 16-year-old cowboy, and his friend Lacey Rawlins as they leave their home in Texas to find work as cowboys in Mexico.
Along the way, they encounter Jimmy Blevins, a troubled young runaway, whose actions lead to significant consequences.
The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the disappearing cowboy way of life, as Cole and Rawlins face the harsh realities of the Mexican justice system, cultural differences, and personal betrayals.
McCarthy's vivid prose captures the beauty and brutality of the American West, highlighting the loss of innocence and the complexities of the adult world.
#1579
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
Farewell to Arms
Ernest Hemingway
A Farewell to Arms is a semiautobiographical novel that captures the harsh realities of war and the pain of lovers caught in its sweep.
The story follows Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver on the Italian front, and his passionate relationship with Catherine Barkley, an English nurse.
The novel interweaves themes of love, war, loyalty, and desertion, reflecting Hemingway's own experiences as an ambulance driver during World War I. The book is known for its vivid and deeply felt portrayal of war and its impact on individuals, as well as Hemingway's distinctive writing style that emphasizes immediacy and simplicity.
#175
• Mentioned in 92 episodes
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic novel that explores themes of racial injustice, childhood innocence, and moral courage in the American South.
The story is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of a crime.
Lee's powerful storytelling captures the complexities of race relations in the Jim Crow South, highlighting the prejudice and injustice faced by Black people.
The novel's enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal themes of empathy, compassion, and the importance of standing up for what is right.
It remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.
#26437
The Admiral's Bookshelf
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James Stavridis
Admiral James Stavridis's "The Admiral's Bookshelf" is a unique collection of 25 books that have shaped his life, philosophy, and leadership.
The book explores military lessons and strategic thinking through the lens of literature, drawing parallels between fictional narratives and real-world experiences.
Stavridis's insightful commentary provides context and analysis, making the book accessible to a wide audience.
The selection of books reflects a diverse range of genres and authors, showcasing the admiral's broad intellectual curiosity.
The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in leadership, military history, or the power of literature.
Admiral James Stavridis once commanded fleets as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. Now he commands a collection of 5,000 rare books. Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea changed Stavridis’ life. In this episode, the admiral sits down with Shilo Brooks to discuss the themes of hardship, pride, and resilience that appear in Santiago’s epic struggle at sea. Stavridis, who stuck out in the military for his love of books, and stuck out as a law school dean for his love of the military, explains how reading books has made him a more effective leader.
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