The Daily Stoic

Sam Gwynne On Progress, War, And Zeppelins

Jun 24, 2023

Sam Gwynne, a celebrated writer and historian, dives into the fascinating world of zeppelins in his latest book. He explores the absurdities of airship engineering, the tragic saga of the R101, and the interplay of ambition and innovation during a tumultuous era. Gwynne draws parallels between Gatsby's dreams and the allure of air travel, while reflecting on the risks involved in aviation history, such as the Hindenburg disaster. The discussion also touches on the creative struggles of writing and the emotional journey of success in the literary world.

01:17:33

Episode guests

Sam Gwynne

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

5min

The Rise and Fall of Rigid Airships

19min

Soaring Ambitions: The R101 Airship Saga

8min

The Tragic Aspirations of Gatsby and the Allure of Airships

3min

The Perils of Airship Travel

14min

Navigating Success and Self-Worth in Writing

12min

Nutritional Boosts and Event Management Solutions

2min

Ego, Success, and Historical Narratives

19min

Exploring Stoic Narratives and the Art of Storytelling

3min

Ryan speaks with Sam Gwynne about his new book His Majesty’s Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World's Largest Flying Machine, the triumph of hope over experience, why progress is based in irrationality, the fascinating history of the zeppelin, and more.

Sam Gwynne is a writer, journalist, and historian. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University and a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University, Sam worked for Time magazine as a correspondent, bureau chief, and senior editor. His journalism has appeared in the New York Times, Harper's, Los Angeles Times, Outside Magazine, Dallas Morning News, California Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. He has written seven non-fiction books, including the New York Times Bestsellers Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell, the former of which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in the General Nonfiction category. Sam’s work can be found on his website scgwynne.com and on Twitter @scgwynne.

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