Elliot Ackerman on Storytelling and the Cyclical Nature of History

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Sep 17, 2022

Elliot Ackerman, an acclaimed author, journalist, and former Marine, delves into his new book about the Afghanistan war and the art of storytelling. He shares gripping insights from his experiences evacuating refugees and reflects on the cyclical nature of history. The conversation explores how narratives shape our understanding of war and its psychological impacts, along with the importance of remembering and connecting through personal stories. Ackerman also discusses the nuances of today's geopolitical tensions and the need for thoughtful policy.

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ANECDOTE

Reconnecting with the Past

Ryan Holiday reconnected with someone from his youth after 15 years.
This emotional reunion highlighted the Stoic principles of accepting the past and focusing on the present.

ADVICE

Reach Out

Reach out to people you've lost touch with.
Don't wait, as you might not get another chance.

ANECDOTE

Lost in a Book

Elliot Ackerman's son became engrossed in a book about Lafayette.
He was so absorbed he didn't realize time had passed.

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The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan

Elliot Ackerman

The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan is a powerful eyewitness account that chronicles the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. The book spans two decades, culminating in the chaotic final week of the war. Ackerman weaves a personal narrative, highlighting the courage and dedication of both American and Afghan individuals involved in the conflict, while also critiquing the strategic and tactical decisions that led to the war's tragic conclusion.

2034

A Novel of the Next World War

Elliot Ackerman

James Stavridis

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The Malakand Field Force

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Elliot Ackerman

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Ryan Holiday

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Napoleon

A Life

Andrew Roberts

Andrew Roberts’s 'Napoleon: A Life' is the first one-volume biography to fully utilize Napoleon’s 33,000 recently published letters, offering a radical transformation in our understanding of his character and motivation. The book portrays Napoleon as a protean multitasker, decisive, and surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his wife Josephine. Roberts, an award-winning historian, traveled to fifty-three of Napoleon’s sixty battle sites and discovered crucial new documents in archives, including a trip to St. Helena. The biography is praised for its magisterial, insightful, and beautifully written narrative, providing a deep and nuanced look at Napoleon’s life, successes, and failures.

George III

The Life and Reign of Britain's Most Misunderstood Monarch

Andrew Roberts

This biography by Andrew Roberts offers a fresh and nuanced view of George III, Britain's longest-reigning king. Roberts argues against the traditional depiction of George III as a cruel and incompetent monarch, instead presenting him as a model patriot king, defender of the constitution, and a devoted family man. The book is based on extensive research, including hundreds of thousands of pages of previously unpublished correspondence. It details George III's accomplishments, his struggles with mental illness, and his significant contributions to Britain's politics, arts, and sciences during his reign. Roberts also provides a detailed account of the American Revolutionary War and George III's role in it, as well as his support for William Pitt in the battle against Napoleon.

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Thucydides

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J.D. Salinger

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The great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan. The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.