Cost of Glory 34 - Harry Truman on Plutarch
May 10, 2022
Harry Truman, a great admirer of Plutarch's lives, discusses his fascination with Plutarch and how it shaped his views. He believed in the value of reading Plutarch's lives and used them as a source of wisdom and guidance throughout his political career. Truman shares anecdotes about recommending Plutarch to young protégés and highlights the importance of learning from history and biography to improve interpersonal skills.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Truman's Reading List
- Study the nature of man and Western civilization's heritage.
- Truman recommended books like Franklin's autobiography, Caesar's journals, and Plutarch's Lives.
Truman's First Encounter with Plutarch
- Truman's parents bought a red set of Shakespeare and Plutarch.
- His father read Plutarch aloud to him, sparking a lifelong interest.
Plutarch as a Guide to Human Nature
- Truman used Plutarch as a guide to understanding human character.
- He found parallels in Plutarch to help him navigate political challenges.