Quillette Narrated

Delve into the bizarre connection between prominent literary figures and Scientology. Discover how Aldous Huxley and William S. Burroughs found themselves entangled in Hubbard's world, driven by personal trauma and curiosity. Uncover core concepts of Dianetics and how they influenced Huxley’s exploration of perception and Burroughs's innovative writing style. From secretive auditing sessions to the cult's manipulative language, this discussion sheds light on the uncomfortable intersection of artistic genius and a controversial ideology.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk shows how Discord, memes, and “online brainrot” may motivate disaffected youth like Tyler Robinson more than ideology.

The self-esteem movements that once deranged America’s school curricula have since deranged the realm of identity activism.

The Gaza aid-site controversy and a crisis of journalism by Gary Geipel.

In his 2000 memoir A Personal Odyssey, Sowell recounts a parable that was read to him as a young boy and which he never forgot.

Fertility decline is not merely a demographic curiosity—it is a structural challenge with civilisational implications. So why are people so reluctant to take it seriously? By Andrew Glover

The discussion kicks off by exploring contemporary issues surrounding truth and public trust. The concept of relativism is dissected, tracing its roots from historicism to postmodernism. It reveals how these ideas infiltrated culture and academia, undermining genuine debate. A compelling argument highlights the self-contradiction of claiming all truths are relative. The need for shared human understanding is emphasized, and the host defends the correspondence between language and reality. Finally, it champions the pursuit of absolute truth while embracing humility in our quest for understanding.

Zohran Mamdani’s father Mahmood is a postnationalist who advocates the dissolution of all nation states, which he views as intrinsically violent and unjust.

In his deliberately archaic new rendition of Homer’s epic, Jeffrey Duban takes a defiant stand against the modernisation of classical literature in defence of a disappearing tradition.

In a new book, Joan Smith critically examines the historical mistreatment of Ancient Rome’s leading women—including Emperor Augustus’ daughter Julia, who was denounced as a nymphomaniac and cast into exile.