The Worthy House (Charles Haywood)
Charles Haywood
I am here to give you back your future. Human flourishing in the coming post-liberal West. The hour is late, and Moloch is within the gates. Foundationalism. Reality-focused writings, often on history and politics.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 26, 2019 • 25min
The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time (Karl Polanyi)
I thought this book was be good; I was wrong. Free market fundamentalism is bad, to be sure, but what Karl Polanyi offers isn't better, and his analysis is dated. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
Dec 20, 2019 • 20min
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup (John Carreyrou)
John Carreyrou's Bad Blood is unbelievably good. No recap of the book, though: rather thoughts on every on at Theranos behaving badly, including, especially, the lawyers. And my take on why Elizabeth Holmes was able to do what she did. Also why autonomous cars are BS. (The written version of this review was first published September 25, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Dec 17, 2019 • 19min
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia (Christina Thompson)
An examination of a fascinating work on the settlement of Polynesia, with a focus on human accomplishment. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
Dec 16, 2019 • 16min
On Preemptive Apologies by Conservatives
On how conservatives hobble themselves with preemptive apologies that have been conditioned into them by the Left. (The written version of this review was first published September 19, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, can be found here.)
Dec 14, 2019 • 32min
How Democracies Die (Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt)
Just in time to explain the inevitable Left reaction to Boris Johnson's triumph, an analysis of the Left's hatred of actual democracy. (The written version of this review was first published September 25, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Dec 12, 2019 • 17min
A Time to Die: Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life (Nicolas Diat)
A turn (mostly) away from current politics, to speak of eternal things. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
Dec 10, 2019 • 21min
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory (David Graeber)
The beginnings, through discussion tied to this mediocre book, of an attempt to understand the creation of value in society. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
Dec 5, 2019 • 25min
The Captive Mind (Czeslaw Milosz)
Yet another classic work that is, unfortunately, just as relevant today. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
Dec 5, 2019 • 26min
On the Subjective Mental State of Liberals
Some thoughts on how liberals view the world, derived in part from the New York Times's podcast, “The Argument.” (The written version of this review was first published November 4, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Nov 30, 2019 • 29min
The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age (Tim Wu)
Read and reviewed Tim Wu's important new book on the effects of, and solutions for, economic concentration. Something both conservatives and liberals can get behind. Up the NeoBrandeisianism! (The written version of this review was first published November 18, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
