Conversation of Our Generation

Recently, I decided to revisit The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde because it had been a while since I'd read it. And, I must say that I forgot how entertaining the book is. That's why I recommend you listen and grab yourself a copy.

I used this story for an old episode because the story shows the importance of using words properly. But, it isn't some deep dive into the depths of the soul like Crime and Punishment. The Importance of Being Earnest is a clever look at the frivolity of high society in 19th century England, which I think would ring true today.

What I found amusing about this book is the commentary on high society. It mocks people who think highly of themselves despite not being able to think much at all. In fact, they mostly think of themselves. If you thought that was clever (although it wasn't), this book is one that I think you'd enjoy. It's clever, witty, insightful, light, and pleasant - basically a romantic comedy with a bit of bite.

We're so plugged into the internet all the time that we rarely see how much of our attention it requires - and how much energy that zaps from us. I've been trying to pull back on the amount of TV and internet I use, and wanted to share some of those results.

A few things I've done to cut back:

The thing I've found is these things may need cooperation from others around you. And, the suggestion by my wife to read instead of watch TV was what prompted that change. There are also a lot of tools you can use to lock things up after a certain amount of time on apps if you need that as well.

We all can fall to temptation, normally without even realizing it. The Screwtape Letters are a riveting series of story-like letters that show how people can be tempted to turn away from God. Whether or not you believe in God, this story can teach you how to beware the parts of human nature that steer you away from your purpose and towards self-destruction.

Lewis' Screwtape Letters is a great read for people of all ages, at least from middle school on. It is the tale of two demons, an older and a younger trying to tempt a man to bring him to Hell. And, the older demon is advising his nephew on how to do this successfully. You'll see all the subtle ways that demons can tempt you and pull your attention away from where it should be.

Here's where you can find Lewis's major works.

My hope in reading this book is that you can be vigilant of the work the Devil and his minions do to pull your attention away from God. And, maybe you'll see some of the seemingly innocuous things that you let slide, but really could be a demon at work.

What is justice? It is something that we feel intuitively, but often have trouble pinning down. We know very often when a particular action is unjust, but rarely are fully able to articulate why. Today, we'll dive into the principles of justice and how to apply them - at least as best as we can in one podcast.

Two things brought this topic to mind. One is my reading of Plato's Apology and Crito. The other is watching Person of Interest. One is a look at how to face injustice with piety, and the other is a series on how to stop premeditated violence with a machine that violates our rights. Have the principles of justice changed since the death of Socrates, or are the same principles at work today?

I want to walk through parts of the Apology and Crito in order to understand the ancient conception of justice. Then, we can look at the principles of justice in today's world. What do we do when the genie's out of the bottle and we can't put it back in? Can injustice be a means to justice or is that always out of the question? That's what we'll explore today, and hopefully find some answers.

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With leaders of the influential BLM movement claiming to be avowed Marxists, I think it's good we look at what Marx and his followers believe. This book is a travel through the development of Marxist thought from simply economic to what it is today: an all-encompassing cultural push.

In this book, Sir. Roger Scruton follows the development of Marxist ideology from Post -war Europe to the 80's and to today. This is actually the book that caused the first cancellation as he was ostracized from the University where he was teaching. He takes on a number of thinkers you'd know as well as many you may not know.

If you're curious how the left has taken over institutions of education to help them peddle Marxism, this is how. The methods, jargon, and beliefs are laid out in this book for you to follow. Plus, you'll have many excerpts from their works to see how they think, rather than only getting it second-hand. If you're confused about the moment we're in, this book will offer clarity.

The important thing in observing politics is to maintain objectivity and ability to discuss politics in a disassociated manner. This allows one to evaluate the actions of politicians based on the outcomes rather than one's opinion of them. Recognizing good politicking is not supporting someone, just acknowledging skill.

Machiavelli was an astute political observer, capable of detesting someone and at the same time recognizing their skill. To be able to succeed, you have to do the same: know where the political winds are blowing, even if you disagree or don't like where they're going.

I read Scott Adam's Win Bigly a couple years after the election of Donald Trump, and it was then that I realized what happened in that election. Up until then, I thought it was a bit lucky with some skill combined with the fact he was up against a hubristic Democrat party and the most unlikeable candidate in recent history.

In his book, Scott Adams shows that this was no fluke, and describes the tactics that the Trump campaign used to take the white house. While this sounds like a political book, it really is a modern version of How to Win Friends and Influence People. You'll learn the strategy, tactics, and overall art of persuading people.

This book offers a lot of insight into how effective political messaging is (and really any sort of marketing message), but it does so without rooting for a political party. Scott Adams doesn't let his political beliefs get in the way of observing how effective politicians are. And, I think that is yet another lesson we can learn from this book.

We recently looked at how much faster lies spread than the truth. But, I want to dive deeper to see how we're being lied to and help you identify lies in headlines, articles, and assertions being put forward regularly.

I think all of these little lies add up and make it difficult to trust any authority. But, if we sharpen our minds and are aware of the deception being presented, we can see the lies. This tangled web is artfully articulated in Empire of Lies, which I reviewed last episode.

Here are some of the ways we're lied to by the media consistently:

Play the episode below, and once you like it, subscribe to the podcast.

This is the second book I've reviewed from Andrew Klavan, and the first book of his that I've read. He offers a riveting story that has you questioning the truth the whole time.

Action thrillers are some of my favorite movies, and this book really has that feel to it. A newspaper reporter with a checkered past stumbles on a story that he can't believe, and tries not to, but the evidence is something he has to follow up on. When he looks into it, he ends up on an adventure that is hard to believe.

The characters in this story are realistic, complicated, and dynamic - and throughout the book they develop in a way that attaches you to the characters and helps you sympathize with them. Because of that, you are constantly questioning the truth of the story the main character is chasing, especially since you don't know who to trust.

Play the episode below, and once you like it, subscribe to the podcast.

The Catholic Church has a term called the "Church Militant," which is the body of living Christians - those who are still fighting the spiritual fight. Joe Rigi and his team at Our Warpath are helping Catholics live an authentically Catholic life. We were able to have a great chat about what it means to be authentically Catholic and the challenges facing those trying to do so.

Some of the things we covered:

Our Warpath is a group of Catholic young men and women that have one single goal: to try their very best at leading real catholic lives. They see the beauty of it. They see the sheer awesome power of living this kind of life. But they know that they are weak and that the world wants them to run away and submit. But they have no plans to retreat. No. They want to wake up everyday and be disciplined, thoughtful, intelligent and true. And they want to help every living soul do the same. And so here they are, hoping that this endeavor of theirs will help you live the life that you were destined to live.

Our Warpath has everything you need. Daily meditations, readings, quotes, articles, movie, music, and book reviews. You can find Our Warpath at ourwarpath.com. You can also find their podcast on iTunes and other platforms. Our Warpath is here for you.