Conversation of Our Generation

Titus Andronicus is a beautiful tragedy out of the collection of William Shakespeare's works. I think it's important for modern people to read tragedies from the past. We are so disconnected from our history and heritage that it's easy to dissociate from what they went through. Obviously, this is a fictional story; however, there is a way that we can see what our forefathers experienced in these stories. These are real depictions of what life was like, although fictionalized. And, in this book review, I'll explain why you should read this masterpiece from Shakespeare.

Firstly, this play is a classic. Getting to know Shakespeare's works is crucial for anyone trying to learn about Western Literature. Secondly, it is beautifully written. All of Shakespeare's works are well-written, and this is no exception. The lofty rhetoric is something that I think we need more of in our society, especially with our current state of discourse so debased. Lastly, I thought it was a truly wonderful and fun story to read. The entire time I was reading it, I was wondering what would come next. And, the way it lays out is a great tragedy from which you can take valuable lessons.

While I don't have this version of Titus Andronicus, I did use these a lot in high school for other Shakespearean plays. So, I trust the accuracy and notes that are there to help readers. I know you'll be in good hands with this because it's the publisher I used all through high school for my Shakespearean reading assignments.

The art of architecture has been corrupted. It is no longer aiming at beauty, but either purely utility or novelty. Instead of aspiring to lift up people's hearts and minds to beauty, ugliness that adheres to leftist ideology is put forth as architecture. So, I talked with an architect about the problems he sees with the art and the industry - as well as some solutions to the problems he sees.

The goal of the architect should be to combine beauty and functionality. However, that's not what we find. What we often get instead is insolent designs, many of which serve no other purpose than inflating the architect's ego. So, we need people to step up and push for beautiful architecture again. Then, we might actually see a change.

Well, the fact is that solutions will require a lot of energy and determination to bear fruit. With dedicated and talented people, things can change. Here are a few things Zach and I discussed. There are surely more potential solutions, but I figured it would be good to offer these for your consideration.

Firstly, we can promote traditional schools of architecture like Notre Dame's. Secondly, professional architects should educate the next generation in the traditional way. This is easy to do with cheap online courses. I believe there are solutions, but I also don't have all the answers. If you listen to the episode and have your own solutions, let me know.

Some of the accounts mentioned in this podcast:

One president and two future presidents worked together on the Louisiana Purchase. This book dives into the story of how they did that, and what it took to coordinate the deal with Napoleon Bonaparte's France. If you don't know this story, I recommend you listen to this book review. So, listen below to learn why you need to know this story.

Problems of the Louisiana Purchase

The purchase of the Louisiana Territory was no small feat. Nor was there a clear deal to be made. In fact, Napoleon and his forces were planning on occupying the territory at first, squeezing the western Americans out of their best seaport. But, what started as peace negotiations from a point of weakness soon turned into a much different conversation as time went on.

The Monroe doctrine is one of the major developments that came from this deal. This is the idea that America would push any major powers out of our hemisphere. Instead of allowing European and Asian powers to meddle in politics on the Americas, the Monroe Doctrine insists that the United States would lead.

Furthermore, this deal more than doubled the size of America, posing new problems. How will America fill this vast, new expanse? How much land did they actually buy? What's out there? All these questions and more were dealt with throughout the 19th century. And, the answers were crucial in the shaping of the America we know today.

I had the chance to sit down (virtually) with Brian Murphy and Stephen Sloyer from the Vital Masculinity Podcast to talk about some of the things that have been on our mind recently. Since it had been a while since we talked, we had a lot to cover. So, if you want to catch up, you can check out my previous conversation with the Vital Masculinity crew. But, you can also dive into the interview below.

Stephen and Brian reiterate this great piece of advice on their podcast each time they sign off. And, I argue that they are embodying this in what they do and talk about on their podcast. So, if you want to learn about the virtues and what it looks like to live them out, check out this conversation and their work.

Our goal is to restore classical masculinity by encouraging men to pursue virtue and brotherhood. While there are many competing voices on manliness today, most have forgotten this foundation of character while instead focusing on externals. We strive to provide practical steps for all men to begin their journey to becoming virtuous. Visit our Journal for reflections virtue and manliness or check out our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any of your other favorite podcast providers to listen to rich conversations about them.

I know the abuse scandal was a huge obstacle in my faith. I felt as though I couldn't trust the Church or the pastors who were supposed to shepherd me. It was a betrayal. Despite all this, I found a way to separate the sins of shepherds from the mission they pursue. Letter to a Suffering Church is a great, short book that can be very comforting to anyone who's angry about this.

The secular culture we live in is not only anti-religion, but also often overly sexualized. In this book, you'll find all the problems that stem from the culture and its influence on the church. Bishop Barron doesn't make excuses, but owns up to the abuses. He calls out those who are guilty and calls people to account. However, he does show how this didn't come from thin air, but arose in a certain context.

The reason I'm bringing this out now is there are a lot of people who enjoy being critical of the Church. And, many of these people make money from their critical lens. Not to mention, lots of these people are in the Church or leaving it due to these.

Lastly, I like this book because it offers solutions. It diagnoses the problems, offers context, and then shows what people can do to make things right. And, with the Conversation of Our Generation's goal of solving problems of today with the wisdom of the past, this resonated with me. So, I want to share it with you here.

I sat down to chat with Amy Mastrine, a talented artist, about her work and the state of art today. Beauty and art are essential to culture. When the arts decay, so does the culture. And in our culture, it's hard to argue our arts are in a good place. Luckily, there are talented artists like Amy fighting to create a culture of beauty.

Full show notes here

An artist's look at art

Artists don't always have the ability to analyze the full meaning of their art. But, they are capable of analyzing the beauty and form of art. Thats why I looked for someone who was not only a talented artist, but a sharp thinker as well.

We covered a lot of ground in this interview. Firstly, we looked into many of the problems holding artists back. Then, we dove into the importance of art and the relationship between art and culture. Moreover, we discussed how Amy, and other artists, are going back to the old methods with a new twist. This, I believe, is where we can begin to go back to true art that lifts the soul. For my fellow Roger Scruton fans, we discussed his thoughts on beauty and aesthetics as well.

Amy Mastrine is an artist interested in mysticism, beauty, and truth. Amy was born in western Pennsylvania, and her last name is Italian for “master of a trade or craft.” Her style has been described as feminine, whimsical, and representational. Amy’s work is intended to honor the divine and sacred. You can find her on Instagram, Twitter, and her shop.

Dale Carnegie's life is a story of success - a true rags to riches tale. Though he shares the last name of the steel titan, Andrew Carnegie, they aren't related. Dale Carnegie actually changed the spelling of his last name to match the industrialist's spelling to gain clout. But, this book review is not about that. It's a look at How to Win Friends & Influence People, a fantastic guide to dealing with people.

I found this book tremendously helpful as I left college and entered the business world. It was difficult to talk to experienced professionals, and I needed a confidence boost. Before graduating college, I worked in retail and had no problem talking to customers. But, being thrust into a new world, I was out of my element and needed help. If you ask me, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to lead a successful life.

I find it easily readable. Written in a conversational tone, it's like he's transcribing some advice he gave a friend. The stories are intriguing, although sometimes a bit outlandish. That said, the lessons you draw from them make it feel more like a parable than a lie or hyperbole.

I sat down with Matt Nunes, author of Last Call to learn what it takes to become a published author. If you're interested in writing and publishing your work, this interview will give you what you need to get started. The insights Matt brings are great. I know I learned a lot, and I'm sure you will too. Listen or watch below.

It's important not only to discuss ideas, but to write them down. I find that as I write, my ideas become clearer and better defined. If we are to improve our discourse we have to engage in long form conversations. And, books are a great way to have those extended, thought-out dialogues. Because I find that important, I sat down with Matt to have him explain what he did to become a published author.

Last Call is the first of a series of mystery novels featuring former Naval Officer Paul Costa, a man who thought he was seeking a quieter life for himself and his daughter in civilian life, only to find the biggest threats still lie ahead.

Matt is a former Merchant Marine Officer, bartender and often times cog in the corporate machine. He has done a range of jobs to give him, which includes bartending - and that's what gave him the idea for this book. Matt is an interesting person, and I'm glad to have the privilege to talk to him about how he completed this amazing feat.

The Anatomy of the State is a great look into how the modern state operates. It is a guide to understanding how the idea of government has largely been perverted. Today's book review will dive into this book and who Murray Rothbard is.

The book is quick and easy to read. It is closer to a pamphlet than it is some large, dense nonfiction work. I liked that there are also plenty of footnotes and citations for you to examine and dive deeper into the topic if you're interested.

This book is important largely due to the author, Murray Rothbard. His work is one of the major foundations on Libertarian thought, and if you wish to understand libertarians, it would be good to understand his ideas.

Furthermore, he is the basis for much of the libertarian understanding of economics. For me, he makes a convincing argument for his economic theory that I don't think people can refute. In order to understand what we see today, we must look at the figures who brought us here. And, Murray Rothbard is one of those figures.

If you're looking for an approachable look at a rather complex subject that ties in philosophy, politics, economics, and more - then this book is one you want to read.

And, if you're interested in learning about other books, I have plenty of other reviews for you. If this book interests you, definitely grab your copy. And while you're here, check out my list of book reviews to educate yourself on the wide range of topics I cover in the Conversation of Our Generation.

When can we legislate an opinion? Who is to say that an opinion is a fact? The left has long called to bring the personal into politics, while also calling to keep politics away from people's private decisions. These two things cannot exist together in one's mind.

After a long Twitter discussion, I realized that this was the question at the heart of the debate. Is there a point that we can legislate morality? If so, what is that point? And, is there really an objective morality that can be applied in politics?

The discussion I found myself in was one about abortion, whether one can be personally opposed to it, but legislatively allow it. I think this principle is sound, but that it has limits. Here's the tweet:

So, today we'll take a look at this principle to see if there is a threshold that allows us to "legislate morality." And, I want to look at the political situation to see what is and what isn't appropriate to legislate. This is an important discussion if we are to have a functioning society.

We can have beliefs about what is right and wrong, and we should. We ought to learn about the world and living properly in it. That is a virtuous and noble endeavor. And, I think that it is useful to engage in dialogue with others about the beliefs we hold. That is when it turns toward politics because politics is the way in which we learn how to live together.

Our political opinions are those opinions about right and wrong, and how they ought to be enacted in society. Our beliefs on politics are not simply what is wrong or right. Instead, it's whether or not that action should be punished, how it ought to be regulated, and who is required to follow those rules. This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and it is here that we begin to decide what is right and wrong for society.

When we start to go from our personal beliefs to the political ones, it can be hard to have that discussion. If we talk about banning something or punishing an action, there are others who will be affected, and they may take that personally. It's important to be delicate but clear in these discussions so we can let people know we aren't attacking them, but are trying to curb the effect of something that is wrong or harmful.