This summer I will be releasing a new book. It is an annotated edition of Sallust's great historical works "Conspiracy of Catiline" and "War of Jugurtha." It is a fully annotated and illustrated edition, specifically designed for those with no prior exposure to the subject matter.

Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, is generally considered to have been a dismal failure as chief executive. Less well known is the fact that he was a brilliantly successful organizer of humanitarian projects around the world before he became president. His career illustrates the principle that no man is capable at everything. As leaders we should focus on evaluating character and talent, and seek to find the right person for the right job.

Russia was torn apart by civil war from 1917 to 1922. On one side were the Bolshevik communists (Reds) and on the other were the Russian nationalists (Whites). How were the Reds able to win the military struggle? We explore some answers.

I recorded this podcast a few days ago but was only able to upload it today. We talk about some impressions from brief visits to Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico.

I visited Key West a few days ago and had a chance to see the retreat of former president Harry Truman. The experience generated some thoughts and observations.

Stephen Kotkin's masterful biography of Joseph Stalin has a very keen analysis of the outbreak of the First World War. I discuss some of the relevant points made. We draw some general conclusions from these lessons.

Some comments on the H2 Sierra folding knife. This recording accompanies the written review of this knife that appears on my site on December 3, 2016.

What is homesickness, and how can it be dealt with? What does the word "saudade" mean in Brazilian Portuguese? We discuss these subjects and some related issues.

A reader asks whether I like Cicero more than other writers, and wants to know my opinions on Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. This leads to larger questions about feeling kinship with certain writers.

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A recent experience reminded me that we should not be too quick to judge others. We really don't know all the struggles or burdens that the other man may have in his background. This is why we should try, whenever possible, to look at things from others' perspectives.