Worker and Parasite

In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss the book The Origins of Woke: Civil Rights Law, Corporate America, and the Triumph of Identity Politics by Richard Hanania. The conversation opens with some humor and banter about the book’s author, including playful speculation about his name and background. This sets the stage for a candid and occasionally irreverent examination of the book’s arguments a...

In this episode, Jerry and Stably engage in an insightful discussion about Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business . The conversation begins with a playful and lighthearted exchange, showcasing the hosts’ camaraderie before transitioning into the substance of the book. Jerry introduces the title as his pick and highlights the subtitle, emphasizi...

In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss the book Transformative Experience by L.A. Paul , focusing on its exploration of how life-altering decisions shape personal identity and the challenges of making choices without fully understanding their consequences. The episode begins with a lighthearted and sleepy exchange between the hosts, setting a relaxed tone for a deep philosophical conversation....

In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss Viktor Frankl’s seminal work Man's Search for Meaning . The episode opens with a lighthearted exchange, as the hosts reflect on their decision to pivot from their originally planned book due to its lack of engaging material. Jerry explains that the choice to switch to Frankl’s book was driven by its depth and enduring relevance, contrasting sharply with th...

In this episode, Jerry and Stably explore The World Behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science by Erik Hoel. The conversation begins with Jerry introducing the book and admitting that its challenging nature made it one of the most demanding reads they have tackled. Stably expresses similar sentiments, describing the book as thought-provoking yet requiring a significant i...

In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss Up From Conservatism: Why the Right is Wrong for America by Michael Lind, a book Jerry has owned for two decades but never previously read. The conversation begins with light banter about sports and seasonal changes, setting a casual tone before diving into the substance of the book. Jerry reflects on his decision to finally tackle this long-unread work, o...

In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites, and the Path of Political Disintegration by Peter Turchin. The conversation begins with a candid exchange, setting a casual tone as Jerry mentions feeling frustrated with unmet aspirations. This lighthearted introduction transitions into an in-depth exploration of Turchin’s ambitious attempt to forecast societal collapse...

In this episode, hosts Jerry and Stably engage in a thoughtful discussion about two seminal works by Joan Didion: The White Album and Miami . The conversation begins with an overview of The White Album , a collection of essays that explores the turbulence of the 1960s and 1970s through Didion's unique narrative lens. Jerry and Stably analyze Didion’s use of fragmented storytelling and her ability...

In this episode, hosts Jerry and Stably engage in a deep and nuanced discussion about Allan Bloom's seminal work, The Closing of the American Mind . The episode begins with Jerry and Stably sharing their initial impressions of the book, noting its intellectual rigor and the breadth of its scope. Stably, who selected the book, expresses both appreciation and trepidation about the challenges it pres...

In this episode, hosts Jerry and Stably delve into Paul Gottfried’s thought-provoking book, After Liberalism: Mass Democracy in the Managerial State . The discussion begins with Stably introducing the book, which was his pick, inspired by earlier conversations with Jerry about political theory and critiques of modern governance. They explore Gottfried’s central thesis, which critiques the evolutio...

In this episode we discuss Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia. Next time we'll discuss After Liberalism: Mass Democracy in the Managerial State by Paul Gottfried.

In this episode we discuss The End of Equality by Mickey Kaus. Next time we'll discuss Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia.

In this episode we discuss The Myth of the Eternal Return: Cosmos and History by Mircea Eliade. Next time we'll discuss The End of Equality by Mickey Kaus.

In this episode we discuss Beauty: A Very Short Introduction by Roger Scruton. Next time we'll discuss The Myth of the Eternal Return: Cosmos and History by Mircea Eliade.

In this episode we discuss The Mind and the Market: Capitalism in Western Thought  by Jerry Z. Muller. Next time we'll discuss Beauty: A Very Short Introduction by Roger Scrutton.

In this episode we discuss By the People by Charles Murray. Next time we'll discuss The Mind and the Market by Jerry Z. Muller

In this episode we discuss Obedience is Freedom by Jacob Phillips. Next time we'll discuss By the People by Charles Murray.

In this episode we discuss The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism by Daniel Bell. Next time we'll discuss Obedience is Freedom by Jacob Phillips.

In this episode we discuss Western Self-Contempt: Oikophobia in the Decline of Civilizations by Benedict Beckeld. Next time we'll discuss The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism by Daniel Bell.

In this episode we discuss The Authenticity Hoax: How We Get Lost Finding Ourselves by Andrew Potter. Next time we'll discuss Western Self-Contempt: Oikophobia in the Decline of Civilizations by Benedict Beckeld.

In this episode we discuss Soccernomics: Why European Men and American Women Win and Billionaire Owners Are Destined to Lose by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. Next time we'll discuss The Authenticity Hoax: How We Get Lost Finding Ourselves by Andrew Potter.

In this episode we discuss Nostalgia for the Absolute by George Steiner. Next time we'll discuss Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. Recording of the CBC Massey Lecture by George Steiner on YouTube.

In this episode we discuss Liberalism and Its Discontents by Francis Fukuyama. Next time we'll discuss Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man by Marshall McLuhan.

In this episode we discuss Red Card: How the U.S. Blew the Whistle on the World's Biggest Sports Scandal by Ken Bensinger. Next time we'll discuss Liberalism and Its Discontents by Francis Fukuyama.

In this episode we discuss Telluria by Vladimir Sorokin. Next time we'll discuss Red Card: How the U.S. Blew the Whistle on the World's Biggest Sports Scandal .