ThinkingWest

Is modern "progress" actually a trap? The greatest leaps in human history —from Charlemagne’s empire to the birth of America — happened by embracing our roots. Tradition inspires true progress. Can we truly innovate if we destroy our foundations? Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

Young people today are "second sons," born into a world of fractured institutions and zero civilizational inheritance. But history reveals two paths for the disinherited: the monastic strategy of building parallel, resilient societies or the adventurous risk-taking of the conquistadors. Which path will Gen Z choose? Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

John Glubb believed that empires pass through predictable stages in their rise and fall. But can empires be saved from decline? A leader can do tangible things to promote the empire's continued growth, through forming a virtuous state, attention to defense and expansion, rebuilding institutions, and renewing the empire's mission. Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

While often labeled as villains, empires like ancient Rome and Great Britain created the safety and infrastructure necessary for human progress to explode. From the Pax Romana to the British Empire's role in ending the slave trade, imperialism has a good side too... Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

As the West faces civilizational decline, history shows us a path forward. By studying historians like Will Durant, Arnold Toynbee, and John Glubb, we find three pillars for personal growth amidst the decline: a deep religious faith, a dynastic mindset for generational wealth, and a purpose-driven "great quest". Embrace these principles to stop the nihilism, build a lasting legacy, and thrive amid...

C.S Lewis was concerned about the why the pagan mythologies resembled several elements of Christianity. But a walk with J.R.R. Tolkien one day transformed his understanding of these myths. Why did the gods and heroes of Osiris, Balder, Adonis, and others have similar story arcs to the Gospel account of the dying and rising of Jesus? Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

Is civilization guaranteed? As Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire shows, cultures decline amidst warning signs like inflation, political instability, and complacency. To avoid the fate of the Roman Empire, we must reject presentism and prioritize cultural transmission. The Byzantine Empire and ancient China show that longevity requires active maintenance and shared cultural i...

Thomas Carlyle’s Great Man Theory is a controversial historical lens that argues world history is merely the biography of a select few figures. From Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great to Napoleon and Shakespeare, elite figures use creative genius and willpower to shape civilization. Carlyle’s "top-down" history contrasts Herbert Spencer’s social history and Howard Zinn’s "history from below." B...

In C.S. Lewis' masterpiece The Screwtape Letters, he makes an unsettling prediction: public education will decline as the middle class is hollowed out. He blames the pursuit of perfect equality and unfettered democratic tendencies which suppress the desire for greatness. Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

How can we save Western Civilization? What can the average person do to alter the course the West is on? Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

Is history cyclical? Do crisis events follow a pattern? These are the questions Neil Howe and William Strauss answer in their Fourth Turning theory. In America, there have been 3 crisis eras already: American Revolution, Civil War, and World War II — so what's next? Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

Was Giambattista Vico a misunderstood prophet? He broke civilizations into 3 stages: the Age of the the Age of Gods (piety/theocracy), the Age of Heroes (honor/aristocracy), and the Age of Men (rationality/democracy). Which of these are we in? And how does it affect us? Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

Thinkers for the greater part of Western history have consistently pointed out virtue as the primary aim of education. But the wave of the Industrial Revolution ushered in a new aim for education founded in utilitarianism. In what ways has this shift in schooling methods altered education today? How did classical schools educate the youth better? And how can we implement these strategies today? Re...

Christianity didn’t cause the Dark Ages. It ended them. Christianity is often blamed for the so-called “Dark Ages”. But when the true causes of the darkness of this period are explored, Christianity instead rises as a champion for a new age of recovery and rebuilding. The unifying spirit of the Church and the preservation of ancient learning and literature by monastics were two key factors that he...

The Roman Empire — despite its persecution of early Christianity — in many ways accelerated the spread of the new religion. The Roman Empire provided a stable geopolitical situation where peace, safety, and their vast infrastructure helped Christianity spread quickly. Further, the structure of the Roman family itself, the empire’s initial ambivalence toward new religions, and the general spiritual...

“The West” is a term often thrown around and called into question, but rarely answered. Today’s podcast is attempting to provide an answer to “What is the West”, bringing in some of the best minds of the 20th century, notably Dawson, Spengler, and Huntington. Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

Christian and Adam of ThinkingWest discuss Sir John Glubb’s Fate of Empires - 6 stages in the rise and fall of empires. Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

Christian and Adam of ThinkingWest discuss the Biblical roots of the city, its impact on families today, and how the city of the future is emerging. Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe

In this inaugural podcast, Adam and Christian of ThinkingWest explore the underexamined cons to giving up the power and influence offered by cities. Get full access to ThinkingWest at www.thinkingwest.com/subscribe