Arnold Toynbee’s A Study of History is a 12-volume monster. I have read only the two-volume abridgement (many years past), which preserves Toynbee’s central thesis that there is a pattern to history. Civilizations rise and fall primarily in response to specific challenges; whatever those challenges are will be defining, and they must also be of the right pressure.Continue reading “Rewind the Clock”
Tag Archives: Orwell
Covid Spring, Summer, Fall
I have not been able to train Aikido since March 2020. It has been over six months since my last contact on the mat and I confess, I do not miss it nearly as much as I expected to. As summer 2020 draws to an end, I suspect fall will not provide an end toContinue reading “Covid Spring, Summer, Fall”
Selling Confidence
To my ears, Trump is an inarticulate ignoramus with a heavy dose of meglomania. In a prior post, I linked to John McWhorter‘s analysis of Trump’s speech patterns. These YouTube clips summarize his conclusions: McWhorter elaborates in The Atlantic and concludes that Trump is a walking “hot mike” with no sensible filter. I agree. ButContinue reading “Selling Confidence”
Protective Arts 