A Manual for Greatness — with Johnny Burtka
An interview with Johnny Burtka, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. He is a graduate of Hillsdale College, and his most recent book is titled “Gateway to Statesmanship—Selections from Xenophon to Churchill”.
In this episode:
- The Mirrors for Princes tradition
- Obstacles as a Ladder to Greatness
- The Potency of Xenophon’s ‘Education of Cyrus’
- The Leadership Qualities of Cyrus
- The Complex Enduring Power of Cicero’s ‘On Duties’
- Cultivating Greatness of Soul and the Magnitudo Animi of Churchill
- Machiavelli as Practitioner, not Political Philosopher
- Where should an 18-year old dedicate himself to?
- Washington’s Farewell Address as a Beautiful Political Text
Books Mentioned:
- Gateway to Statesmanship—Selections from Xenophon to Churchill by Johnny Burtka
- Education of Cyrus by Xenophon
- On Duties by Cicero
- The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley by Jimmy Soni
- Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts
For the episode transcript, be sure to subscribe to my Substack!
Thanks to our sponsor Intercollegiate Studies Institute! Check out their programs on supporting quality thought and intellectual life in and after your college years.
The Cost Of Glory Episodes
Crassus III: Battle of Carrhae
Crassus' famous campaign against the Parthians - what motivated it? What happened at Carrhae? What can we learn from it?Thanks to our Sponsor!Ancient Language Instit...
Crassus II: Puppet Master
Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest Man in Rome. The plot thickens in the contest with Pompey, and Crassus takes on new allies: Catiline and Julius Caesar.In this episod...
Crassus I: Richest Man in Rome
The story of Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest man in Rome.In this episode: -The Real Spartacus-How to make a fortune, ancient style -Why Crassus was a better spender t...
History Contains Power
My name is Alex Petkas, and in The Cost of Glory, I present you with the best stories, analyses and takeaways, from the greatest and most influential figures from Greco-Roman antiquity.