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
Gallic Wars 7: Vercingetorix and the Great Revolt
Caesar faces the Gallic Grande Armée through fire and snow, in part 7, the climax of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the ...
Gallic Wars 6: Manhunt
Caesar fights through enemy tribes and orders a Purge in his manhunt for Ambiorix, in part 6 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propagan...
Gallic Wars 5: Uprisings
The mighty Caesar returns to Britain, and faces uprisings and deadly skirmishes in Gaul, in part 5 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and pr...
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.