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
Thanks to our sponsor Intercollegiate Studies Institute! Check out their programs on supporting quality thought and intellectual life in and after your college years.