The Life-Giving Suffering of Things

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s dramatic monologue “Ulysses” has for nearly two centuries served as the great cri de coeur of all young men whose lives of mediocrity and utility leave them restless and unsatisfied. Continue Reading...

A Conductor on the Underground Railroad

The Conductor by Caleb Franz conveys the fascinating story of the Reverend John Rankin of Ripley, Ohio, a highly influential figure in the abolitionist cause of the 19th century. Rankin’s story is largely unknown, overshadowed by the more celebrated figures of the antebellum period and the Civil War. Continue Reading...

The Better Angels of Bad Monkey

I started watching Bad Monkey, the latest Apple TV+ series, one of the funnier things on offer this year, for two reasons. First, I like Vince Vaughn a lot. He was clever in his 2000s persona in comedies with Will Ferrell and Owen Wilson: Old School (2003), Dodgeball (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005). Continue Reading...

Put Children First

Civilization transmits culture from one generation to the next, and so must be concerned with children. Education, law, the peaceful transfer of power—these civilizational elements developed over the centuries to foster the creation of children and create the space for them to grow into their inheritance. Continue Reading...

Shepherds on the Titanic

In the introduction to Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis uses the image of a hall leading to various rooms to explain the relationship of the various Christian communions and traditions with one another and with the fundamental and indispensable commitments that define the contours of Christianity. Continue Reading...

Staying Human in the A.I. Mega-Machine

Recently I went to see my doctor for a follow-up to spine surgery that alleviated much of the severe pain that had been limiting my life in serious ways. The surgery was a success, and with less pain came more mobility, better sleep, and increased vitality. Continue Reading...