89 - A Manual for Greatness — with Johnny Burtka

This episode brought to you by The Classical Society - https://theclassicalsociety.com

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

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