Patterns of Manhood: Episode #1
I am excited to announce the launch of my new podcast. In Patterns of Manhood I explore the world of literature, art, and history to discover the various forms through which the character of manhood has been expressed. The unique challenges facing young men in our times have been well documented. Various excellent resources have appeared online in recent years intended to help young men face these challenges. What I want to add to the discussion is an expansion of the resources we can all bring to bear on our efforts to conceive an ideal of manhood fitting for our own day and age. By rediscovering the insights preserved in the texts, the artefacts, and the deeds of the past, I believe we can help young men live lives of greater meaning and achievement.
The first episode of Patterns of Manhood takes a look at Tolstoy’s underappreciated novella, The Cossacks. The hero of this work, Olenin, presents us with a model for all those ardent yet fundamentally flippant young men, who are deluded by their own romantic rhetoric into overestimating the tenor of their character. You can find the homepage here. I hope you enjoy.