Post: #1

I have a thought experiment, of sorts, that I would like to invite the forum to contribute to.

It is the design of a comprehensive political syllabus aimed at transforming a person into a political weapon over a prolonged period of study towards political success on the national stage as a long term definite goal.

If the aim is to produce an effective politician, then it is not simply enough to be bright and well versed in 'knowledge' - indeed a major failing of the Right is their insistence on clinging to their intelligence, even in the face of relentless defeat by the emotional bleatings of the left. Rather, one must aim to be entirely rounded, capable of winning factually, through charm and likability, through effective mockery, and through sheer weight of character.

With that in mind, possible categories for study could be:

Science & technology
Political science
History
Religion
Elocution & rhetoric
Charm, mannerisms & likable-ness
Wit & the ability to win dirty
Strategy
Art & culture
Human nature
Media, marketing/self-presentation, targeting receptive audiences

I'm interested to hear what, and who, people would study, and why they would study that/them.

Ideally I'd like to keep the thread clear of the doom and gloom stuff about global cabals and mainstream media bias, the stupidity of the masses etc. It is my firm belief that anyone born in the West has access to everything they need to be politically successful, and to make a positive change to try to undo some of the harm that has been done. On a forum like this, we have guys who are making a living by writing on the internet, by making Youtube videos that reach an audience, guys who are successful in business, in science, in technology. I am absolutely certain that if effectively channeled the resources of this forum could, over a 5-10 year period, see motivated members gain traction in mainstream politics.

Even if this is a thought-experiment, it would be nice to keep it positive and pro-active, not full of the usual 'we're all IQ 1%ers but totally helpless to do anything'.

Post: #2

Is this for that chivalric order we all want to create? At any rate, I think this might be better served in the Deep Forum.

To conform with neomasculine principles I think it should be something all-encompassing, with character as much as knowledge.

I'd suggest a streamlining though, like so, with some suggestions off the top of my head:

Science/Tech:

Political Science:

The works of John Locke
Hobbes' Leviathan
The Federalist Papers
The collection of "Anti-Federalist" Papers
George Washington's Farewell Address
SJW's Always Lie, Vox Day
Cuckservative, Vox Day
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. Heinlein
Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein
How to Win the War Against Men, Mike Cernovich (when it's released)
Sorry for the plug, but I think my book Year Zero is also going to be important when it comes out

Character/Personal Development:

Memories for the Instruction of the Dauphin, Louis XIV
Thirty Seven, Quintus Curtius
Pantheon, Quintus Curtius
Stoic Paradoxes and all the other works on stoicism, Cicero and Quintus Curtius
Gorilla Mindset, Mike Cernovich
Bang and Day Bang, Roosh V
Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell
Service, Marcus Luttrell
Read 'Em and Reap, Joe Navarro
What Every Body is Saying, Joe Navarro
Iliad, Homer
Odyssey, Homer

Human Nature/Leadership/Media/Wit/Strategy (all of these are interrelated):

The Art of the Deal, Donald Trump
Think Big and Kick Ass, Donald Trump
The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene
The Art of War, Sun Tzu
On War, Carl von Clausewitz
The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi
Commentaries, Julius Caesar

Just off the top of my head.

Post: #3

Mental Hygiene:
Meditations by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius - As suggested above, stoicism is very important for maintaining sanity and rationality in a high pressure environment.
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by Dr David Burns - A standard toolkit on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Useful for objectivity and happiness.

Human Nature:
Machiavelli's The Prince - Machiavellianism is essential to politics so why not learn from the master. Even if you don't want to use these methods offensively its critical to understand how they work to defend oneself from those with less qualms.

Leadership/Independence:
How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World by Harry Browne - Ostensibly a treatise on libertarianism, this book actually opened my eyes into how to disentangle myself from society's cultural scripts and make personal choices independently from the hivemind. Making choices while isolated from the influence of others is a critical leadership trait.

Marketing
Propaganda and similar works by Edward L. Bernays - Basic primer on mass manipulation.
Trust Me I'm Lying by Ryan Holiday - Shows how media is manipulated in the information age. Hopefully a pollie would have a team to do this for him, but its necessary to know how corrupt the media is to insulate oneself from it.

Learned Charisma:
Influence the Art of Persuasion by Robert Green - How to get people to say 'yes'.
How to Make Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - Why mess with a classic?

Post: #4

Military strategy and basic civil engineering. It never hurts to know.

Post: #5

Although it's tangentially covered, specific schooling in the art of Rhetoric - if you don't know how to argue both informally and formally you won't know an intellectually dishonest debating tactic when it's thrown at you and how best to counter it. More generally, the art of public speaking (especially the art of speaking on camera) - some reading in Cicero and Quintillian's works may well assist even though the culture gap is wide.

The traditional liberal arts as taught in universities to all educated men until about 1800 or so were the Trivium and the Quadrivium:

The Trivium are Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic.
The Quadrivium are arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. Only learning these did one then qualify to move on to philosophy or theology.

Post: #6

(12-14-2015 07:28 AM)Snowplow Wrote:  Military strategy and basic civil engineering. It never hurts to know.

Any particular examples?

On Guerrilla Warfare by Mao
US Army FM collection is comprehensive
Sun Tzu and Clauswitz obviously

What else?

Civil engineering is an excellent example, can you provide some entry level texts?

Post: #7

(12-13-2015 10:11 AM)Libertas Wrote:  Is this for that chivalric order we all want to create? At any rate, I think this might be better served in the Deep Forum.

To conform with neomasculine principles I think it should be something all-encompassing, with character as much as knowledge.

I'd suggest a streamlining though, like so, with some suggestions off the top of my head:

Science/Tech:

Political Science:

The works of John Locke
Hobbes' Leviathan
The Federalist Papers
The collection of "Anti-Federalist" Papers
George Washington's Farewell Address
SJW's Always Lie, Vox Day
Cuckservative, Vox Day
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. Heinlein
Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein
How to Win the War Against Men, Mike Cernovich (when it's released)
Sorry for the plug, but I think my book Year Zero is also going to be important when it comes out

Character/Personal Development:

Memories for the Instruction of the Dauphin, Louis XIV
Thirty Seven, Quintus Curtius
Pantheon, Quintus Curtius
Stoic Paradoxes and all the other works on stoicism, Cicero and Quintus Curtius
Gorilla Mindset, Mike Cernovich
Bang and Day Bang, Roosh V
Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell
Service, Marcus Luttrell
Read 'Em and Reap, Joe Navarro
What Every Body is Saying, Joe Navarro
Iliad, Homer
Odyssey, Homer

Human Nature/Leadership/Media/Wit/Strategy (all of these are interrelated):

The Art of the Deal, Donald Trump
Think Big and Kick Ass, Donald Trump
The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene
The Art of War, Sun Tzu
On War, Carl von Clausewitz
The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi
Commentaries, Julius Caesar

Just off the top of my head.

Some helpful suggestions, however, I'm really thinking a bit more broadly than neo-masculinity, and a bit more publicly than the secret society/chivalric order that you've mentioned elsewhere (and which still retains its appeal!). I'm actually looking to put together as much of a structured all round education that would allow for all aspects of effective (non-corrupt, pro bono) government, winning power, and gaining popular support, rather that focusing on a niche internet interest of ours that is, by definition, ailienating of the vast majority.

Post: #8

(12-14-2015 10:18 AM)H1N1 Wrote:  

(12-14-2015 07:28 AM)Snowplow Wrote:  Military strategy and basic civil engineering. It never hurts to know.

Any particular examples?

On Guerrilla Warfare by Mao
US Army FM collection is comprehensive
Sun Tzu and Clauswitz obviously

What else?

Civil engineering is an excellent example, can you provide some entry level texts?

Civil engineering encompasses and spans a very wide variety of topics such as geotechnical, structural, environmental, transportation, etc; Wikipedia has a good description of it. In ancient and medieval times it used to be the same discipline as architecture and there were master builders who would pretty much run one man shows on constructions spanning from religious temples, to fortifications, aqueducts, bridges and the likes.
For a starting point on the matter, since the early major structures were mostly buildings, I would feel like recommending the first chapters (but not only) of A History of Western Architecture by David Watkin.
After the split and after the subdivisions of Engineering and Architecture in sub disciplines, it would heavily depend on which path one would like to further the knowledge.
I'm sure there is a long list from where to pick from, but I personally like the Filippo Brunelleschi's work on how he was able to build the dome for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and some of the today's engineering/architecture work of Santiago Calatrava. One can look them up online. They both can be considered civil (structural) engineers and architects.

Post: #9

History
- Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger
- The Second World War by Anthony Beevor
- History of the Twentieth Century by Martin Gilbert
- The Cold War by J. Gaddis
- A People's History by Howard Zinn
- Ghost Wars by Steve Coll
- A Peace to End All Peace by David Fromkim
- Force and Statecraft by Alexander George
- A Problem From Hell by Samantha Power

Post: #10

(12-13-2015 09:36 AM)H1N1 Wrote:  I have a thought experiment, of sorts, that I would like to invite the forum to contribute to.

It is the design of a comprehensive political syllabus aimed at transforming a person into a political weapon over a prolonged period of study towards political success on the national stage as a long term definite goal.

If the aim is to produce an effective politician, then it is not simply enough to be bright and well versed in 'knowledge' - indeed a major failing of the Right is their insistence on clinging to their intelligence, even in the face of relentless defeat by the emotional bleatings of the left. Rather, one must aim to be entirely rounded, capable of winning factually, through charm and likability, through effective mockery, and through sheer weight of character.

With that in mind, possible categories for study could be:

Science & technology
Political science
History
Religion
Elocution & rhetoric
Charm, mannerisms & likable-ness
Wit & the ability to win dirty
Strategy
Art & culture
Human nature
Media, marketing/self-presentation, targeting receptive audiences

I'm interested to hear what, and who, people would study, and why they would study that/them.

Ideally I'd like to keep the thread clear of the doom and gloom stuff about global cabals and mainstream media bias, the stupidity of the masses etc. It is my firm belief that anyone born in the West has access to everything they need to be politically successful, and to make a positive change to try to undo some of the harm that has been done. On a forum like this, we have guys who are making a living by writing on the internet, by making Youtube videos that reach an audience, guys who are successful in business, in science, in technology. I am absolutely certain that if effectively channeled the resources of this forum could, over a 5-10 year period, see motivated members gain traction in mainstream politics.

Even if this is a thought-experiment, it would be nice to keep it positive and pro-active, not full of the usual 'we're all IQ 1%ers but totally helpless to do anything'.

I like the idea. Have there been any other attempts to do something like this? Finishing schools? Freemasons? It would be good to get see specific examples.

Post: #11

(12-15-2015 04:10 PM)Osiris Wrote:  History
- Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger
- The Second World War by Anthony Beevor
- History of the Twentieth Century by Martin Gilbert
- The Cold War by J. Gaddis
- A People's History by Howard Zinn
- Ghost Wars by Steve Coll
- A Peace to End All Peace by David Fromkim
- Force and Statecraft by Alexander George
- A Problem From Hell by Samantha Power

Thank you for contributing, there are definitely some on there that I hadn't heard of before.

Post: #12

(12-15-2015 04:23 PM)storm Wrote:  

(12-13-2015 09:36 AM)H1N1 Wrote:  I have a thought experiment, of sorts, that I would like to invite the forum to contribute to.

It is the design of a comprehensive political syllabus aimed at transforming a person into a political weapon over a prolonged period of study towards political success on the national stage as a long term definite goal.

If the aim is to produce an effective politician, then it is not simply enough to be bright and well versed in 'knowledge' - indeed a major failing of the Right is their insistence on clinging to their intelligence, even in the face of relentless defeat by the emotional bleatings of the left. Rather, one must aim to be entirely rounded, capable of winning factually, through charm and likability, through effective mockery, and through sheer weight of character.

With that in mind, possible categories for study could be:

Science & technology
Political science
History
Religion
Elocution & rhetoric
Charm, mannerisms & likable-ness
Wit & the ability to win dirty
Strategy
Art & culture
Human nature
Media, marketing/self-presentation, targeting receptive audiences

I'm interested to hear what, and who, people would study, and why they would study that/them.

Ideally I'd like to keep the thread clear of the doom and gloom stuff about global cabals and mainstream media bias, the stupidity of the masses etc. It is my firm belief that anyone born in the West has access to everything they need to be politically successful, and to make a positive change to try to undo some of the harm that has been done. On a forum like this, we have guys who are making a living by writing on the internet, by making Youtube videos that reach an audience, guys who are successful in business, in science, in technology. I am absolutely certain that if effectively channeled the resources of this forum could, over a 5-10 year period, see motivated members gain traction in mainstream politics.

Even if this is a thought-experiment, it would be nice to keep it positive and pro-active, not full of the usual 'we're all IQ 1%ers but totally helpless to do anything'.

I like the idea. Have there been any other attempts to do something like this? Finishing schools? Freemasons? It would be good to get see specific examples.

Not so far as I am aware. I am considering starting a blog to try to arrive at a syllabus, and hone the art of distilling and presenting complicated ideas in an accessible way, as well as obviously charting my own progress with the study.

Post: #13

I feel like a dancing monkey compared to some of you gents!

Post: #14

(12-15-2015 05:02 PM)The Beast1 Wrote:  I feel like a dancing monkey compared to some of you gents!

I think the secret is that we all feel that. I feel completely overwhelmed at times by how little I really know, and how little I will ever know relative to what is out there, and I typically clock up 50-100 books/year, mostly non-fiction, depending on how dense they are. Every year that goes past I feel like I know less and less, and am haunted by opportunities squandered in my younger days!

Post: #15

I realise I've contributed nothing, so I'd contribute the following (as an Englishman), a brief, random, and hopelessly incomplete set of suggestions, some deliberately from leftfield:

History -

Raj, The making of British India - about the fairest, most expansive examination of the British in India that I've come across.
Arrian - The campaigns of Alexander - illuminating and inspiring to see how Alexander lead and conquered. Much can be taken from it.
The End of Tsarist Russia - the best book I have read to explain, from a Russian perspective, the events that caused the world to be as it is now.
A History of the Arab Peoples - amidst all the Islam bashing, an important work for understanding the rich and valuable cultural and history of the Arabs.

Engineering -

Following on from one of the architects Cumulonimbus recommended:
- Brunelleschi's dome - the story of the building of the cupola at Santa Maria del Fiore. Absolutely fascinating, and a good reminder that sometimes you have to start something epic, and trust that the means to finish will present itself when the time comes.

How to read buildings - a little handbook I picked up years ago, that explains all the little architectural quirks and methods of construction that help date and place buildings.

Political science/political philosophy -

Reflections on the revolution in France - still the best work of political science I've ever been exposed to.
Utopia - understand where the ideology comes from
The social contract - from whence many of today's evils sprung.
The rights of man - an extraordinary work of scholarship and thought, and actually quite a useful primer in economics.
Commonwealth/Republic - just a very comprehensive analysis of systems of government - very good for provoking thought on ideal government

Art, culture, and literature -

Fundamentals of music composition - an excellent examination of musical structure by a modern master
Forward motion - for an interesting alternate theory on the correct way to read and play music.
Other men's flowers - cracking poetry anthology by Lord Wavell
The Bard - obviously, particularly the tragedies, particularly Lear
Keats: selected poems and letters - good for the soul.
Tristram Shandy - I've heard it compellingly argued that this is the greatest book ever written, and it is a true masterpiece.

Charm, Wit, Critical thinking, Rhetoric, the Esoteric and Religion -

P.G. Wodehouse, everything he wrote - feasts of reason and flow of soul. A study in the art of charm and refined wit.
Jorge Luis Borges, collected non-fiction - one of the great essayists of all time - a staggering collection that will hone your critical faculties.
Mannerisms of Christopher Hitchens via Youtube - A fascinating character to study. I don't rate him as highly as his legion of fans do as a polemicist or writer. However, he is an extraordinarily effective debater, by turns charming and excoriating.
The Philipics - the greatest orator of them all, his orations from one of the critical moments in Roman history.
The Perennial Philosophy, Aldous Huxley - a succinct and fascinating insight into the world religions, their critical sages, and the commonalities between them all.
The Tibetan book of living and dying - a lovely, gentle philosophy of compassion and kindness that confronts the degeneracy of the modern era head on - a voice of hope in a dark world

Post: #16

This is a very thought provoking thread.

I am curious about this quote:

Quote:It is the design of a comprehensive political syllabus aimed at transforming a person into a political weapon over a prolonged period of study towards political success on the national stage as a long term definite goal.

Are you talking about a syllabus for an actual elected politician in an national role? Presidency, Senate, House of Representatives?

Or are you also referring to someone who is more concerned with changing policies, and doesn't care about being elected to office? Like Martin Luther King?

Seems to me like these are two different sorts of effective "political weapons," and that each one requires a different set of skills.

Did you mean one or the other? Or either?

Post: #17

(12-16-2015 03:57 PM)debeguiled Wrote:  This is a very thought provoking thread.

I am curious about this quote:

Quote:It is the design of a comprehensive political syllabus aimed at transforming a person into a political weapon over a prolonged period of study towards political success on the national stage as a long term definite goal.

Are you talking about a syllabus for an actual elected politician in an national role? Presidency, Senate, House of Representatives?

Or are you also referring to someone who is more concerned with changing policies, and doesn't care about being elected to office? Like Martin Luther King?

Seems to me like these are two different sorts of effective "political weapons," and that each one requires a different set of skills.

Did you mean one or the other? Or either?

I'm flattered you've found it thought provoking, and am grateful to everyone who has contributed. Hopefully we'll get some more good stuff before it disappears of the front page.

I think the answer to your question, 'what type of political weapon', is both. I agree that a guy like Martin Luther King is a different beast to an elected politician, but in many ways the same depth and breadth of knowledge is invaluable, as is the strength of character and sheer charisma required by either to be most effective. I think the main difference in application will be one of strategy, and the extent/length of time to which one can work in the dark before one must be thrust into the limelight. I suppose that implied in my original post is the idea that it is not simply a case of being a 'good politician', but to channel extreme effectiveness into sound, publicly beneficial policy making - as opposed to the extraordinarily shortsighted and historically ignorant work that seems to be passing for government across the western world.

Post: #18

I hope this isn't too much of a digression but given the quality of suggestions of previous posts I started thinking about potential applications for a regimen like this.

Personally, I'd love to apply to Roosh U and take some aptitude tests to see what programme would best suit me. I've recently been jotting down similar thoughts on this subject and the idea of making a autodidactic curriculum for myself.

I'd recommend adding in a cultural analysis course that requires the future leader to do some first-hand research into a variety of demographics. Since we don't live in an ideal nation (and never will) having a field of study that looks at the Social and Community Intelligence field and interpreting technological analysis of human behavior ( http://www.ayu.ics.keio.ac.jp/~bingo/research/SCI11.pdf )
and combining it with a six-month trip where you go around and covertly "walk among the people" might be helpful to the aspiring politician.

I like that part of Kipling's "If" that says "walk with kings (but) not lose the common touch." I get the sense that developing a sense of fraternity with the people you govern is a neglected area of study for the career politician these days.

Post: #19

I had a moment to look into this.

Here is the syllabus for DPI-330 : The Making of a Politician, a course at the Harvard Kennedy School. It is droolingly PC, with 10% of the course dedicated to "how men should react" to women politicians. Probably in this day and age at Harvard, every course must dedicate 10% of its material to such nonsense. Still, the remaining 90% could be very meaningful.

Quote:Course is designed to explore what it takes to be a successful politician by concentrating on taking any student regardless of their communication skills at the outset and transforming them into an accomplished communicator in settings including interviews, speech delivery and in confrontational debate settings. This is done through extensive media training including voice and body language training. Early in the semester students are filmed (not for a grade) conducting interviews and giving speeches. After intense instruction in media training throughout the course of the semester, students will again be filmed near the end of the semester giving interviews and speeches (for a grade) allowing students almost universally to see vast improvement in their communication and presentation skills. Additionally, all students are divided into teams with each member of the team participating in mock debates with their counterparts from other teams. The course works under the premise that many otherwise highly qualified leaders too often disqualify themselves from running for office because they lack the communication presentation skills and techniques and they thus fear public presentations.

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/syllabus/DPI-330B.pdf

Take a look at the bibliography.

Is this the sort of political syllabus you were interested in H1N1?

Post: #20

(12-16-2015 06:29 PM)h3ltrsk3ltr Wrote:  I hope this isn't too much of a digression but given the quality of suggestions of previous posts I started thinking about potential applications for a regimen like this.

Personally, I'd love to apply to Roosh U and take some aptitude tests to see what programme would best suit me. I've recently been jotting down similar thoughts on this subject and the idea of making a autodidactic curriculum for myself.

I'd recommend adding in a cultural analysis course that requires the future leader to do some first-hand research into a variety of demographics. Since we don't live in an ideal nation (and never will) having a field of study that looks at the Social and Community Intelligence field and interpreting technological analysis of human behavior ( http://www.ayu.ics.keio.ac.jp/~bingo/research/SCI11.pdf )
and combining it with a six-month trip where you go around and covertly "walk among the people" might be helpful to the aspiring politician.

I like that part of Kipling's "If" that says "walk with kings (but) not lose the common touch." I get the sense that developing a sense of fraternity with the people you govern is a neglected area of study for the career politician these days.

I think your suggestion is an excellent one, although I think there are ways that an aspiring leader could do this without it being insincere. Learning to box at an inner city gym, volunteer at a soup kitchen, hell, just talking to the homeless and giving them 5 minutes of your time on a cold winter night to help make them feel human and not invisible. This would make the kind of study you suggest more penetrating, and genuine.

That said, I do firmly believe that someone who gets into politics should do it for the good of the people he would purport to represent. For that reason, I'd hope an understanding of the people, of their hopes and fears, and of the 'little platoons' they organise themselves into would in many ways be a precursor to engaging in politics.

Still, an excellent and extremely beneficial suggestion.

Post: #21

(12-16-2015 06:40 PM)storm Wrote:  I had a moment to look into this.

Here is the syllabus for DPI-330 : The Making of a Politician, a course at the Harvard Kennedy School. It is droolingly PC, with 10% of the course dedicated to "how men should react" to women politicians. Probably in this day and age at Harvard, every course must dedicate 10% of its material to such nonsense. Still, the remaining 90% could be very meaningful.

Quote:Course is designed to explore what it takes to be a successful politician by concentrating on taking any student regardless of their communication skills at the outset and transforming them into an accomplished communicator in settings including interviews, speech delivery and in confrontational debate settings. This is done through extensive media training including voice and body language training. Early in the semester students are filmed (not for a grade) conducting interviews and giving speeches. After intense instruction in media training throughout the course of the semester, students will again be filmed near the end of the semester giving interviews and speeches (for a grade) allowing students almost universally to see vast improvement in their communication and presentation skills. Additionally, all students are divided into teams with each member of the team participating in mock debates with their counterparts from other teams. The course works under the premise that many otherwise highly qualified leaders too often disqualify themselves from running for office because they lack the communication presentation skills and techniques and they thus fear public presentations.

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/syllabus/DPI-330B.pdf

Take a look at the bibliography.

Is this the sort of political syllabus you were interested in H1N1?

Storm, great find.

I'm actually appalled at how mercenary and shallow that course is - this is allegedly the greatest university in the world, and I'd be embarrassed to give a course that light to a moderately bright teenager. Where is the aspiration to the nobility of soul that a man fit to lead should have in abundance?

That said, it is exactly what I am talking about, except I hope we would aspire to something far more erudite, wide-ranging, and noble here than the reams of media training, and politicienne appeasement mandated by this Harvard course.

Post: #22

(12-15-2015 05:53 PM)H1N1 Wrote:  I realise I've contributed nothing, so I'd contribute the following (as an Englishman), a brief, random, and hopelessly incomplete set of suggestions, some deliberately from leftfield:

History -

Raj, The making of British India - about the fairest, most expansive examination of the British in India that I've come across.
Arrian - The campaigns of Alexander - illuminating and inspiring to see how Alexander lead and conquered. Much can be taken from it.
The End of Tsarist Russia - the best book I have read to explain, from a Russian perspective, the events that caused the world to be as it is now.
A History of the Arab Peoples - amidst all the Islam bashing, an important work for understanding the rich and valuable cultural and history of the Arabs.

Engineering -

Following on from one of the architects Cumulonimbus recommended:
- Brunelleschi's dome - the story of the building of the cupola at Santa Maria del Fiore. Absolutely fascinating, and a good reminder that sometimes you have to start something epic, and trust that the means to finish will present itself when the time comes.

How to read buildings - a little handbook I picked up years ago, that explains all the little architectural quirks and methods of construction that help date and place buildings.

Political science/political philosophy -

Reflections on the revolution in France - still the best work of political science I've ever been exposed to.
Utopia - understand where the ideology comes from
The social contract - from whence many of today's evils sprung.
The rights of man - an extraordinary work of scholarship and thought, and actually quite a useful primer in economics.
Commonwealth/Republic - just a very comprehensive analysis of systems of government - very good for provoking thought on ideal government

Art, culture, and literature -

Fundamentals of music composition - an excellent examination of musical structure by a modern master
Forward motion - for an interesting alternate theory on the correct way to read and play music.
Other men's flowers - cracking poetry anthology by Lord Wavell
The Bard - obviously, particularly the tragedies, particularly Lear
Keats: selected poems and letters - good for the soul.
Tristram Shandy - I've heard it compellingly argued that this is the greatest book ever written, and it is a true masterpiece.

Charm, Wit, Critical thinking, Rhetoric, the Esoteric and Religion -

P.G. Wodehouse, everything he wrote - feasts of reason and flow of soul. A study in the art of charm and refined wit.
Jorge Luis Borges, collected non-fiction - one of the great essayists of all time - a staggering collection that will hone your critical faculties.
Mannerisms of Christopher Hitchens via Youtube - A fascinating character to study. I don't rate him as highly as his legion of fans do as a polemicist or writer. However, he is an extraordinarily effective debater, by turns charming and excoriating.
The Philipics - the greatest orator of them all, his orations from one of the critical moments in Roman history.
The Perennial Philosophy, Aldous Huxley - a succinct and fascinating insight into the world religions, their critical sages, and the commonalities between them all.
The Tibetan book of living and dying - a lovely, gentle philosophy of compassion and kindness that confronts the degeneracy of the modern era head on - a voice of hope in a dark world

I'm printing this out.

I've read a lot on how to motivate myself and find the energy to pursue and study this information. It's really tough to summon the energy to read all this but I honestly think life is worth living in large part to enjoy this kind of consideration and reading.

Complaining aside, the next thing I'm going to try is a combination of game and self-improvement as well as exploration.

I'm going to travel to interesting book stores and get one of each book at each place. I'll game along the way. (Quintus's posts on getting off your lazy ass and fixing your own problems are the stick chasing me toward the carrot of self-betterment here.)

+1

Also, I need to fill an empty bookshelf.

Post: #23

(12-16-2015 07:27 PM)h3ltrsk3ltr Wrote:  

(12-15-2015 05:53 PM)H1N1 Wrote:  I realise I've contributed nothing, so I'd contribute the following (as an Englishman), a brief, random, and hopelessly incomplete set of suggestions, some deliberately from leftfield:

History -

Raj, The making of British India - about the fairest, most expansive examination of the British in India that I've come across.
Arrian - The campaigns of Alexander - illuminating and inspiring to see how Alexander lead and conquered. Much can be taken from it.
The End of Tsarist Russia - the best book I have read to explain, from a Russian perspective, the events that caused the world to be as it is now.
A History of the Arab Peoples - amidst all the Islam bashing, an important work for understanding the rich and valuable cultural and history of the Arabs.

Engineering -

Following on from one of the architects Cumulonimbus recommended:
- Brunelleschi's dome - the story of the building of the cupola at Santa Maria del Fiore. Absolutely fascinating, and a good reminder that sometimes you have to start something epic, and trust that the means to finish will present itself when the time comes.

How to read buildings - a little handbook I picked up years ago, that explains all the little architectural quirks and methods of construction that help date and place buildings.

Political science/political philosophy -

Reflections on the revolution in France - still the best work of political science I've ever been exposed to.
Utopia - understand where the ideology comes from
The social contract - from whence many of today's evils sprung.
The rights of man - an extraordinary work of scholarship and thought, and actually quite a useful primer in economics.
Commonwealth/Republic - just a very comprehensive analysis of systems of government - very good for provoking thought on ideal government

Art, culture, and literature -

Fundamentals of music composition - an excellent examination of musical structure by a modern master
Forward motion - for an interesting alternate theory on the correct way to read and play music.
Other men's flowers - cracking poetry anthology by Lord Wavell
The Bard - obviously, particularly the tragedies, particularly Lear
Keats: selected poems and letters - good for the soul.
Tristram Shandy - I've heard it compellingly argued that this is the greatest book ever written, and it is a true masterpiece.

Charm, Wit, Critical thinking, Rhetoric, the Esoteric and Religion -

P.G. Wodehouse, everything he wrote - feasts of reason and flow of soul. A study in the art of charm and refined wit.
Jorge Luis Borges, collected non-fiction - one of the great essayists of all time - a staggering collection that will hone your critical faculties.
Mannerisms of Christopher Hitchens via Youtube - A fascinating character to study. I don't rate him as highly as his legion of fans do as a polemicist or writer. However, he is an extraordinarily effective debater, by turns charming and excoriating.
The Philipics - the greatest orator of them all, his orations from one of the critical moments in Roman history.
The Perennial Philosophy, Aldous Huxley - a succinct and fascinating insight into the world religions, their critical sages, and the commonalities between them all.
The Tibetan book of living and dying - a lovely, gentle philosophy of compassion and kindness that confronts the degeneracy of the modern era head on - a voice of hope in a dark world

I'm printing this out.

I've read a lot on how to motivate myself and find the energy to pursue and study this information. It's really tough to summon the energy to read all this but I honestly think life is worth living in large part to enjoy this kind of consideration and reading.

Complaining aside, the next thing I'm going to try is a combination of game and self-improvement as well as exploration.

I'm going to travel to interesting book stores and get one of each book at each place. I'll game along the way. (Quintus's posts on getting off your lazy ass and fixing your own problems are the stick chasing me toward the carrot of self-betterment here.)

+1

Thank you for the rep point brother. Much appreciated.

I agree completely that the accumulation of knowledge and understanding is one of the most rewarding aspects of our lives (perhaps the most rewarding if you are of a particular character type). It's a great idea to visit different book stores. As much as anything, these places need our support if they are going to remain in business.

Post: #24

(12-16-2015 07:21 PM)H1N1 Wrote:  Storm, great find.

I'm actually appalled at how mercenary and shallow that course is - this is allegedly the greatest university in the world, and I'd be embarrassed to give a course that light to a moderately bright teenager. Where is the aspiration to the nobility of soul that a man fit to lead should have in abundance?

That said, it is exactly what I am talking about, except I hope we would aspire to something far more erudite, wide-ranging, and noble here than the reams of media training, and politicienne appeasement mandated by this Harvard course.

This is sounding like you want an Aristotle for your Alexander.

Check out Secretum secretorum (note the concerns about authenticity):
http://www.colourcountry.net/secretum/

Quote:The Secret of secrets, or in Latin Secretum or Secreta secretorum is a translation of the Arabic Kitab sirr al-asrar, fully the Book of the science of government, on the good ordering of statecraft. It takes the form of a letter supposedly from Aristotle (and considered as such by medieval readers) to Alexander during his campaign in Persia.

I have not read it.

See also:
http://www.purplemotes.net/2013/10/13/ar...er-persia/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/c...hat_did_a/

Post: #25

(12-17-2015 04:39 PM)storm Wrote:  

(12-16-2015 07:21 PM)H1N1 Wrote:  Storm, great find.

I'm actually appalled at how mercenary and shallow that course is - this is allegedly the greatest university in the world, and I'd be embarrassed to give a course that light to a moderately bright teenager. Where is the aspiration to the nobility of soul that a man fit to lead should have in abundance?

That said, it is exactly what I am talking about, except I hope we would aspire to something far more erudite, wide-ranging, and noble here than the reams of media training, and politicienne appeasement mandated by this Harvard course.

This is sounding like you want an Aristotle for your Alexander.

Check out Secretum secretorum (note the concerns about authenticity):
http://www.colourcountry.net/secretum/

Quote:The Secret of secrets, or in Latin Secretum or Secreta secretorum is a translation of the Arabic Kitab sirr al-asrar, fully the Book of the science of government, on the good ordering of statecraft. It takes the form of a letter supposedly from Aristotle (and considered as such by medieval readers) to Alexander during his campaign in Persia.

I have not read it.

See also:
http://www.purplemotes.net/2013/10/13/ar...er-persia/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/c...hat_did_a/

Very cool mate, thank you for making me aware of that. I'll be fascinated to read it. Brilliant contribution.