High Tech Caesar, Recent Appearances

And a thank you

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for subscribing to Cost of Glory - especially to my paid subscribers. Your support means a LOT to me. I am working on some things just for you, in order to show my gratitude.

Meanwhile, I’m deep into the weeds researching the finer points of Julius Caesar.

The shape this series is probably going to take is, Part I, Part II, then a 3-part series on the Civil Wars he fought, then finally his Shakespearean end in Part III. I’m aiming to have Part I done by the end of the month.

(Maybe we’ll do a separate episode on Actual Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar play, but spoiler alert, the plot is pulled straight out of Plutarch).

So, more waiting. BUT… I have a teaser takeaway for you below. First, though:

Men’s Retreat in Greece

Because we were so focused on our shorter, stateside retreat in Austin, we’re a little late in announcing this. But we’re running another Men’s Leadership Retreat in Greece - June 8th through 15th.

If you’ve been reading/listening to my stuff for a while, you know I’m obsessed with reviving the classical arts of leadership, especially in high-impact in-person experiences.

I don’t exaggerate in saying these can be life changing—many participants have told us so. We get incredible people coming on our retreats - many of the slots for this year’s trip are already filled by returning alums.

This year we plan to outdo ourselves, both in upgrading the curriculum, and in visiting a wider range of places. If you come, you’ll get better not just at public speaking, but applying timeless lessons of strategy, personal excellence, and political philosophy to your own life. Also, you’ll climb a mountain or two and eat great food.

Fill out an application soon - space is limited. I’ve met some of my favorite people in the world at Cost of Glory events, and hope to see you there.

Click here for more info.

Caesar Technicus

I was recently talking to a founder friend, and we were reflecting on Caesar’s example as a technologist.

Previously, both of us, involved as we were (and still are) in a heavily human-oriented industry, had resisted implementing certain cutting edge technologies into our work. Don’t they separate us from the old ways?

Maybe. But consider the example of fellow human obsessed Julius Caesar for a moment. He not only built a giant bridge over the Rhine, he took an interest in the finer points of bridge construction, quinquereme ship design, etc.

(See parts 3 & 4 of our Gallic War series, now on YouTube w/ some handy Rhine bridge reconstruction images:)

Not to mention the fact that Caesar was an extremely active letter writer, and leveraged the media technology of his day to utmost effect. And creatively: he used the standard “genre” (if it deserves that name before Caesar) of “front line reports to the senate” and spun it first into a masterwork of war propaganda, and then a classic of world literature, in the Gallic War commentaries.

Obviously the question requires more discernment now, as nerding out on technological tools can easily become a distraction, with so many options available. But great leaders like Caesar do think deeply about how to maximize the reach of their efforts through whatever is on offer from the day’s technological cutting edge.

(Still, I think I will always be annoyed at constant software update requests)

Recent Appearances

I went on Auron Macintyre’s show to talk about Trajan and Hadrian as potential models for questions the American Empire is debating now - expand and conquer, or retrench & refocus on internal greatness?

Also had a great conversation with Bernie Maopolski of the Fan of History podcast on the fall of the Roman Republic, with special focus on Cato the Younger.

Finally, I got together with my friend Kevin Dolan of Exit, to talk about declining birth rates in antiquity (a very frightening problem today, if you dig into it) and how ancient statesmen thought about the issue. Reposted on the Cost of Glory feed as Episode 105:

Stay Ancient,

Alex