“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” —Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough For Love
Welcome to the Renaissance Humans Newsletter, where I focus on sense-making and story-telling in the turbulent twenties. The Renaissance (“rebirth,” in French) spanned from the 14th to the 17th century and marked a period of cultural, artistic, and intellectual renewal in Europe. A Renaissance Human fosters curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and character in a journey of never-ending learning. They cultivate Mind, Body, and Spirit, in service of Community, and oriented to the Transcendentals.
Listen: I made my first ever podcast appearance a few weeks ago, with Sam Alaimo of the amazing What Then? Substack. His writing is a glorious blend of ancient wisdom, modern challenges, and Socratic dialogue. When I read his essays, I feel like I’m walking through Athens late at night, shooting the breeze about timeless human problems.
The company Sam co-founded after leaving the SEAL Teams, Zeroeyes, has a podcast series called No Bell, a reference to not ringing the bell to quit during SEAL training. Check out his company— they use cameras and Artificial Intelligence to identify firearms in schools and public places. Here’s the Spotify link, but it’s available on Itunes and other Podcasts apps:
It was awesome to meet in meatspace and have an intergenerational beard-off for the ages. I can’t really compete with even his mustache game here. Best I can hope for is sympathy gray hair votes. We talked about my 27 year career in the Navy— going from undesignated seaman on a ship to troop commander at Development Group and then NROTC professor. We covered my background growing up in western NY, the differences between officer and enlisted career paths, leadership lessons, and writing.
Nonfiction Read: I’ve talked about Freya India before. I love her Gen Z perspective on the state of the world. I send her essays to my teenage daughter to read. Here’s a recent one that is one of my favorites:
Fiction Read: I recently reread this, a few decades after initally reading. The List of Seven is a 1993 novel by Mark Frost. Though initially an occult murder mystery, the story brings in conspiracy theory, horror, history, and Theosophy. Frost delivers a gripping blend of historical fiction, mystery, and supernatural elements. Set in Victorian London, the novel follows protagonist Arthur Conan Doyle (the implication being the adventures in the novel informed his Sherlock stories), called upon to investigate a series of bizarre murders linked to a secret society which seems eerily similar to one Doyle invented for a novel. He uncovers a sinister conspiracy involving ancient magic and a mysterious list of names. As he delves deeper into the dark underbelly of London and other scenic parts of England, he encounters enigmatic figures and unravels a web of intrigue that threatens to unravel his own sanity. Combining historical detail with thrilling suspense, Frost crafts a captivating tale of danger, secrets, and occult forces.
Watch: My son has been on a Mission Impossible kick, and we’ve cycled through all the movies several times. This is an old video skit I’m obsessed with. I think it’s because I am convinced that not enough people have watched this masterpiece. Classic Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller, from the 2000 MTV Movie awards. I love Action Director John Woo’s bit, and “This mission, it just got a helluvalot more impossibler.”