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The Perverse Use of Liberalism
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In his work The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith laid the philosophical foundations of modern economic liberalism, advocating free markets, private property, and limited government intervention in the economy. Although his ideas were formulated in the eighteenth century, liberalism quickly ceased to be merely an economic theory and became an instrument of power serving the interests of the great empires.
Essay Tips
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Best Essay-Writing Tips from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jztZpqnDw8A
When Gold Turns to Dust
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I have a friend who is obsessed about money.
Paradise Lost and the Problem of Unaligned Minds
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Every era writes its own anxieties into the story of creation. Ours, unsurprisingly, involves algorithms. Long before GPUs hummed or transformers stacked themselves twelve heads deep, humanity was already wrestling with questions about power, autonomy, and rebellion.
21st Century Marquis De Sade
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The 21st century is the century of Marquis de Sade.
books
The Tartar Steppe
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Dino Buzzati’s The Tartar Steppe tells the story of Giovanni Drogo, a young officer assigned to a remote fortress where life is consumed by waiting for an enemy that may never arrive. The novel’s power lies in this atmosphere of suspended time: the endless routines, the fleeting hopes, and the haunting sense that life is passing by while one waits for meaning to arrive from outside.
Autobiography
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Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography is one of the most enduring works of self-reflection in the American tradition. Part memoir, part manual for self-improvement, it traces Franklin’s journey from modest beginnings to prominence as a printer, inventor, and statesman. What gives the book its lasting appeal is not only the story of success but the mindset behind it: industriousness, frugality, curiosity, and a restless drive toward self-betterment.
Apology
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Plato’s Apology is one of the most powerful works of ancient philosophy, presenting Socrates’ defense speech during his trial in Athens. Socrates refuses to compromise his principles, even under threat of death, making the dialogue a lasting statement on integrity and moral courage.
Crito
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If Apology shows Socrates’ fearless defense before the jury, Crito reveals the quieter but equally weighty moment that follows: his refusal to escape prison even when offered the chance. In this dialogue, Socrates argues that justice cannot be served by breaking the law, even if the law has wronged him. His loyalty to principle, and to the social fabric of the city, outweighs the instinct for self-preservation.
Phaedo
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Phaedo brings us to the final scene: Socrates’ last hours before drinking the hemlock (poison). Here, Plato turns from the courtroom and the prison cell to the most intimate and profound question. What happens after death?
The Golden Sayings
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Epictetus’s Golden Sayings belongs to the same Stoic tradition that made Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations famous.
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
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The Meditations is often presented as timeless wisdom for personal discipline and resilience. Its focus on inner strength, humility, and endurance under hardship is undeniably valuable.
The Essays and Counsels, Civil and Moral of Francis Bacon
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Francis Bacon is a cornerstone of the English Renaissance (one of my favourite cultural epochs) and marks him as the father of empiricism. He pushed for a methodical, observation-driven approach to knowledge at a time when dogma and tradition dominated. Without him, modern science and rational inquiry would have taken a very different path.
The New Atlantis
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I really loved this book, even though many dismiss it or find it unappealing, to me it’s one of Bacon’s most imaginative and profound works. It’s not just a text on science; it’s a dream of community. Discovery, learning, and collective welfare come together.
Aeropagitica
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John Milton’s Areopagitica (1644) is one of the most important defenses of free speech and liberty of conscience in the English Renaissance. Using rethoric, it is written against government licensing of books, Milton argued that truth does not need protection from error, it thrives in open contest, where falsehood can be tested and defeated.
Tractate of Education
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John Milton’s Of Education (1644), often called Tractate of Education, is a concise but ambitious vision for reforming learning in England. He argued for a rigorous and practical education: not just book-learning, but training that united language, philosophy, science, and moral development to prepare citizens for active service in church and state.
Religio Medici
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Thomas Browne’s Religio Medici (1643) is part confession, part meditation, and part intellectual experiment. As both a medical physician and a man of deep faith, Browne wrestles with the relationship between science, religion, and personal belief. The result is a book that feels deeply human, full of paradoxes, humility, and a curiosity about the world that resonates even today.
Lycidas
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This is a poem worth savoring—as nearly all great poetry is—line by line, unpacking its meanings and allusions. The repetition of sounds like the o’s evoke mourning, while the softer l’s lend lightness, each sound portrays the feelings of this passionate poem.
Blindness
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I began reading Blindness on December 10th and only managed to finish it on May 1st. Thanks solely to the power outage that hit Portugal and Spain that day, which left me with nothing else to do.
Paradise Lost
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Calling Paradise Lost a masterpiece almost feels redundant, yet that’s the only word that captures the weight and power of Milton’s verse. A masterpiece with an errata.
Paradise Regained
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If Paradise Lost is Milton’s cathedral, then Paradise Regained is his chapel. Smaller, quieter, yet no less profound.
Samson Agonistes
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Samson Agonistes was the last of Milton’s works I read. After the great epics, after the shorter poems, leaving aside only the divorce treatises and some scattered postal correspondence.
Essays & English Traits
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It’s undeniable that Waldo had a profound influence on American idealism. However, I found his essays rather difficult to read. They’re so densely packed with astute language and unusual phrasing that I often struggle to grasp his main point.
Seven Pillars of Wisdom
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Seven Pillars of Wisdom shows how sharp and driven Lawrence was, both as a thinker and a leader.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns
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Reading Poems and Songs of Robert Burns was an interesting mix of charm and challenge. Burns has a way of writing that feels warm and familiar, even when the language isn’t. The Scottish dialect tripped me up more than once, and there were moments when I had to slow down to figure out what was being said.
The Hobbit
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Tolkien has a rare way of blending the warmth of home with the thrill of adventure. Through Bilbo’s reluctant journey, we watch an ordinary soul find unexpected courage and cleverness amid dwarves, dragons, and riddling creatures in the dark.
Confessions
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I found the autobiographical parts especially moving and courageous. It’s rare to see someone from that time write so openly about their own weaknesses, especially in the Roman Empire, where people were expected to be tough.
Imitation of Christ
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I can see why it has inspired people for centuries. There’s a real sincerity in its call to let go of pride and worldly distraction. Some passages are sharp in their simplicity, like they were written straight from the heart.
Oresteia
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Instead of reading it, I decided to watch a play instead, the BBC’s adaptation of Oresteia. Greek classics often come alive best through performance, and this one really did.
Business Adventures
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Wall Street journalist John Brooks tells 12 independent Stories about Wall Street.
The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia
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This book single-handedly rekindled my love for books, for which I am eternal grateful to Henry of Livonia. His writing, albeit in translated form, kept me hooked to his chronicles until the very end. Thank you Henry of Livonia, kind friend. May you continue to rest in peace as you surely have until now.
The Oresteia: Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Eumenides
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Aeschylus’s trilogy is a monumental achievement in dramatic scope and thematic ambition. The cycle of vengeance spanning three generations from Agamemnon’s murder through Orestes’ torment to the ultimate resolution creates an epic meditation on justice, consequence, and the possibility of breaking cycles of violence.
Prometheus Bound
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Tyranny vs. Justice (Zeus’s rule vs. Prometheus’s moral rebellion) and Suffering and Endurance are central themes of this play, which made me appreciate it.
The Last Question
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Asimov’s novella is a stunning example of idea-driven science fiction executed with remarkable economy. The story follows a single question posed across different time periods to increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligences, creating a narrative that spans millennia.
Oedipus Rex (The Theban Plays, #1)
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Sophocles achieves something remarkable: a play whose tragic inevitability is so perfectly crafted that it remains gripping even when you know the outcome. Oedipus Rex is the gold standard of dramatic tragedy, a masterpiece of structure, irony, and human insight.
Antigone (Theban Plays, #3)
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Sophocles presents perhaps the most compelling meditation on the conflict between personal conscience and state authority. Antigone’s defiance of Creon’s decree becomes a timeless symbol of individual moral conviction standing against institutional power.
Hippolytos
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Euripides crafts a tragedy rooted in the collision between human passion and rigid virtue. The story of Phaedra’s forbidden desire and Hippolytus’s austere devotion creates an emotionally charged exploration of desire, shame, and the often-arbitrary nature of moral judgment.
The Bacchae
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Euripides’ final play is a haunting examination of religious fervor, the consequences of denying divine power, and the terrifying price of transgression. The story of King Pentheus and his fatal encounter with Dionysus operates on multiple levels as myth, as psychological exploration, and as a warning about the dangers of excess and denial.
The Frogs
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Aristophanes delivers comedy that is simultaneously hilarious and intellectually substantive. The absurdist premise Dionysus traveling to the underworld to retrieve a dead playwright serves as a vehicle for sharp social commentary on Athenian culture, theater, and the decline of intellectual standards.
The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
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Tolkien’s opening to his epic trilogy masterfully establishes a fully realized world while grounding the story in intimate, personal relationships. The journey from the Shire to Rivendell is more than mere scenery it’s a bildungsroman in which Frodo transforms from a sheltered hobbit into someone capable of bearing impossible responsibility.
Valve: Handbook for New Employees
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This deceptively slim handbook encapsulates a radical approach to organizational culture and management that stands in stark contrast to conventional corporate hierarchy. Valve’s flat organizational structure, empowered decision-making, and trust-based culture offer a compelling vision of how creative work can flourish.
Letters and Treatises of Cicero and Pliny
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These letters offer an unfiltered window into the minds and daily lives of two brilliant figures from Rome’s classical period. Cicero’s correspondence reveals a master of language wrestling with political turmoil, ambition, and the preservation of the Republic. His prose is elegant even in personal correspondence.
An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
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The Wealth of Nations is undeniably important, but for me it’s a 2/5. The ideas are powerful; the reading experience is not. It’s dense, repetitive, and often a chore to get through.
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
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The middle chapter of Tolkien’s trilogy strikes a masterful balance between expanding scope and maintaining narrative tension. The fellowship’s fracturing forces different characters to face their individual challenges, creating multiple compelling storylines that interweave seamlessly.
The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)
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The final chapter of Tolkien’s epic trilogy delivers an ending that feels both grand and intimate. The return of the king, the fall of Sauron, and the ultimate fate of the Ring are handled with careful attention to the emotional weight these moments carry.
Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits and Other Writings
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Fisher’s seminal work on growth stock investing remains remarkably relevant decades after publication. His “scuttlebutt” method gathering intelligence directly from customers, competitors, and industry insiders provides a refreshingly practical approach to fundamental analysis that cuts through noise.
Conservative Investors Sleep Well
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Fisher delivers pragmatic wisdom on risk management and the psychology of conservative investing. This book speaks directly to investors who understand that the best investment returns come not from heroic bets but from disciplined, thoughtful decision-making paired with careful risk assessment.
Developing an Investment Philosophy
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Fisher’s work on investment philosophy provides a solid foundation for thinking systematically about investments. The core ideas are valuable and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to move beyond formulaic approaches and develop genuine conviction in their investment decisions.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
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Mark Twain captures the essence of boyhood adventure with a timeless charm that still resonates today. Tom Sawyer is the embodiment of youthful mischief and clever ingenuity a boy who turns the ordinary into the extraordinary through imagination and wit.
The Origin of Species
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Hard book to review. On the Origin of Species often reads like Charles Darwin presenting possibilities rather than firm conclusions. He frequently admits uncertainty and notes the lack of definitive proof. His arguments rely largely on observation and personal reasoning, which sometimes makes the justification feel weak.
Napoleon: A Life
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Incredible life. One of the most powerful energies ever shaped in human form. Even a book of nearly 1,000 pages cannot fully capture the depth and richness he deserved. In fact, entire volumes have been written about just a few months of his life at a time.
The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives
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The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives collects Plutarch’s biographies of some of the most influential figures in Athenian history, tracing the city’s ascent from its early leaders to the statesmen and generals who shaped—and ultimately weakened—its power. Blending historical narrative with moral reflection, the work offers a compelling portrait of classical Greece through the lives of remarkable individuals.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is Mark Twain’s classic novel of adventure, friendship, and moral growth. Following Huck and the escaped enslaved man Jim as they journey down the Mississippi River, the story blends humor, satire, and social criticism into one of the most influential works of American literature.
Leadership in War: Essential Lessons from Those Who Made History
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In Leadership in War: Essential Lessons from Those Who Made History, Andrew Roberts examines the decisions, strengths, and shortcomings of some of the twentieth century’s most consequential wartime leaders. Drawing on well-known historical episodes, he explores how character, judgment, communication, and resolve shaped the course of major conflicts.
The Aeneid
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The Aeneid is Virgil’s enduring epic of duty, destiny, and the founding of Rome. Following the Trojan hero Aeneas on his journey across the Mediterranean, the poem combines stirring adventure with profound reflections on sacrifice, leadership, and the tension between personal desire and public responsibility.
Dom Quixote de La Mancha
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Only read part 1. The contrast between idealism and realism. I also liked quite a lot the story about being a christian captive in muslim Istanbul and Maghreb.
The Pilgrim’s Progress
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The Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the most influential works of Christian literature ever written. If I am not mistaken is the first usage of “Christian allegory”. The allegorical journey of its protagonist, Christian, John Bunyan explores themes of faith, perseverance, temptation, and redemption in a way that has resonated with readers for centuries.
Um Grande Projeto Nacional
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Um Grande Projeto Nacional presents Enéas Carneiro’s vision for Brazil’s economic development, national sovereignty, and industrial policy. Written in his direct and uncompromising style, the book argues for a stronger state role in strategic sectors, investment in science and technology, and the pursuit of greater national independence. Really formative.
Lives of Donne and Herbert
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Walton’s prose is elegant and often charming, offering valuable insight into the religious and cultural world of early modern England. However, modern readers may find that the biographies lean more toward reverent portraiture than critical scholarship. The pacing can feel slow, and some anecdotes are included more for their moral or spiritual significance than their historical reliability.
Harassment Architecture
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Boring, loser rambling. It reads like a 14-year-old trying to sound profound and arrogant at the same time. The ideas lack depth, the observations feel shallow. I came in expecting to find some genuinely interesting ideas, but I left wondering why anyone likes this book. The fact that this guy now works for Praxis makes it even funnier. I guess the Freedom Cities he dreams of retreating to after helping wreck everything else will be just as dull and self-important as his writing. Only an American could think like this.
poems
Sol de outubro
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Ó sol de outubro, que paz me dás?
Ti Vinhado - Uma Canção
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Dois homens bons juraram fé,
We were born
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We were born too late for the star-thick night,
for the river of heaven, cold and bright,
for the wolf on the ridge and the owl in flight,
for the whole black bowl of the world alight.