In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Auron MacIntyre to explore Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, one of history’s most influential, and misunderstood, works on power.

Together they examine the turbulent world of Renaissance Italy, Machiavelli’s firsthand experience with politics, and his famous ideas about fear, fortune, virtue, and leadership.

They also explore Machiavelli’s fascination with Cesare Borgia, whom he personally observed during his dramatic rise to power.

Is The Prince a cynical handbook for rulers, or an honest examination of politics as it actually works?

A conversation about power, leadership, and human nature.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Dr. Alex Petkas for an exploration of Homer’s The Odyssey, one of the foundational works of Western literature.

Together they journey through Odysseus’ epic voyage home, examining the poem’s timeless themes of courage, perseverance, identity, and the longing for home.

Dr. Petkas provides insight into Homer’s world, the oral tradition that preserved the epic, and the enduring wisdom behind one of history’s greatest stories.

A compelling conversation on heroism, human nature, and why The Odyssey continues to captivate readers nearly three thousand years after it was composed.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Dr. Joshua Phillips for a thoughtful exploration of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.

Together they examine Hemingway’s timeless story of Santiago, an aging fisherman whose struggle with a great marlin becomes a profound meditation on perseverance, dignity, and the meaning of true success.

Dr. Phillips unpacks Hemingway’s understated prose, rich symbolism, and enduring philosophy, revealing why this Pulitzer Prize-winning novella continues to inspire readers around the world.

A compelling conversation on resilience, purpose, and the quiet strength of the human spirit.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson for a deep discussion of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, one of the greatest novels ever written.

Together they explore the book’s profound questions about faith, doubt, freedom, suffering, and the search for truth.

From the unforgettable parable of the Grand Inquisitor to the complex relationships between the Karamazov brothers, Dr. Wilson reveals why Dostoevsky’s masterpiece remains as relevant today as when it was first published.

A rich conversation on morality, human nature, and the enduring struggle between belief and skepticism.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate sits down with author Johann Kurtz to discuss his book, Leaving a Legacy.

Together they explore what it means to build a life that matters, examining themes of purpose, responsibility, family, leadership, and the impact we leave on future generations.

Kurtz shares the experiences and ideas that inspired the book, offering practical wisdom on living with intention in an age often focused on short-term success and personal achievement.

This conversation challenges listeners to think beyond accomplishment and consider the deeper question: what kind of legacy are we creating every day?

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Liza Libes for a deep exploration of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.

Together they examine the psychological, philosophical, and spiritual dimensions of one of literature’s greatest novels, following the tortured journey of Rodion Raskolnikov as he wrestles with guilt, morality, and redemption.

Libes unpacks Dostoevsky’s critique of radical individualism and his profound understanding of the human soul, revealing why the novel remains as relevant today as when it was first published.

A compelling conversation on conscience, suffering, justice, and what it truly means to be human.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Fr. Calvin Robinson for a deep exploration of The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis.

Together they examine the trilogy’s powerful themes of morality, spiritual warfare, technology, and the struggle between the sacred and the modern world.

From Out of the Silent Planet to That Hideous Strength, Lewis uses science fiction to confront timeless questions about human nature, power, and truth.

Fr. Robinson offers insight into why the trilogy remains strikingly relevant today—and what modern readers can learn from Lewis’ cosmic vision of good and evil.

In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate is joined by Jeremy Tate for a reflective discussion on Willa Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop.

Together they explore the novel’s quiet power, following Bishop Latour’s mission in the American Southwest and the deeper themes of faith, friendship, and vocation that shape his journey.

Tate offers insight into Cather’s restrained style and her vision of spiritual life lived through daily devotion rather than dramatic events.

This conversation reveals why this understated classic continues to resonate, offering timeless lessons on purpose, leadership, and building something that endures.