Paul D. WilkeRalph Waldo Emerson's Advice on Reading and WritingEmerson's sage advice on reading, writing, and creating too.
Paul D. WilkeOpposing Slavery in Early America: The Story of Thomas Jefferson And Edward Coles A look at the contrast between Thomas Jefferson's approach to slavery and that of Edward Coles. Coles did better. Jefferson did not.
Paul D. WilkeTwisted Homily An inspirational poem on all the beauty in the world and how we must thank God for such perfection. Yes, indeed...
Paul D. WilkeJosé Ortega y Gasset's "The Revolt of the Masses" a Century LaterA look at Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset's thoughts on how modernity created the mass-mind and what that means for us today.
Paul D. WilkeThucydides, the Melian Dialogue, and Keeping the (Russian) Jungle at BayI look at Thucydides' Melian Dialogue from the Peloponnesian War and how it still matters today.
Paul D. WilkePhilosophical Themes from Vasily Grossman's Life and Fate A look at Vasily Grossman's epic masterpiece "Life and Fate" and some of the themes that made it unpublishable in the Soviet Union.
Paul D. WilkeThe Daydream AssassinsPoem for the daydream believers, or how the world loathes those who don't plug in, pay their attention taxes, and aren't "practical" enough.
Paul D. WilkeMaturity A poem on maturity, idealism (or the death of it, anyway), and how we kill our souls long before our bodies kill us.
Paul D. WilkeAn Introduction to the Byzantine Emperor HeracliusByzantine emperor Heraclius's life was filled with both triumph and tragedy, victories and defeats. I look at the life of a fascinating man.
Paul D. WilkeThe Incestuous Origins of Myrrh as Told in Ovid’s MetamorphosesThe three magi brought Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But what is myrrh? And what is the ancient incest myth behind it? I take a look.