Episode · Modern Wisdom · 2026-04-16

Chris Williamson & Alex Petkas: books mentioned on Modern Wisdom #1085

The Rise of History’s Greatest Emperor: An Untold Story - Alex Petkas - #1085

2 books · With Alex Petkas · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Alex Petkas is a historian, writer, and podcaster. What can one of history's greatest empires, and its most notorious leaders, teach us about the modern world?

Alex Petkas recommended On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life by Friedrich Nietzsche, and discussed Cyropaedia.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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1. 

   On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life

   Friedrich Nietzsche · at 0:25

   On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life by Friedrich Nietzsche is a philosophical essay exploring how the study of history can either nourish human vitality or paralyze action through excessive academic overload.

   Recommended

   “But it a friend of mine a few months in recommended that I read this book by Nietzsche. One of his early books that and I'd read some Nietzsche before. It's called On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life.”

   Alex Petkas The Rise of History’s Greatest Emperor: An Untold Story - Alex Petkas … 2026-04-16 Listen at 0:25

   Where to get it

   AmazonListen on Audible
2. 

   Cyropaedia

   Xenophon · at 1:36:42

   Discussed

   “Somebody brings up the example of Cyrus the Great, the great king of Persia who founded the Persian Empire. Um Xenophon says, doesn't he that Cyrus made all these arrangements before his death that he wanted to be buried in this way and this should happen and so forth after he was um after he was gone. And of course”

   Alex Petkas The Rise of History’s Greatest Emperor: An Untold Story - Alex Petkas … 2026-04-16 Listen at 1:36:42

   Where to get it

   AmazonListen on Audible