I finally had to write about the two "big boys" in Plutarch's LIVES, Alexander and Caesar. Check out my take on Plutarch's take and why I think you can, arguably, sum up most of Ancient Greek and Roman military theory with those two, for better or for worse. josephstoltz.com/2025/11/14/a...

I finally had to write about the two "big boys" in Plutarch's LIVES, Alexander and Caesar. Check out my take on Plutarch's take and why I think you can, arguably, sum up most of Ancient Greek and Roman military theory with those two, for better or for worse. josephstoltz.com/2025/11/14/a...

Too much internal discord and civil war are a waste of resources that often lead to unexpected outcomes. Just ask Agesilaus and Pompey, in my latest examination of Plutarch's LIVES.

Were Alexander and Caesar really good or did they just have resource advantages? Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.

Were Alexander and Caesar really good or did they just have resource advantages? Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.

Check out the latest WETA @pbs.org documentary, where I discuss living history public programing and what many groups are doing to get ready for the United States' 250th.

Just because a system has been working for you doesn't mean it will always work. The lives of Nicias and Crassus are a cautionary example of imperial overreach and fighting the war you want, not the war you have.

Just because a system has been working for you doesn't mean it will always work. The lives of Nicias and Crassus are a cautionary example of imperial overreach and fighting the war you want, not the war you have.

Cimon and Lucullus were both skilled military leaders that also saw how external conflicts could boomerang into domestic politics. Both sought to ameliorate those effects. Check out more in my latest blog post about Plutarch's LIVES!

Finally back from the Bahamas! Time to start looking for a “permanent” job again. If you know of anything, hit me up!

Why is this an option, JetBlue?! 😂

My book about the War of 1812’s Gulf Theatre is being rereleased by @casematepublishers.bsky.social, with even more content, this spring! Preorder it here!

Lysander and Sulla were toxic leaders. However good of a job they did as battlefield or operational commanders, they failed to understand or honor the civil constitutions they served. Fueled by self-aggrandizement and personal grievances, they brought about the downfalls of their countries.

Lysander and Sulla were toxic leaders. However good of a job they did as battlefield or operational commanders, they failed to understand or honor the civil constitutions they served. Fueled by self-aggrandizement and personal grievances, they brought about the downfalls of their countries.

Creole-style gumbo. ⚜️

Leaders should be working towards some sort of realistic conceptual framework of victory. In the cause of Pyrrhus and Marius, we find military leaders who often fought battles simply for the sake of fighting battles, not using those events to build towards some sort of articulated end state.

Why did many Greeks find the Roman Flaminius to be more of a "Liberator of Greece" than the Greek Philopoemen? Find out by reading my latest notes on Plutarch's LIVES, and, hint, it wasn't because on of them has a way easier name to spell!

Why did many Greeks find the Roman Flaminius to be more of a "Liberator of Greece" than the Greek Philopoemen? Find out by reading my latest notes on Plutarch's LIVES, and, hint, it wasn't because on of them has a way easier name to spell!

Plutarch's LIVES provides powerful examples of the importance of virtuous civil and military leaders in his biographies of Aristides and Marcus Cato (Cato the Elder).

Senior leaders' jobs are to do senior leaders' jobs, not their subordinates. Plutarch's biographies of Pelopidas and Marcellus are examples of what happens when senior leaders don't understand they need to act at their level of leadership.

Last night’s project: maple and balsamic glazed chicken on a bed of caremelized apples and autumnal root vegetables.

Plutarch's LIVES doesn't just promote military victors. It critiques leaders who lacked virtue. With Timoleon and Aemilius Paulus, we see his ideal military and political leaders: people who understood that if you're profiting from the public service, it's not a service to the public.

Plutarch's LIVES doesn't just promote military victors. It critiques leaders who lacked virtue. With Timoleon and Aemilius Paulus, we see his ideal military and political leaders: people who understood that if you're profiting from the public service, it's not a service to the public.

#Habs win !

America didn’t win WWII through “inferior tech," it won through organization, integration, and strategy, as well as the myth that Nazi Germany’s “exquisite” weapons outclassed the Allies, and critiques how the media keeps misusing history to sound profound. My latest⬇️

Concerns about military deference to governmental authority is nothing new. In my latest post exploring Plutarch's LIVES, I explore the biographies of Alcibiades and Coriolanus.

Concerns about military deference to governmental authority is nothing new. In my latest post exploring Plutarch's LIVES, I explore the biographies of Alcibiades and Coriolanus.

Finally got to cook in the new Connecticut apartment, so New England clam chowder seemed like the appropriate dish to kick things off with! 

First post in a few months because I was settling into the new job, but the books are unpacked and the work continues! Check out my take on Plutarch's biographies of Pericles and Fabius!

Happy new hockey season to all who celebrate! Bonne nouvelle saison de hockey à tous ceux qui la célèbrent !

How were there so many books to move?! 😭😂

You: You’re an adult now, spend your money responsibly Me: Hockey jerseys for dogs!

Y’all, I’m not sure the Saints are gonna make it to the playoffs this year….

The leather bound book collection seems like a good idea until you have to pack them up to move 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

I am thrilled to announce I will be taking a nine month Digital Humanities Postdoctoral Researcher position at @wesleyanuniversity.bsky.social’s Center for the Study of Guns and Society. I’m very excited for this next chapter and the folks with Wesleyan have been amazingly welcoming already.

I am thrilled to announce I will be taking a nine month Digital Humanities Postdoctoral Researcher position at @wesleyanuniversity.bsky.social’s Center for the Study of Guns and Society. I’m very excited for this next chapter and the folks with Wesleyan have been amazingly welcoming already.

So so close to being able to being able to know for sure, and share, what the next step is…

I miiiiiiiiiight have gone down a military history of France rabbit hole….

Korean night success. Spicy pork bulgogi on the left, beef bulgogi on the right.

I’m going to be offline for a few days camping and thinking through a big decision. Enjoy my latest Substack, while I prepare a big announcement!

Happy NFL season to all who celebrate !

My latest piece on Substack explores Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War and what a 2,400-year-old Athenian can teach us about leadership and strategy today.

How do you use an enemy's strength against them? Check out my latest blog post on the "Lives" of Themistocles and Camillus to find out!

In my examination of the "Lives" of Solon and Poplicola, I explore how vast disparities in wealth distribution disrupt social cohesion and cause democracies and republics to seek easy answers in the form of tyrants.

(Re)reading through Plutarch. So much early Spartan, Athenian, and Roman government was focused on wealth redistribution and ameliorating class discord. Fascinating that that isn’t discussed more 🙃🙃🙃 “The Spartans? Oh they’re push-up pounding WaRrIoRs! Pay no attention to their economic policy!”

Lycurgus and Numa were essential to establishing the equitable economies of early Sparta and Rome. Part two of my series exploring Plutarch's lives examines the early Roman and Spartan leaders and how they built unity amongst their people.

Do you need help founding a city or a limited democracy/republic? Then check out my first blog post on Plutarch's Lives as I explore Theseus and Romulus, the "founders" of Athens and Rome!

I regret to inform you that, for the remainder of the evening, this will be an #LSU and #CFMontreal account. Et peut-être francophone aussi.