451 NOW

In this timely discussion on Philosophy and Theology with Dr. William Lane Craig, we address these questions and more. Is there a God? What evidence do we have of God's existence? What is the best argument for the existence of God? Who are the best atheist debaters? What does Dr. Craig think of the New Atheist? What books can we read to learn more? Dr. Craig is an American analytic philosopher, Christian apologist, author, and Wesleyan theologian who upholds the view of Molinism and has authored a virtue library of books. This is a reupload of an early interview we had with Dr. Craig, while the host, Ben Crockett, was still in High School. Our Links: https://www.451now.com/links His Links: reasonablefaith.org

In this timely discussion on Russia's Invasion of Ukraine with Dr. Stephen Kotkin, we address these questions and more. What rationale propelled Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine? What insights can we glean about Putin's war on Ukraine from the life and legacy of Joseph Stalin? How does the war end? What does peace in Ukraine look like? What books can we read to learn more? Dr. Kotkin is the Kleinheinz Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institute. For more than 30 years, he taught at Princeton University. He is best known for his work on Russian and Soviet history. And most recently, Dr. Kotkin has completed two volumes of a planned three volume history of Joseph Stalin. His books can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stephen-Kotkin/author/B001HCXRAU?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Unfortunately, we experienced technical difficulties while recording this podcast. Apologies for the sound quality.

In this timely discussion on "The Myth of American Inequality" with U.S Senator Phil Gramm, we address these questions and more. What is economic inequality? What is the state of economic inequality in the U.S today? How do statistics influence the policy debate? Do we live in a unequal society? What's wrong with how we approach poverty and wealth? What solutions should policymakers implement to overcome inequality? What books can we read to learn more? Sen. Phil Gramm served six years in the US House of Representatives and eighteen years in the US Senate where he was Chairman of the Banking Committee. Gramm is a Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He was Vice Chairman of UBS Investment Bank and is now Vice Chairman of Lone Star Funds. He taught Economics at Texas A&M University and has published numerous articles and books. Buy His Book: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-American-Inequality-Government-Biases/dp/1538167387  Our Links: https://www.451now.com/links

In this wide ranging discussion with Will Witt, we examine his new book "How to Win Friends" through the following questions. Why are Americans polarized? What techniques can we use to have honest conversations about policy issues? Where are the limits on free speech? How do we fight political apathy? What books should young liberals and conservatives read? Will Witt, a Colorado native, attended the University of Colorado Boulder for two years before he dropped out, a decision he made based on the relentless indoctrination the universities in America constantly push. Before working for PragerU, he worked with other nonprofits to help spread the values of freedom and conservatism across America. Will Witt now creates online content for PragerU, is a National Bestselling Author, the host of Will & Amala Live, and has hosted and helped direct two short documentaries. Our Links: https://www.451now.com/links His Links:  Buy His Book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-Enemies/dp/1546000240 Website: https://www.prageru.com/presenters/will-witt Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewillwitt   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewillwitt/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewillwitt/

In this conversation with Andrew Klavan, we investigate his book "The Great Good Thing" through several questions. How did Andrew Klavan convert from Judaism to Christianity? How to have an honest conversation about mental health? What does a Christian life look like? Does God exist? And if so, how do we know God is real? What books should read to learn more? Andrew Klavan has been nominated for the Mystery Writer of America's Edgar award five times and won twice. He is the author of several bestselling novels, including Don't Say A Word, filmed starring Michael Douglas, True Crime, filmed by Clint Eastwood, and Empire of Lies. He is currently writing a series of thrillers for young adults called The Homelanders. The first two novels in the series are The Last Thing I Remember and The Long Way Home. Klavan is a contributing editor to City Journal and his essays have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, among other places. His satiric video commentaries can be seen on PJTV.com. Our Links: https://www.451now.com/links   His Links:   Buy His Book: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Good-Thing-Secular-Christ/dp/153183180X Website: https://www.andrewklavan.com/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewklavan   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aklavan   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theandrewklavan/  

In this interview, we ask Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist George F. Will probing questions on his book "American Happiness and Discontents." Should men wear blue jeans? What does the future of American conservatism look like? What is conservatism? How do you write award winning columns? What's wrong with the right... and left? How free is free speech? What books should our audience read to learn more? George F. Will writes a twice-weekly syndicated column on politics and domestic and foreign affairs for the Washington Post. He began his column with the Post in 1974, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977. His fifteen previous books include The Conservative Sensibility, One Man's America, Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball, and Statecraft as Soulcraft. Will grew up in Champaign, Illinois, attended Trinity College and Oxford University, and received a Ph.D. from Princeton. Our Links: https://www.451now.com/links His Links: Buy His Book: https://www.amazon.com/American-Happiness-Discontents-Torrent-2008-2020/dp/0306924412 Twitter: https://twitter.com/georgewill Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgewill   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgefwill/   The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/george-f-will/

In this podcast, we explore the "America's Revolutionary Mind" with preeminent history Dr. C. Bradley Thompson. Why did the colonist revolt? How did slavery factor into the American Founding? What was the framers conception of Natural Rights? Were we founded as a Christian nation? How do you view Nikole Hannah-Jones's 1619 project? What books should are listeners read? Dr. Bradley Thompson is a Professor of Political Science at Clemson University, where he teaches political philosophy. He is also the Executive Director of the Clemson Institute for the Study Capitalism and the founder of the Lyceum Scholars Program. Our Links: https://www.451now.com/links His Links: Substack: https://cbradleythompson.substack.com/ Blog: EdWatchDaily.com Personal webpage: http://cbradleythompson.com/ Buy his Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/164177066X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_6CAJ98P55F7TP3NF1Y61

In this wide ranging interview with Dennis Prager, we discuss his book "Still the Best Hope" through several key questions. What is conservativism? What makes America different? Are we exceptional? Who is winning the policy debate? How should young people impact the issues that matter to them? What books should are listeners read? Dennis Prager is a New York Time's Best selling author, American conservative radio talk show host and columnist. He is the host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show The Dennis Prager Show. As well as the co-founder of PragerU. Our Links: www.451now.com/links Buy his Book: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Best-Hope-American-Triumph/dp/0061985139

451 NOW is a new podcast launching in January with the goal of encouraging deep reading of both modern and classic works. It features book based interviews with their respective authors. Thomas Jefferson once (allegedly) wrote “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics less than 19% of Americans age 15 and older reported reading for pleasure. 33% of high school graduates never read another book. 42% of college students stop reading books after graduation. Some have told us that reading is a hobby of the elite from an era long bygone. They have said, “ it’s a lost cause”. In Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Jefferson Smith played by James Stewart quips “I guess this is just another lost cause… (but) they are the only causes worth fighting for”. With that in mind, we created 451 NOW. Not because we believe that the government will, like in Fahrenheit 451, hire firemen to burn books, rather it seems that people have stopped consuming them on their own. Through this podcast, we hope of creating that educated citizenry that Thomas Jefferson spoke of. A few guiding quotations: "If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." - Ray Bradbury “The pen is mightier than the sword” - Edward Bulwer-Lytton Some of the Guests for Season 1: Dennis Prager, Peter Hitchens, Andrew Klavan, Will Witt, and More.