This blog post delves into the strategies, tactics, strengths, and weaknesses of three ancient military titans: Hannibal Barca, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar. It provides a comparative analysis of their leadership styles, logistical approaches, and key battles (Cannae, Gaugamela, and Alesia, respectively)….

his piece argues that establishing and adhering to high standards, both personally and professionally, is crucial for achieving excellence. Drawing on Stoic philosophy, military strategy, and real-world examples (like Henry Kissinger and Bill Belichick), it highlights how our environment shapes us and how accepting….

This newsletter explores the timeless art of deception in warfare and daily life, drawing on historical military strategies and psychological principles. It illustrates how controlling perception, blending fact with fiction, and manipulating appearances are vital for gaining an advantage. The text details six core deceptive…..

This piece delves into the often-neglected but critical importance of planning one’s exit from any endeavour, be it military, social, or commercial. Drawing parallels between strategic thinking and interpersonal interactions, it argues that successful endings are less about stopping and more about smooth transitions…..

This piece dives into the critical relationship between self-accountability, self-knowledge, self-control, and self-confidence, framing them not as abstract concepts but as essential tools for navigating the challenges of modern life. Drawing on real-world examples like leaving a secure job and resisting social pressure…..

This post underscores the critical importance of mastering the art of ending endeavours well. A messy or incomplete conclusion, in any sphere from conflict to relationships, can cause enduring damage and ruin reputations. The core of this wisdom lies in knowing when and how to stop, avoiding overextension that…..

An Oxford expert explores the uncomfortable reality of Machiavellian principles in warfare and strategy, examining historical figures and contemporary examples where pragmatic, often ruthless, tactics have been employed to acquire and maintain power, while also acknowledging the ethical complexities and potential pitfalls of such an approach.

His piece delves into authentic self-confidence, not the brittle facade of ego, but the strength to confront reality and admit imperfections. It highlights how past resilience, inner dialogue, and a focus on outcome over personal validation build genuine confidence that weathers challenges and allows us to adapt, learn, and ultimately, succeed.

This explores the counterintuitive yet highly effective strategy of “Negotiate While Advancing,” treating negotiation not as a separate peaceful realm but as a continuation of conflict. By maintaining pressure and projecting strength, even when weak, you can dictate terms and secure your interests, much like a warrior manoeuvres on the battlefield.

Feeling adrift at 40? This article applies the strategic wisdom of Sun Tzu and Clausewitz to navigate the challenges of mid-life stagnation. While Sun Tzu offers subtle manoeuvring tactics, Clausewitz’s realism on “friction” and uncertainty provides a more potent framework for confronting life’s inherent difficulties…..

This blog post, aimed at men aged 40+, draws on insights from philosophy and military strategy to address feelings of stagnation and lack of direction in midlife. It argues that self-control, the ability to manage emotions rather than being controlled by them, is key to navigating this period. Using metaphors of a ship at sea and battlefield tactics, it emphasises that true success comes not from constant excitement but from disciplined persistence and the conscious choice to steer one’s own course despite emotional turbulence.

A blunt takedown of Renaud Camus’s venomous “Great Replacement” theory, exposing its core claims, its spread across Europe and beyond, and its dangerous ties to conspiracy, xenophobia, and real-world violence. It argues the theory is baseless, a twisted interpretation of complex demographic shifts, and a dangerous tool for extremists.

Feeling stuck and directionless in your 40s? Stop fighting head-on battles against mid-life stagnation – that’s attrition warfare and it’s a waste of energy. Instead, embrace the ancient art of manoeuvre. This newsletter explores how strategic positioning, flexible planning, creating dilemmas, and calculated disorder can help you navigate challenges with ease, leading to renewed purpose and “easy victories” by outsmarting the predictable forces holding you back. It’s time to be smarter, not just tougher.

This excerpt presents a hypothetical defence or “nuclear answer” to the question of the good aspects of being white or the positive contributions of the West. It argues that Western civilisation has disproportionately gifted the world with advancements in medicine, science, education, commerce (capitalism), and political principles like representative government, liberty, and civil rights. The text contrasts Western curiosity about other cultures with the lack of similar interest elsewhere throughout history. It highlights the global desire to migrate to Western countries as evidence of their success and appeal. Finally, it asserts that Western culture is uniquely self-critical, tolerant of dissent, and open to allowing individuals of immigrant background to rise to the highest levels of political power, a phenomenon it claims is not reciprocated in non-Western nations.

This article uses the lens of modern military strategy to help men over 40 navigate feelings of stagnation and find renewed purpose. Drawing parallels between evolving warfare tactics (hybrid, information, cyber) and the challenges of middle age, it provides a frank and actionable framework for conducting a personal strategic review and launching a multi-pronged "offensive" against inertia, focusing on mental, physical, and emotional "logistics."

Feeling stuck at forty? This isn't the end game, but a critical phase for strategic repositioning. Learn to conduct a brutal self-assessment, identifying your strengths and vulnerabilities, just like a military strategist. Honest self-knowledge, including admitting what you don't know, is the key to overcoming inertia and launching a renewed offensive in life. Stop operating on default and take command of your next chapter.

Drawing parallels between the Zulu war strategy of envelopment and the challenges of middle-aged stagnation, this piece argues that feeling trapped and lacking options is a form of psychological encirclement. The key to overcoming this inertia is to proactively apply a similar strategy in reverse: scouting for hidden opportunities, using your strengths to expand your reach, keeping major ambitions in reserve for strategic impact, and ultimately, creating a new framework to break free from the predictable pattern. By constantly probing, challenging the status quo, and making "stagnation" feel surrounded, one can reclaim a sense of possibility and defeat the psychological grip of being stuck.

Drawing parallels from the historical strategies of Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill in the face of Nazi Germany, this piece challenges men in their 40s and 50s to confront midlife stagnation not with passive appeasement, but with active rearmament and defiance. It argues that avoiding discomfort and difficulty in life, much like Chamberlain's policy of appeasement, ultimately emboldens the "threats" of dissatisfaction and unrealised potential, leading to decline. Instead, it advocates for a Churchillian approach: facing reality, investing in personal "rearmament" (skills, health, purpose), setting boundaries, and finding one's voice to fight for a more fulfilling future.

This piece tackles the common experience of facing stagnation in middle age (40+), arguing that a key to overcoming it lies in embracing radical self-accountability. It draws on principles of personal responsibility, highlighting how blaming external factors and succumbing to a victim mentality prevents progress. The core message is that while you can't control every circumstance, you always control your response, and focusing on this empowers you to find solutions and move forward.

Written from the perspective of an Oxford professor and military strategist, applies the principle of attacking the 'soft flank' from military history to the challenges faced by men in their 40s and beyond who feel stuck or stagnant. It argues against direct, frontal assaults on life's problems and relationships, which often lead to increased resistance and exhaustion. Instead, it advocates for indirect approaches like strategic kindness, subtle manoeuvres, and identifying ignored passions or new angles to disrupt predictability and achieve lasting results.