Uncommon Knowledge

The Storm of War

This week on Uncommon Knowledge historian Andrew Roberts discusses, with Hoover research fellow Peter Robinson, his book The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War. In the book, Roberts investigates what led up to the war, the historical factors responsible for Hitler's rise to power, Hitler's shortcomings as a military leader, Nazi Germany's defeat, and Allied contributions to the victory. (Playing time: 38:15)

Government, Economic Growth, and Speculative Investing with Peter Thiel

In this Uncommon Knowledge interview from November 24, 2008, Thiel argues that a book published in France in 1968, Le Defi Americain (The American Challenge), has a lot to say to us in 2008, including why the United States has failed to rise to the heights predicted by its author, J. J. Servan-Schreiber. In explaining what’s wrong with the US economy, Thiel points out that, although we have benefited from growth that is both extensive (e.g., free trade) and intensive (e.g., technology), we have not featured enough of each. He asserts that the credit crisis of 2008 had nothing to do with the failings of the free market but rather is a by-product of government entanglement, nurtured by the motors of economic growth, working less well than expected. (Playing time: 38:56)

James Delingpole: Great Britain, the Green Movement, and the End of the World

This week on Uncommon Knowledge columnist James Delingpole discusses, with Hoover research fellow Peter Robinson, the European Union, the Green movement, and socialized medicine. (Playing time: 47:41)

Journalism with Gerard Baker & Andrew Ferguson

Gerard Baker is deputy editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones. From 2002 to 2004 he was the Chief U.S. Commentator and an Associate Editor for the Financial Times. A speechwriter for Pres. George H. W. Bush, Andrew Ferguson is a senior editor at The Weekly Standard. His most recent book is Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course at Getting His Kids into College. (Playing time: Duration not specified)

The Constitution with Paul Rahe

Paul Rahe holds the Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee Chair in Western Heritage at Hillsdale College. He is the author most recently of Soft Despotism, Democracy's Drift. (Playing time: Duration not specified)

Political Culture with Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell has studied and taught economics, intellectual history, and social policy at institutions that include Cornell, UCLA, and Amherst. Now a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Sowell has published more than a dozen books. His most recent book is The Thomas Sowell Reader. (Playing time: Duration not specified)

Larry Arnn and Our Founding Documents

Larry Arnn earned his graduate and doctorate in Government from the Claremont Graduate School. Dr. Arnn is the founder and former president of the Claremont Institute. He is the current president at Hillsdale College. (Playing time: Duration not specified)

Paul Ryan on Health Care

Paul Ryan, a native of Janesville, Wisconsin, is the chairman of the House Budget Committee and representative of the 1st congressional district of Wisconsin since 1999. (Playing time: Duration not specified)

Science & Religion with David Berlinski

Dr. David Berlinski is the author of 1,2,3: Absolutely Elementary Mathematics and The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions. (Playing time: Duration not specified)

Political Quotients with Tim Groseclose

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