Pantheon: Adventures in History, Biography, and the Mind

As soon as I heard Quintus Curtius was writing a 2nd book, I anxiously awaited its release, and a few hours after it was available on Amazon I was devouring it on my Kindle.Pantheon delves into the lives of some of the most brilliant and daring men throughout history. He recreates their lives through engaging, narrative essays that have the perfect blend of excitement and erudition.One of the things that makes Pantheon so unique is that it stands alone as a work of a true scholar in our modern world. Most books on the subject of masculinity repeat empty platitudes for 200 pages trying to hype up the reader; Pantheon does a more effective job without even trying!This book is reminiscent of something a scholar would have created centuries ago and doesn’t resemble the books of the past 50 years; and that was his goal.Our modern society, with its abundance of material comforts and unrelenting smugness, has exchanged masculine conviction and strength for a weak-kneed relativism, in which everything is so perfectly balanced out that we are left paralyzed with inaction.”Just reading the Prologue got my heart pumping. You must read it yourself, but it explores the desperate attempts of British archeologist Howard Carter to discover the lost tomb of King Tut. All hope seems lost after his prolonged and frantic searching, and just as time is running down he reaps the fruits of his labor.You failed and failed, and then, after agonizing labor in fits and starts, you won. He knew what the elements of success were: unerring faith in one’s own ability, the backing of a dedicated person, and a sustained period of grueling labor. These were the ingredients of victory.”One of my favorite essays from Pantheon was the ‘Ghost of Christopher Hitchens’. I am a Hitchens fan myself (See my review of Arguably), and it was interesting to see Quintus devise this scenario.Essentially QC and Hitchens get into a debate on the virtues (or lack thereof) of religion. Quintus argues that:…religion performs an essential moral function. Religions are the vehicles by which a society’s moral code is transmitted to the generations. Originally, temporal rulers found it indispensable to cloak their laws and commands in the garb of religion.”Religion often get the scorn of the ‘Red-Pill’ community, but I agree with Quintus and think it plays an integral role in our society.The Pursuit of MasculinityPantheon is about the unbridled and unapologetic pursuit of masculinity, truth, wisdom, and virtue throughout history. In fact, it is a perfect example of why I started this site, and why it needs to be featured without question.…new approaches to man’s ancient problems were desperately needed, and would be gratefully welcomed. The unchanging themes of the life of man had cried out for a new voice, and a new technique, that might give them a contemporary resonance.”The Wisdom our Society Has Been MissingAnother desirable aspect of this book is the fact that Quintus is much older than others in this realm of the internet. That is by all means a compliment, because too often books of this nature are lacking in maturity.These are the type of guys who spend a couple weeks working on an eBook, slap a price tag on it and shove it down your throat as a “MUST READ FOR ALL MEN” type of thing; not Pantheon.Quintus’s love of history and philosophy is abundantly clear and he doesn’t need to rely on clever marketing tactics to get his book out there (If you’re not familiar with his work, check out his Return of Kings articles). This needs to be emphasized because books of this nature must come from someone who’s spent decades in this pursuit, which the reader can clearly see, most notably in his impressive translations of numerous languages.There are many blogs and books out there written by men in their early 20’s (Such as myself) espousing their own views of the world. This is a good thing for a number of reasons, but there comes a point where a young man must draw a line that he will not cross because he simply doesn’t have the knowledge or experience to remark on certain subjects; sadly, that line is crossed too often.That said, some of the essays can be tough to read as the language and style can be quite complex. This is especially the case in the section where he explains Neo-Platonic philosophies. I won’t even attempt to explain that section, as I need to go back and try and read it again myself.Pantheon is truly a remarkable piece of work, and hopefully it will facilitate the growth of NeoMasculinity in our society. I doubt all men are up to the challenge of reading this book, but it is a highly rewarding one for those that are.http://masculinebooks.com/2015/04/13/pantheon-adventures-in-history-biography-and-the-mind-by-quintus-curtius/#sthash.1kIGvQxa.dpuf

"So advance, fight unflinchingly with steel, and bring to bear standard against standard, weapon against weapon, and chest against chest. And I, the spectator of your fortitude...will be there, and will honor each of you according to his merits.- Bartolomeo Fonzio, 1511 [Opening quote]This is the second book by "Quintus Curtius" I have purchased several copies now, and given away my extra copies for gifts. I have delayed for some time in posting this review, as it is a difficult book to review and categorize. It is a philosophy book, a book on wisdom and history, and also mixed with personal essays. The book is very dense, meaty, and takes time to study and digest. The book covers many essays, from the folly of cultural relativism (See essay 2, "On Cultivating Certainty") to the wisdom of kings (see essay 24, "The Wisdom of Louis IX.") Some essays can be quickly read and have a clear story or moral, while others take time for the wisdom to soak in. It be many hours or days later when the ideas finally "click." I recommend reading in "smaller bites," and making many notes! Throughout the entire book, it is clear that the author has a love of the source material, and personally translated the original texts (including Latin and Arabic).This is a book that is written by a modern scholar who clearly has a deep love and appreciation for the wisdom of men in past ages, and an understanding of present events and cultural trends. Curtius also writes on his military service, and speaks on how some of his experiences color his philosophy and understanding of the world. Curtius served as a United States Marine Intelligence officer and served in the Bosnian civil war/peace keeping mission. This is discussed in essay 33 "Hatred is a poison." I will not say anymore on the "Hatred" essay, as it must be read in it's entirety. I had also been through a war zone at a different period in my life, and I needed some extra time for reflection after reading this very personal essay.It should be noted that not all the essays are of "serious" topics, but look at the lighter side of life. One of my favorites of this philosophy/humor blend was used in Curtius's fictional meet-up with the ghost of Christopher Hitchens (essay 5). Curtius meets up with Hitchen's "ghost" within his home, and they proceed to have a debate on the value of religion within society. The debate is course a fictional tale, but brings up many excellent points including how religion also allows society's moral codes to be transmitted from one generation to the next.Curtius:..."Religion gives expression to the innermost yearnings of the human soul. For the average person (and are we not all in this class?), life is a constant struggle to stay afloat in an uncertain world. We are on a daily basis so harassed with the worldly strife that we need something to give us comfort in our bereavements and anguish. The myths, legends, and rituals of religion soothe our tumescent hearts, and permit us some measure of relief. It is pure cruelty, in my view, for you to try to mock those simple aspirations, and try to take away that simple solace from the minds of men and women. Making fun of religious stories and miracles is petty and carping, and it misses the point entirely..."Whatever your thoughts are on religion/secular value systems, I can only hope this essay will make you pause and reflect on your own pre-conceived beliefs..To wrap up this review, it must be noted that within "Pantheon" - there is a "book within a book." Curtius has written a "Study of Neoplatonism." Curtius breaks down 54 "summaries of the Enneads", and his understanding of Neoplatonic principles. Curtius stated that he sees the value in understanding Neoplatonism as the "bridge between the worlds of classical and early Christian Europe" (263).Overall, this book is very well written and worth adding to your personal library. It is a book that can be re-visited time and time again, as much of the material is timeless. If you are appreciate it as much as I did, you may need to give away extra copies to people who appreciate some challenging ideas!

This is truly a piece that deserves more recognition. The second installment by Quintus, again with Thirty-Seven it updates classical philosophical aspects for modern audiences, if not particularly keen to spend time reading the classical texts for yourself Quintus gives a good overview and provides the general gist of what lessons you should take away.Pantheon is a very enjoyable read and includes an interesting analysis of great men of history and their personal philosophies, something I personally enjoyed as it allowed me think more deeply about ones character and compare them to men of history.The book itself is well sectioned and where the reader can put down the book after each essay allowing for easy reading especially for the extensive topics covered. The book itself is easily manageable for those reading philosophical books for the first time like myself so not to lose the reader.A well written sequel by Quintus providing more insights and points of reflection for the reader. Those looking for a thought provoking piece or would like to begin furthering their knowledge of classical texts it is a must read.

Der Author versteht es auf spannende, leicht verständliche Art die Weisheiten großer Persönlichkeiten vergangener Epochen für das 21. Jahrhundert aufzubereiten.Entscheidungsfindung, Menschenführung, dem Umgang mit inneren Konflikten, zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen, Training der Moral, Überlegungen für und gegen die Ehe, die Macht des Willens oder der Ausgestaltung des eigenen Lebens hin zu mehr Abenteuern.Als dies und noch viel mehr, was in unseren Schulen hätte besprochen werden sollen, wird in leicht verdaulichen Aufsätzen vom Author behandelt.Empfehlenswert für alle die an zeitlosem Wissen interessiert sind, in einer Zeit die geprägt ist von oberflächlichem click-bait bullshit, Ideologie statt rationellem Handeln und politischer Korrektheit.

Dieses Buch hält was es verspricht: „Pantheon" legt zeitlose, philosophische Ideen auf das moderne Leben um.Der behandelte Stoff ist hochinteressant, praktisch und schafft ein tieferes Bewusstsein.Dem Autor gelingt etwas, dass ich noch nicht erlebt habe, nämlich dem Leser grosse Themen aus der Philosophie zu unterbreiten und diese Konzepte in fesselnde, anwendbare Formen zu bringen.Der Ansatz von Herrn Curtius bringt moralische, philosophische und historische Ideen dem Leser näher, damit er weiter über die Frage „Wer bin ich" nachdenken kann.Ein herzliches Dankeschön an den Autor Quintus Curtius.

There`s no one like Quintus. He`s a modern blessing