Two of the great moral philosophers of recent history are Bernard Williams and Alaisdair MacIntyre. This essay does an admirable job articulating the differences between the two thinkers—the former a pessimistic and skeptical classical liberal, the latter a pessimistic Catholic traditionalist.

Joshua Cohen is the guest on this week’s episode of Bookworm, discussing his new novel, Moving Kings. It’s an incredible conversation about what sounds like a superb book—do check both out.

Spending a big chunk of the afternoon trying to set up my personal site and microblog with Jekyll & GitHub Pages. As always, it’s far more complicated than expected—but also very enjoyable, deep work.

Polos. Bed head. Ready for their first day of business school.

This post, on the rift between the White House & the State Department on Qatar, confirms that foreign policy is turning out to be the most terrifying part of a terrifying presidency.

Current listening: Sun Ra, Monorails and Satellites, vol. 1. Inspired by the remarkable NYT Magazine portrait of Craig Taborn published Sunday.

Current listening: Jobim’s Stone Flower, a melancholy masterpiece of the late Jobim.

Current listening: Max Richter, from Sleep. Beautiful music, composed about, and for, sleep.

These two rascals let themselves out of their beds, and their bedroom, this morning at 6:25. We’re doomed.

Tyler Cowen’s interview with Jill Lepore is, like all his conversations, fascinating and wide-ranging.

This one is particularly recommended for its focus on writing, on the ways we understand and interpret history, and on time-travel.