The Cause - Rob Pirie
“The Cause” is a movement to recover the wisdom, books, education, character, and culture we have inherited. Our mission is to help ordinary people rediscover our heritage and put its traditional wisdom back into practice.Please join me in embarking on the Harvard Classics Series by Dr. Charles Elliot. This series dates back to around 1910 and is a collection of literature that I believe needs to be revived and rediscovered. I look forward to reading and discussing all 50 volumes with you as we learn about the great ideas of those who came before us. In this series, we will dive into...
Young Men Need Culture Again | The Recovery
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The Recovery is a new series I am embarking on, and I hope you follow along and enjoy the journey. It should be a fun one.
Young men need culture again to overcome burnout and lack of direction, and in this video, we will cover the foundations that make this possible.
Many modern men struggle with finding purpose, often feeling lost in a world that lacks clear guidance. We explore the essential role of character and conduct as the bedrock for personal development. By focusing on these principles, you...
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays Explained —The Secret To A Meaningful Life In A Noisy World
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Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays Explained —The Secret To A Meaningful Life In A Noisy World
Welcome everyone! It is great to see you back!
In this video, we break down Emerson’s most important essays and explore why his warnings about conformity, distraction, and the loss of inner authority matter more today than ever. From The Poet to Worship and Beauty, we will discuss some of Ralph Waldo Emerson's best work. Below are the Emerson essays we will cover.
The Emerson essays we cover in this video...
5 Movies That will Make You Pick Up A Book
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Movies have a way of influencing us and pulling at our emotions. That can be good, and that can be bad. Channeling that energy in the right direction is important. If you want to get into reading and need some motivation. I think these 5 movies will help get you in the mood.
1. The Most Reluctant Convert - https://amzn.to/4yrE7NL
2. The Professor and the Madman - https://amzn.to/4qWeX7f
3. John Adams Series - https://amzn.to/4xMqMzI
4. Captain Fantastic - https://amzn.to/4xhLOVR<...
Everything Is Ugly - Have We Lost Stewardship?
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We have lost the beauty that once made our culture amazing. From beautiful cathedrals to the design of a doorknob, we have traded craftsmanship for convenience and utility. What can we do to improve stewardship? How can we become better stewards of our homes, families, society, and culture? This is a question we will explore more in future videos. Hope you enjoy!
If you would like to support my channel, please subscribe. You can explore some of my favorite books listed below.
The Best Writing Journals:
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Heroes Still Matter | Malcolm Guite's Galahad and the Grail
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Galahad and the Grail by Malcolm Guite is out, and it is amazing! My kids and I have been enjoying the evenings by reading through a "stave" or two and discussing the beautiful contents of this poetic masterpiece. Malcolm Guite has truly provided a gift to be passed down with this one. I can only do my part by sharing his amazing work with you all. Please check out his book below. This is the first volume in Malcolm's four-volume series on the Arthurian Legends. Finally, someone is bringing King Arthur, Galahad, and...
What Students Read In 1776 | The Books That Shaped The Revolution
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What Students Read In 1776 | The Books That Shaped The Revolution
Have you ever wondered which books shaped the American founding or ignited the Revolution? In this episode, I cover the books the founders would have studied at Harvard or Yale and provide a breakdown of those that would have shaped their thinking. From John Adams, Nathan Hale, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, to the famous Thomas Jefferson, Joseph Warren, and Sam Adams, we learn what the founders were reading on the eve of 1776. This is a fascinating topic to me, and I...
10 Books That Build Men
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There are 10 books that I believe can help build a man. And these 10 books will be a guidepost of sorts along your journey. I often ask myself... What happens when men start reading again? It is a question we should consider answering. Your habits, character, and life may depend on the quality of the books you read. So, we have to choose wisely.
Welcome to Coffee Break Tuesday! In this video, we explore how books build men and why reading matters now more than ever. Join me on this epic journey...
The Founders’ Warning: Can We Keep the Republic 250 Years Later?
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Finally! The last book in the 8-book reading series is complete. This project took much longer than anticipated, but such is life. I truly hope you enjoy Thomas G. West's take on The Political Theory of the American Founding. It is a great book that examines how natural law, moral education, and religion have influenced our Constitution and government. It is a great book, and I would highly recommend reading it, especially if you are homeschooling or want to educate yourself on the subject. Thomas West does a great job of explaining the...
Sometimes... I Disappear
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Sorry, I disappear from time to time. Sometimes life just gets busy, and other adventures are to be had. The most enjoyable part of life is not knowing what is coming next.
If you would like to support my channel, please subscribe. You can explore some of my favorite books listed below.
The Best Writing Journals:
• https://amzn.to/4hrj5XE
Books Mentioned In Video:
Silis Mariner: https://amzn.to/4fboQu0
10 Acres Enough: https://amzn.to/4dDY6Ba
Catcher In The Rye: https://amzn...
What Makes a Book Worth Reading? | Choosing Great Books
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There are so many great books to choose from, but time limits us to just a few. Which ones are truly worth picking up, and what makes a book worth reading? To read or not to read?
That is the question.
Hope you enjoy the video!
If you would like to support this series, please consider purchasing my coffee (linked below) or exploring some of my favorite books listed below.
The Best Writing Journals:
• https://amzn.to/4hrj5XE
Books Mentioned In Video:
...
60,000 Strong! ... And I’ll Shave My Beard at 100K Subscribers
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60,000 Strong | And I’ll Shave My Beard at 100K Subscribers.
Happy New Year, everyone!! Thanks for all the support over the past couple of years! The kind words and encouragement have gotten us this far. So...
At 100K subscribers (if we get there), I will shave my beard off for at least one video!
Thanks again for all the love, and stay blessed!
Legentibus: https://legentibus.com/
Lingua Latina Books: https://amzn.to/4jQprBG
The Best Writing Journals:
• https://amzn.to/4...
This Is What Happens When Men Start Reading Again - Books That Build Men
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What happens when men start reading again? It is a question we should consider answering. Men are reading less than ever, and it's not just a problem of attention. It's a crisis of thought, discipline, and direction. Welcome to Coffee Break Tuesday! In this video, we explore how books build men and why reading matters now more than ever. Join me on this epic journey to reclaim the mind of man!
Hope you enjoy the video!
If you would like to support this series, please consider purchasing my coffee...
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays Explained — Why Self-Reliance Matters Today
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Welcome everyone! It is great to see you back!
In this video, we break down Emerson’s most important essays and explore why his warnings about conformity, distraction, and the loss of inner authority matter more today than ever. From Self-Reliance to the Over-Soul, we will discuss some of Ralph Waldo Emerson's best work. Below are the Emerson essays we are going to cover.
The Emerson Essays, which we cover in this video.
The American Scholar
• An Address
• Man The Reformer
• Self-Reliance
• Compensati...
WHEN BOOKS BREAK YOU | The Dark Side of Reading
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Has a book ever reshaped how you view the world? Sometimes books can hold the power to do just that. Deep reading can lead you down an Odyssey that you might not be ready for. But you will grow in the process, just like Odysseus. I hope you enjoy this episode!
The Best Writing Journals:
• https://amzn.to/4hrj5XE
Books in Video:
• The Odyssey: https://amzn.to/3JkJom1
• Areopagitica - John Milton: https://amzn.to/4ipkpeK
• Francis Bacon Essays: https://amzn.to/3K5uPU9
• No...
Why I Quit My Coffee Business! - Updates and Future Plans
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I have put the coffee business on hold for now. It has been a truly educational experience, but it is time to refocus on the family and plan out the next phase for the channel. My goals of creating a community around great coffee and excellent books will continue, but just in a different direction for now. I have truly enjoyed the community that has formed here, and I would like to interact more than I currently do. Hopefully, taking the coffee roasting business off my plate will allow me to focus more...
We Were Warned — Hayek Saw This Coming | The Road To Serfdom
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You are in for a treat!
The Road to Serfdom is a marvelous book that helps explain the impacts of collectivism and individualism colliding. The results are often division, conflict, and war. Have we followed any of Friedrich Hayek's advice? The end of truth is upon us, and the age of resentment has arrived. Without the foundations of morality that sustain our culture, I fear we can no longer continue to build but will inevitably start to tear down. I hope you enjoy The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek.
How to Find Time to Read — You’re Not Too Busy, You’re Just Distracted
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Most people say they don’t have time to read, but the truth is, they’re just distracted. In this video, I provide four helpful tips on how to reclaim your time, build a daily reading habit, and reconnect with the discipline that fosters greatness.
Below are the four topics discussed in this video.
1. Limit Inputs.
2. Use listening as a strategy.
3. Choose activities that allow for reading.
4. Consistency and organization.
• COFFEE Website: http://cedarotacoffee.com/
* Use Code "thecause" for 15% off on your first...
The Breaking of the Western Mind - Why Our Civilization Is Collapsing
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Western Civilization was once the center of faith, philosophy, and freedom, which it inherited from its ancient neighbors. From the cathedrals of Europe to the wisdom of Greece and Rome, Western civilization gave the world meaning, order, and hope. But today, that inheritance is crumbling. Empty churches, forgotten books, broken families, and a culture drowning in distraction all point to the same reality.
The breaking of the Western mind.
In this podcast, we discuss the downfall of Western civilization, how it began, why it matters, and what...
The Fall Of Samson | Milton’s Tragic Hero Who Lost Everything
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John Milton’s "Samson Agonistes" is one of the most powerful tragic poems ever written. The story of Samson, blinded, betrayed, and enslaved, reflects Milton’s own struggles after the English Revolution. He would also be blind at the time of creating this poem. This video explores the downfall of Samson, his final act of strength, and the deeper meaning behind Milton’s tragic hero who would lose everything.
Join me on Samson's journey of blindness, redemption, faith, and rebellion. Can Samson Agonistes still speak to us today?
Substack: https...
This Is What Happens When Men Start Reading Again - Books That Build Men
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What happens when men start reading again? It is a question we should consider answering. Men are reading less than ever, and it's not just a problem of attention. It's a crisis of thought, discipline, and direction. Welcome to Coffee Break Tuesday! In this video, we explore how books build men and why reading matters now more than ever. Join me on this epic journey to reclaim the mind of man!
Hope you enjoy the video!
If you would like to support this series, please consider purchasing my coffee...
Why Men Don’t Read Anymore - And Why It’s Destroying Us
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Men are reading less than ever, and it's not just a problem of attention. It's a crisis of thought, discipline, and direction. In this video, we explore why reading matters now more than ever, what we're losing without it, and how reclaiming books could be the beginning of reclaiming ourselves.
The stats don’t lie.
The consequences are more profound than you think.
It’s time to read again—before it's too late.
Hope you enjoy the video!
If you would like to support this series, please...
Why Are We Cowards? - Obedience and the RISE of Authoritarianism | Discourse on Voluntary Servitude
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Why Do People Give Up Their Freedom So Easily? | "Discourse On Voluntary Servitude" - Boetie
HEY!!! Welcome back, everyone!
Étienne de La Boétie's Discourse on Voluntary Servitude is a powerful political essay that explores why people willingly submit to tyranny. Written in the 16th century, La Boétie argues that oppressive rulers maintain power not through strength, but through the consent of the governed. He challenges readers to recognize their own complicity and urges passive resistance as a path to freedom. This timeless work is a foundational text in p...
The Classical Reformation - Reviving Traditional Education And Reclaiming Truth
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Welcome to coffee break Tuesday! So, you're interested in a classical or liberal education and don't know where to start. I have been there. In this video, I share my experience with the classical reformation, as I call it, and provide the resources I use for myself and my family. I hope you enjoy it. It is never too late to start. Hope you enjoy!
If you would like to support this series, please consider purchasing my coffee (linked below) or exploring some of my favorite books listed below.
• COF...
Unshaken, Unashamed, and Unafraid - Jesus Conquers The Wilderness - Paradise Regained (Books 3 & 4)
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Paradise Regained by John Milton is an epic poem that recounts Jesus's temptation in the wilderness by Satan. This video covers books 3 and 4 of Paradise Regained, as there are four books total. Join us as we witness the battle between good and evil and ultimately bruise the heel of Satan. The Son of God is in for a long, hard struggle, and his foe is no other than Satan himself. Out of the wilderness comes a man who will soon change the world forever. Paradise Regained by John Milton is a truly epic...
When Men No Longer Exist | "The Abolition Of Man" by C.S. Lewis
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Hey! Do not let this book intimidate you. Read it slowly and contemplate the ideas. It is a marvelous book indeed.
Objective Values vs. Moral Relativism:
Lewis critiques the idea that all value judgments are merely subjective expressions of personal feelings, arguing that there are objective standards of right and wrong that exist independently of human opinion.
The Tao:
He introduces the concept of the Tao, a universal moral law that all cultures have recognized and embraced to some degree. The Tao...
Paradise Regained By John Milton - A Journey Through The Wilderness With Jesus (Books 1 & 2)
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"Paradise Regained By John Milton - A Journey Through The Wilderness With Jesus (Books 1 & 2)"
Paradise Regained by John Milton is an epic poem about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan. This video covers books 1 and 2 of Paradise Regained, as there are 4 books total. Join us as we witness the battle between good and evil and ultimately bruise the heel of Satan. The Son of God is in for a long, hard struggle, and his foe is no other than Satan himself. Out of the wilderness comes a man who...
I Finally Quit My Job - Here's What Happened - Moving To Virginia
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Glad to have you back again as we chow down on a little humble pie! In June of 2024, I quit my day job and ventured into the world of entrepreneurship and family connection. I roasted coffee, drank coffee, and hung out with the family more during this period than I had in the past few years. It was a great break. But like all good things in life, they can't last forever. It is now time to lace up the boots and get back to work. I hope you enjoy this Coffee Break...
Inside Beautiful RALSTON COLLEGE - A New Vision for Higher Education! Come Join The Fellowship!
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nside Beautiful RALSTON COLLEGE - A New Vision for Higher Education! Come Join The Fellowship!
RALSTON COLLEGE: Check them out here!
Ralston College: https://www.ralston.ac/humanities-ma?utm_source=rptc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=student_recruitment_2425
@RalstonCollegeSavannah
My trip to Ralston College was amazing. The students and staff were so open and respectful. Being amongst other individuals passionate about classical literature and the humanities just felt like home. The dedication and effort put in by students and faculty alike was like nothing I h...
Why You Should LISTEN To Books and How To RETAIN What you Read
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Listening to books can be just as impactful and important as reading books. There are so many benefits to listening to books, such as hearing the names and places pronounced correctly and the convenience of consuming books while completing other tasks. Audiobooks also allow you to remember the narration and the sound of the characters to stick out in your mind more. If you read and listen to a book, you will have a deeper understanding of the book than you would have by just doing one or the other. You retain what...
Rousseau's Social Contract Theory Explained | How It Still Relates To Us - Book Review
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I truly hope you enjoy my review of the Social Contract by Rousseau. He is a fantastic writer and very enjoyable to read, especially regarding philosophy. His work, in my opinion, is still in the process of being lived out and proven. This means this work is very current, and he discusses many of the issues we face in the book. Below are a few main points about the Social Contract.
General Will:
The core concept, where citizens, by collectively deciding what is best for the community, essentially "o...
What You Read MATTERS - Why Reading The Right Books will Change Your Life Forever!
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What you choose to read matters more than you may think. In this episode, I discuss the importance of choosing books wisely to bring joy and knowledge through the love of reading. Reading books can impact your life more than you think and reading the right books can help you live a good life. I hope you enjoy the video!
• COFFEE Website: http://cedarotacoffee.com/
* Use Code "thecause" for 15% off on your first order.
The Best Writing Journals:
• https://amzn...
We Live In The Best Of Times! My Cherished Advice From An Old Man
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An old man told me that his kids have never known hunger. And that has stuck with me ever since he uttered the words. I miss you, Mr. Neal!
• COFFEE Website: http://cedarotacoffee.com/
* Use Code "thecause" for 15% off on your first order.
The Best Writing Journals:
• https://amzn.to/4hrj5XE
Substack: https://substack.com/@robpirie
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The HARDEST BOOK I Ever Read and ... How ANYONE Can Read It
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Today we discuss the hardest book I have read, what I learned, and how anyone can read hard books. Some books are more challenging than others but that should not stop us from reading them. Paradise Lost is a book that challenges you as a reader on many levels. The poem is written in blank verse in iambic pentameter. The poem makes music when read correctly which allows the poem to have a charm and enchantment I have never experienced in any other book. Not to mention the devil shows up in many o...
Write More and Scroll Less - How I Journal And Use A Commonplace Book
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Often I find myself mindlessly scrolling on a phone when I could be writing or creating something of my own. I get caught up in the entertainment of others instead of using my abilities for something constructive and good. I have journaled for a good while but never achieved the consistency I think is needed to be effective. This episode discusses how I plan to fix that and write more in 2025. I hope you enjoy the show!
• COFFEE Website: http://cedarotacoffee.com/
* Use Code "th...
Why You Should Take Control Of Your Education
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In this video, we discuss taking ownership of your education. The quality of your life and the longevity of your freedoms depend on it. I truly hope you enjoy this Coffee Break Tuesday! Pick up a set of books and get to work self-educating over the holidays!
If you would like to support this series please consider purchasing my coffee linked below or checking out some of my favorite books below.
• COFFEE Website: http://cedarotacoffee.com/
* Use Code "thecause" for 15% off on you...
Allow The Book To Change You - Read To Discover Not Validate
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Do you read to discover or read to validate? This is a question I have to ask myself. If you can't open your mind to a book, then what is the purpose of reading? True knowledge can only be found when we open our minds to the idea that our ideas or perspectives on the world may be flawed. In this video, I discuss why you should allow the book to change you and see things differently. I hope you enjoy it!
If you would like to support this series please...
"Some Blood More Precious Must Be Paid For Man" - Paradise Lost (Books 11 & 12) CONCLUSION
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Paradise Lost by John Milton is an epic poem that tells the story of the rise of Satan out of the depths of hell and his campaign to conquer the will of man on Earth. This episode covers books 11 and 12 of Paradise Lost. Join us as we witness the healing between Adam and Eve as they repent and pray for forgiveness. The Son of God hears their prayers and the angel Michael is sent down to deliver their punishment and justice. The two are humbled and kicked out of Eden but not before...
Harvard Classics VS The Great Books Of The Western World | How Much I Paid For Each?
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The Great Books of the Western World and the Harvard Classics are amazing collections of classical literature. There are many differences between the two sets, but each provides a unique experience to the reader. In this video, I cover the differences between the Great Books and Harvard Classics, the study ability of each, the purchase price, and where to purchase!
If you would like to support this series please consider purchasing my coffee linked below or checking out some of my favorite books below.
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ARE YOU STOIC ONLY IN NAME? | Why Learn About Stoicism If You Are Not Willing To Live It... Adjust!
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I enjoy reading about Stoicism but sometimes living it out can be difficult. Thinking about the hard things in life is much easier than living them out. This video covers some quotes from Seneca's Letters and how I plan to apply the meaning to my life. It is time to lace up the running shoes and get back to running. I truly hope you enjoy the video and stay blessed!
If you would like to support this series please consider purchasing my coffee linked below or checking out some of my...
Why Plato's Republic STILL Matters | Are You Lost In The Cave?
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Why Plato’s Republic Is Still Important
Plato's "Republic" explores justice, the ideal state, and the nature of the soul through a dialogue led by Socrates. The work is structured as a discussion among several characters, primarily Socrates and Glaucon.
Key themes include:
1. Justice: Socrates seeks to define justice, arguing that it is about harmony in both the state and the individual. Justice involves each part fulfilling its role.
2. The Ideal State: Plato outlines a tripartite society: rulers (philosopher-kings), warriors, and producers. Each class corresponds to...
