logo
episode-header-image
May 2021
1h 1m

#321 - Dr Alexander Lee - The Story Behi...

Chris Williamson
About this episode

Alexander Lee is a renaissance historian at the University of Warwick and an author.

Niccolo Machiavelli is one of the most famous political philosophers of all time. His work is often considered ruthless, brutal and manipulative, but who was the man behind the words?

Alexander has just written one of the most insightful and comprehensive biographies of Machiavelli ever, so let's return to 15th century Florence and find out what Niccolo was really like, how he continually failed in his own political career, why he threw up on an old woman after having sex with her, the truth underpinning his views on human nature and much more...

Sponsors:

Get perfect teeth 70% cheaper than other invisible aligners from DW Aligners at http://dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom

Get 20% discount on all pillows at https://thehybridpillow.com (use code: MW20)

Extra Stuff:

Buy Machiavelli: His Life and Times - https://amzn.to/3eFlH6f 

Get my free Ultimate Life Hacks List to 10x your daily productivity → https://chriswillx.com/lifehacks/

To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom

-

Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast

Email: https://www.chriswillx.com/contact

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
#1004 - Sam Corcos - Inside DOGE, The IRS & How to Scam the US Government
Sam Corcos is an entrepreneur, CEO of Levels, and a special advisor to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). What’s really happening inside the U.S. government? For the first time, a DOGE insider exposes the chaos, corruption, and dysfunction plaguing Washington. How di ... Show More
2h 56m
Oct 6
#1003 - Konstantin Kisin - The Forces Behind Britain's Downfall
Konstantin Kisin is a podcaster, a speaker and an author. Is the UK facing its breaking point? Once the world’s greatest empire, the UK now finds itself engulfed in political chaos and cultural upheaval. From leadership crises to deep divisions, what’s really happening on the fro ... Show More
2h 17m
Oct 4
#1002 - Andrew Doyle - Political Violence & The Lunatics of Your Own Side
Andrew Doyle is Titania McGrath, host of GB News, a comedian and a writer. The world has shifted dramatically over the past few years, and the pace of change has only accelerated in recent months. Ideas that once lived outside the mainstream have quickly entered the Overton Windo ... Show More
2h 33m
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2023
Dr. Amen: A Revolution in Brain Health
TW: suicide  The Lautners are joined by psychiatrist and 18-time best-selling author, Dr. Amen, who’s on a mission to end the concept of mental illness and talk about brain health. They discuss the Launters’ brain scans from The Amen Clinic, how mental hygiene is equally as impor ... Show More
59m 32s
Feb 2024
The Science of Generosity: Why It Makes You Happier and How To Do It Effectively (It Doesn’t Need To Involve Money) | Chris Anderson
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- How to cultivate a generosity mindset— and make a good thing less boring. Chris Anderson is the curator of TED. He is the author of New York Times bestseller ... Show More
1h 13m
Nov 2023
#668 Leslie Winick - The Interesting, Invisible Woman
Leslie Winick is an MIHH listener who joins Paul to talk about what it feels like, as an older woman, when you start to become invisible to others. She also shares her struggles with depression and postpartum depression and talks about the path that led her to a career she’s pass ... Show More
1h 29m
Jun 2023
More Than You Ever Really Wanted to Know About Sewers (Encore)
Sometimes the most important things are things we don’t even want to think about let alone talk about. The issue of handling and removing human waste and dirty water is one such problem that has confronted humans since the dawn of time. The elimination of waste and excess water w ... Show More
11m 15s
Aug 2018
Dr. Daniel Siegel | Wheel of Awareness
Professor of psychiatry and NYT bestselling author Dr. Daniel Siegel talks with me about the mind and his new book Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence.  Show love by rating the show on iTunes! It makes the source of being happy and helps bring more guests you’d like to he ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2024
Why Stoicism is Having a Modern Resurgence | Mick Mulroy (PT 2)
Ryan speaks with Mick Mulroy in the first of a two-part conversation about the simplicity of Stoicism but the difficulties people have in practicing the philosophy. They also discuss Marcus Aurelius’ character and the traits we seek for in modern leaders, and more. Mick Mulroy is ... Show More
1h 3m
May 2023
Terra Nullius (Encore)
Imagine you want to start a brand new country. Only, you don’t want to go through the messy process of starting a revolution or a civil war in a currently existing country. You want to find an empty piece of land for yourself that no one has claimed. Is such a thing possible?Lear ... Show More
13m 40s
Aug 2024
A guide to breakdancing’s Olympic debut
For the first time, breaking – or breakdancing – will be an Olympic event. Since it originated in Black and Latino neighborhoods in the Bronx during the 1970s, it has spread worldwide, with competitions held in places like Brazil, Germany and Korea. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with R ... Show More
27m 29s
Apr 2025
How Immigrant Entrepreneurs Build Lasting Businesses
It's a common story: an immigrant arrives in a new country, sees a need, and works hard to build a successful business around it. Think of Chobani, Google, or Tesla. Indeed, 45 percent of Fortune 500 companies had immigrant founders. While most research focuses on why these peopl ... Show More
26m 25s
Apr 2025
Circoloco Radio 395 - Alejandro Mosso
Circoloco Radio - Bringing you new mixes from the best DJs in the world. - 
58m 33s