S3, Episode 5: An Interview with Barry Strauss

An Interview with Barry Strauss, Esteemed Classicist, Military and Naval Historian, and Best-selling Author

Different civilizations, cultures and countries have experienced the rise of remarkable leaders. While these leaders may have ruled under vastly different circumstances, they often share similar characteristics. Many too, have made the same costly mistakes.

Our guest on this episode of Voices of Freedom is Barry Strauss, a leading historian who has explored many fascinating leaders, particularly from ancient classical times. He deepens our understanding about the universal qualities of leadership and shares lessons of the ancient world that remain applicable today.

Topics Discussed on this Episode:

• What drew Barry to the study of the ancient world and the leaders who shaped it
• Universal qualities of a capable and effective leader
• Common mistakes that great leaders have made and what can be learned from them
• The ancient leader that fascinates Barry the most
• Barry’s experiences in promoting free speech within the academy
• Why free speech has been restricted within higher education
• What previous civilizations tell us about free speech, including who had the privilege or right to practice it
• The history of disinformation and how it was used in the ancient world
• Barry’s process of bringing ancient leaders to life through his writing
• How to get young people to engage with the classical world
• Whether the ideals of the Western tradition are at threat of being lost
• Reaction to winning a Bradley Prize

About Barry Strauss:

Barry Strauss is a bestselling author, and an esteemed military and naval historian. He is currently the Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Series Editor of Princeton’s Turning Points in Ancient History. Barry is also the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, where he was the Chair of the Department of History as well as Professor of History and Classics.

In addition, he is a 2025 Bradley Prize winner.