Jonathan Townley's Articles
Economics, Politics & Rights
Heroes of the Pandemic
Jonathan Townley April 30, 2020
These heroes—from medical professionals to corporations to small business owners and countless others—demonstrate that to the extent that individuals are free to act according to their own judgment, they can, and often do, triumph over tragedy.
Good Living, Reviews
Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less by Michael Hyatt
Jonathan Townley June 27, 2019
According to Michael Hyatt, the ultimate purpose of productivity is not just to get more things done, but to get the right things done—and he shows how to do so.
History
How John H. Patterson Modernized Industry
Jonathan Townley June 11, 2019
John H. Patterson showed the world what so many “greedy industrialists” are made of: an enduring will to remake the world as it could and should be—and on their own terms.
Good Living, Reviews
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
Jonathan Townley April 6, 2019
We can all benefit from being selective when it comes to using technology.
Good Living, Reviews
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Jonathan Townley March 6, 2019
If you’re interested in optimizing your life for peak flourishing, check out this invaluable resource.
Good Living, Reviews, Science & Technology
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Jonathan Townley December 29, 2018
After reading Clear’s blog for years, I expected Atomic Habits to be quite useful. But, I was astonished by how useful it is.
Ayn Rand & Objectivism, Good Living
Objectivism, Career Transitions, and Standing Orders: An Interview with Craig Biddle
Jonathan Townley November 20, 2018
Jonathan Townley interviews Craig Biddle about how he discovered Objectivism, how he became a writer, and how he gets things done.
Philosophy, Politics & Rights
Dave Rubin and the Argument from Depravity
Jonathan Townley March 22, 2018
Rubin claims socialists aim to create a “perfect system”—which, he says, can’t be done because we’re “imperfect beings.” Ayn Rand has a few things to say about that.
Politics & Rights
When the ‘Right to Protest’ Is No Such Thing
Jonathan Townley November 25, 2017
Do “peaceful protesters” have a right to protest so long as they don’t engage in overtly violent acts? Or can rights be violated in more subtle ways?