The Layman’s Lantern
Reflections on Fiction, Philosophy, and the Purpose of Man
Articles
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Jerry: Learning About Love, Loss, and Purpose.
I’m tempted every year to through-hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. While I never took the trip, I used to frequent the archway, which is the starting point for thousands of people who start their attempts in the spring. The last time I went was in the middle of April. The last time…
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You are Losing Your Freedom: Brave New World.
You Aren’t As Free As You Think We all have our share of trials. We all have burdens. But thankfully, we don’t have nearly as many as our ancestors did. Most of our problems are small ones— first-world problems. We have more access to good food, clean water, shelter, and entertainment than anyone else. If…
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Don’t Be Yourself, Be Better.
A Common Problem I used to have a friend named Jonah, whom I met at a training camp. Jonah, when I first met him, was one of the funniest people I’ve met. He did impeccable impressions of Homer Simpson, Carl Wheezer, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Four or five times a day, he doubled us over with…
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Be a Better Man: Socrates, Seneca, and Samwise Gamgee.
The Avalanche of Advice It’s impossible to open up Instagram, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter) without getting fire-hosed with dozens of different opinions about who you should be and how you should live. “It’s okay for men to be weak!” “Women belong to the Man.” “What is a woman?” “Why do you care, Man?” Everyone…