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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Anti-Dictator: The Discours sur la servitude voluntaire</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/anti-dictator-the-discours-sur-la-servitude-voluntaire--7125884</link><description><![CDATA[Delve into the profound reflections on freedom and the nature of authority with "Anti-Dictator: The Discours sur la servitude voluntaire." This podcast invites listeners to explore the intricate dynamics between the governed and their rulers, challenging the very foundations of consent and submission. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that examines the themes of self-imposed servitude, the essence of liberty, and the moral responsibilities of individuals in the face of tyranny. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the struggle against oppressive systems and the human spirit's quest for autonomy. With every episode, listeners are encouraged to discover new perspectives on resistance, empowerment, and the philosophical underpinnings of political thought. Join us in this compelling journey through history and ideas, and broaden your understanding of what it means to be free.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7125884/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Politics Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg</url><title>Anti-Dictator: The Discours sur la servitude voluntaire</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/anti-dictator-the-discours-sur-la-servitude-voluntaire--7125884</link></image><lastBuildDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:10:58 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Politics Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker75@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Delve into the profound reflections on freedom and the nature of authority with "Anti-Dictator: The Discours sur la servitude voluntaire." This podcast invites listeners to explore the intricate dynamics between the governed and their rulers,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Delve into the profound reflections on freedom and the nature of authority with "Anti-Dictator: The Discours sur la servitude voluntaire." This podcast invites listeners to explore the intricate dynamics between the governed and their rulers, challenging the very foundations of consent and submission. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that examines the themes of self-imposed servitude, the essence of liberty, and the moral responsibilities of individuals in the face of tyranny. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the struggle against oppressive systems and the human spirit's quest for autonomy. With every episode, listeners are encouraged to discover new perspectives on resistance, empowerment, and the philosophical underpinnings of political thought. Join us in this compelling journey through history and ideas, and broaden your understanding of what it means to be free.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Fiction"/><itunes:category text="Fiction"><itunes:category text="Drama"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>b92bb776-3674-5ae6-b92f-cb2f7e6b5f5d</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Anti-Dictator The Discours sur la servitude voluntaire-Étienne de La Boétie</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/anti-dictator-the-discours-sur-la-servitude-voluntaire-etienne-de-la-boetie--74399355</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74399355</guid><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:01:01 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74399355/anti_dictator_the_discours_sur_la_servitude_voluntaire_e_tienne_de_la_boe_tie.mp3" length="61714430" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7707</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Ceres’ Runaway &amp; Other Essays-Alice Meynell</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ceres-runaway-other-essays-alice-meynell--74372736</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74372736</guid><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:01:02 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74372736/ceres_runaway_other_essays_alice_meynell.mp3" length="86004741" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10740</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Untimely Papers-Randolph Silliman Bourne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/untimely-papers-randolph-silliman-bourne--74351068</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74351068</guid><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:01:04 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74351068/untimely_papers_randolph_silliman_bourne.mp3" length="146962060" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18352</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Crimes of England-G. K. Chesterton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/crimes-of-england-g-k-chesterton--74329648</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74329648</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:00:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74329648/crimes_of_england_g_k_chesterton.mp3" length="99906215" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>12476</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Treatises On Friendship And Old Age-Marcus Tullius Cicero</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/treatises-on-friendship-and-old-age-marcus-tullius-cicero--74307606</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74307606</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:00:36 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74307606/treatises_on_friendship_and_old_age_marcus_tullius_cicero.mp3" length="92064479" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>11497</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Children-Alice Meynell</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/children-alice-meynell--74290379</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74290379</guid><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:00:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74290379/children_alice_meynell.mp3" length="56097227" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7005</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Varied Types-G. K. Chesterton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/varied-types-g-k-chesterton--74270329</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74270329</guid><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:00:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74270329/varied_types_g_k_chesterton.mp3" length="137384305" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>17156</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Cinema of Orson Welles-Peter Bogdanovich</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cinema-of-orson-welles-peter-bogdanovich--74255320</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74255320</guid><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:00:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74255320/cinema_of_orson_welles_peter_bogdanovich.mp3" length="26503493" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3310</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Certain Personal Matters-H. G. Wells</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/certain-personal-matters-h-g-wells--74240099</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. 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Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74016212</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:01:57 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74016212/mother_earth_vol_1_no_7_september_1906_various.mp3" length="76865833" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." 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Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73994122</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:01:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73994122/moral_letters_vol_i_lucius_annaeus_seneca.mp3" length="278428686" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." 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Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73973944</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:01:52 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73973944/essays_collection_vol_01_various.mp3" length="210731146" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26315</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Mirror of the Sea (Version 2)-Joseph Conrad</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mirror-of-the-sea-version-2-joseph-conrad--73953039</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. 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Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73953039</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:02:15 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73953039/mirror_of_the_sea_version_2_joseph_conrad.mp3" length="175324682" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." 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Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8872</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Short Nonfiction Collection Vol. 002-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/short-nonfiction-collection-vol-002-various--73908226</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. 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Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22405</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Irish Impressions-G. K. Chesterton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/irish-impressions-g-k-chesterton--73866076</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. 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Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18357</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Areopagitica (Version 2)-John Milton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/areopagitica-version-2-john-milton--73377796</link><description><![CDATA[Areopagitica, penned by John Milton, is a powerful treatise advocating for the freedom of speech and the press, arguing against censorship and the suppression of ideas. This seminal work passionately defends the right to express diverse opinions and underscores the importance of intellectual freedom in a thriving society. As relevant today as it was in the 17th century, Milton's arguments resonate with ongoing debates about free expression and the role of government in regulating speech. Its enduring themes challenge listeners to reflect on the value of open discourse and the dangers of authoritarian control, making it a crucial listen for anyone interested in the foundations of democracy and personal liberty.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73377796</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:33:53 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73377796/areopagitica_version_2_john_milton.mp3" length="80482602" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Areopagitica, penned by John Milton, is a powerful treatise advocating for the freedom of speech and the press, arguing against censorship and the suppression of ideas. This seminal work passionately defends the right to express diverse opinions and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Areopagitica, penned by John Milton, is a powerful treatise advocating for the freedom of speech and the press, arguing against censorship and the suppression of ideas. This seminal work passionately defends the right to express diverse opinions and underscores the importance of intellectual freedom in a thriving society. As relevant today as it was in the 17th century, Milton's arguments resonate with ongoing debates about free expression and the role of government in regulating speech. Its enduring themes challenge listeners to reflect on the value of open discourse and the dangers of authoritarian control, making it a crucial listen for anyone interested in the foundations of democracy and personal liberty.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10050</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Anti-Dictator The Discours sur la servitude voluntaire - Etienne de La Boetie</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/anti-dictator-the-discours-sur-la-servitude-voluntaire-etienne-de-la-boetie--72655622</link><description><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72655622</guid><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:53:26 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72655622/anti_dictator_the_discours_sur_la_servitude_voluntaire_etienne_de_la_boetie.mp3" length="61649649" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/4dce8594-99d6-45ee-8b5c-4be7185bce3a/4dce8594-99d6-45ee-8b5c-4be7185bce3a.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/4dce8594-99d6-45ee-8b5c-4be7185bce3a/4dce8594-99d6-45ee-8b5c-4be7185bce3a.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/4dce8594-99d6-45ee-8b5c-4be7185bce3a/4dce8594-99d6-45ee-8b5c-4be7185bce3a.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Étienne de La Boétie</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Étienne de La Boétie was the closest friend of Michel de Montaigne and the subject of the latter's famous essay "On Friendship." Here, however, he tackles a different, more impersonal relationship: that of ruler and ruled. The argument in this work is encapsulated in this quote: "A people enslaves itself, cuts its own throat, when, having a choice between being vassals and being free men, it deserts its liberties and takes on the yoke, gives consent to its own misery, or, rather, apparently welcomes it." Montaigne claimed that Boétie composed this work at the age of 18, and it was published over a decade after the young man's tragic death at 32. Some commentators up to the present day have argued that Montaigne himself was the author, and that he used the cover of his late friend's name because of its radical content. Whatever the truth, these words have inspired anti-authoritarian thinking for centuries. - Summary by Ben Adams]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7707</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>anti,dictator,discours,montaigne,political,science,servitude,sur,tie,voluntaire</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/412f54b4813a3d66d1283ec82fab243f.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
