Two Ages, by Thomasine Gyllembourg

The young Claudine grows up as a foster child in a wealthy merchant family during and after the French Revolution. Nearly half a century later, her son, Charles, seeks out the descendants of the merchant family, who turn out to be narrow-minded and hypocritical.

Threshold, by Cornélio Penna

When Threshold was first published in 1935, it caused great perplexity in literary circles. The debut novel of Cornélio Penna, simple in form, compact in its succession of chapters—generally short, like scenes or inner tableaux of that nameless city nestled among mountains and the ghosts of the mining cycle—speaks to us of a world in decline, yet one that still lingers to haunt us.

The title Threshold already points to this undefined place between dream and reality, between past and present, between the natural and the supernatural, between belief and disbelief, between lucidity and madness, and gradually builds an atmosphere of suspense and mystery—not resolved like a detective story, but rather as an inner drama.

[This is my own, machine, translation; although I have given it the same title as a professional translation published elsewhere, for consistency.]

Mechanical Problems, by Aristotle (Pseudo-Aristotle)

This translation of the Pseudo-Aristotelian work Mechanical Problems is unusual in that ChatGPT spontaneously introduced its own answer style, while retaining accuracy in translation. I found this engaging and delightful, and chose to allow it, and it is retained here. If you do not like this, seek a professional translation, such as the one in the Loeb Classical Library.

“While the original Greek text doesn’t explicitly divide sections with headings, its natural flow suggests clear thematic breaks. Where appropriate, I inserted section breaks or reformulated complex chains of reasoning into bullet points or step-by-step progressions. This makes the text feel more accessible to a modern audience while staying true to its logical structure.” —ChatGPT

The Minimum About Olavo de Carvalho, by Ronald Robson

The Minimum About Olavo de Carvalho, by Ronald Robson, serves as a comprehensive introduction to one of Brazil’s most influential yet polarizing philosophers. It offers readers an insightful exploration of Olavo de Carvalho’s intellectual trajectory, from his early engagement with esotericism and astrology to his later critiques of modernity, science, and political thought. By focusing on Olavo’s major themes, such as his critique of modern philosophy, the role of intuition in knowledge, and the theory of the four discourses, Robson skillfully outlines the central ideas that shaped Olavo’s philosophical legacy.

In this work, Robson also highlights how Olavo’s philosophy is deeply rooted in the pursuit of reality through direct experience, beyond the conceptual frameworks that dominate contemporary thought. Olavo’s emphasis on “presence” as a foundational category for knowledge challenges modern epistemology and calls for a return to a more immediate, intuitive understanding of existence. The book takes readers on a journey through Olavo’s complex ideas, offering clarity on his unique blend of metaphysics, epistemology, and cultural critique.

More than just a biographical account, The Minimum About Olavo de Carvalho situates Olavo’s work within the broader context of Western thought while addressing the controversies that surrounded his life and career. Robson’s writing provides both novices and seasoned readers with a clear, structured entry point into Olavo’s profound—and often misunderstood—philosophical contributions. Through careful analysis, the book reveals the ways in which Olavo sought to reframe the intellectual landscape of Brazil and, ultimately, the Western world.

Study, by Olavo de Carvalho

This series of newspaper columns by Olavo de Carvalho was collected in this order in the book “The Minimum You Need To Know So As Not To Be An Idiot”.

In “The Tragedy of the Serious Student in Brazil”, Olavo criticizes the Brazilian educational system, especially its universities, for fostering intellectual mediocrity and focusing on left-wing political activism rather than genuine intellectual development. He contrasts the rich intellectual climate of the early 20th century with the shallow, politically motivated discourse that dominates modern Brazilian academia.

In “If You Still Want to Be a Serious Student…”, Olavo offers practical advice for students seeking serious intellectual formation outside of the mainstream educational system. He encourages independent study of classical thinkers, warns against the intellectual decay within universities, and emphasizes the need for a deep, disciplined approach to learning, combining philosophical rigor with historical and spiritual insight.

In “For the Intellectual Restoration of Brazil”, Olavo argues that Brazil needs a generation of students capable of genuine intellectual engagement. He stresses the importance of building an intellectual life rooted in historical and philosophical traditions, free from the ideological constraints of contemporary academia. He calls for the creation of alternative institutions to foster this intellectual growth, especially through the support of the private sector.

Finally, in “Spirit and Personality”, Olavo explores the relationship between thought and spirit, highlighting the transcendent nature of truth. He distinguishes between mere intellectual activity and genuine intelligence, which involves perceiving truths that transcend thought. He advocates for education that fosters intellectual and spiritual maturity, but laments that this goal is unattainable in today’s universities, urging students with initiative to seek intellectual growth independently.

Liberation, by Olavo de Carvalho

This series of newspaper columns by Olavo de Carvalho was collected in this order in the book “The Minimum You Need To Know So As Not To Be An Idiot”.

In “Self-Explanation”, Olavo reflects on his personal journey away from socialism, describing the liberating process of dismantling youthful ideological lies in adulthood. He emphasizes the existential satisfaction of rejecting false ideals, likening this process to Pinocchio becoming a real boy, and criticizes those who never fully abandon socialism, mistaking it for a lost ideal rather than a deceptive ideology.

In “Recycled Idiots”, Olavo discusses how many former leftist militants, after abandoning communism, transition into “useful idiots” for the left. He explains that these individuals fail to fully sever their ties with leftist ideology, instead seeking refuge in the “democratic left,” where they become susceptible to manipulation by their former comrades. Olavo critiques this superficial break with communism, arguing that many remain trapped in self-deception.

In “Doing My Duty”, Olavo critiques the communist mentality that reduces all political critique to partisan motives. He argues for the importance of independent thought, free from ideological labels, and emphasizes the need to criticize wrongdoing without aligning with a specific political side. Olavo also claims that in Brazil, there is no true right-wing movement, only leftist dominance in both the government and opposition.

In “Why I Am Not a Liberal”, Olavo distinguishes between conservatism and liberalism, critiquing the liberal tendency to prioritize market freedom over moral principles. He argues that while both ideologies value freedom, conservatives ground it in traditional moral values, whereas liberals see it as a contractual right, even allowing for morally questionable actions like euthanasia. Olavo positions conservatism as a defense of Judeo-Christian values, while liberalism, in his view, dissolves these values through market logic.

USA, by Olavo de Carvalho

This series of newspaper columns by Olavo de Carvalho was collected in this order in the book “The Minimum You Need To Know So As Not To Be An Idiot”. It is divided into two parts: the first on Bush, and the second on Obama.

The first part of the collection, focused on George W. Bush, consists of three articles that explore the media’s role in shaping public opinion and the moral implications of the Iraq War. In “The Disadvantage of Seeing”, Olavo argues that the Brazilian media’s anti-American narrative remains intact, despite the transformative impact of the 9/11 attacks on American public opinion. He criticizes the media for selectively omitting facts about the opposition to globalism within the U.S. conservative movement, which he believes could challenge the outdated anti-Americanism prevalent in Brazil. In “In the Name of the Corpses”, Olavo reflects on the moral necessity of Bush’s decision to invade Iraq, particularly after the discovery of mass graves containing 300,000 victims of Saddam Hussein’s regime. He contends that even without weapons of mass destruction, Bush’s actions were morally justified to stop the genocidal dictatorship. The third article, “Evaluating George W. Bush”, praises Bush for keeping the U.S. safe from terrorist attacks and for his handling of the Iraq War. However, Olavo criticizes Bush for failing to confront his internal political enemies and allowing the Republican Party to lose ground domestically, preventing a long-term conservative shift in U.S. politics.

The second part, devoted to Barack Obama, spans eleven articles in which Olavo harshly critiques Obama’s administration, accusing him of orchestrating political crises and enabling the growth of globalist and socialist agendas. In “The Parents of the American Crisis”, Olavo traces the 2008 financial crisis to leftist activists like Saul Alinsky and the Cloward-Piven strategy, which aimed to overload the welfare system and cause economic collapse. “The Advent of the Secret Dictatorship” accuses Obama of signing secret decrees, gradually transforming the U.S. into a dictatorship. In “Fleeing Humiliation”, Olavo discusses how Obama’s background and forged documents were hidden by the media, while “The Birthers’ Mistake” (part of “Depressing Notes”) argues that birthers should have focused on document fraud instead of Obama’s eligibility. In “Obama’s Zero Hunger”, Olavo compares Obama’s economic policies to Lula’s, suggesting that Obama intentionally created poverty to expand government control. The next article, “The Empire of Pure Coincidences”, alleges that Obama’s scandals and election irregularities are part of a broader conspiracy. “Saving the Global Triumvirate” critiques Obama’s efforts to weaken American power in favor of a globalist agenda. In “Old Trick”, Olavo describes how leftists use the media to manipulate public opinion. “Thinking Like Revolutionaries” and “Disarming the Little Ones” examine how Obama’s policies, especially on gun control, are part of a revolutionary strategy to disarm and control the population. Finally, in “Armed and Disarmed”, Olavo concludes by condemning Obama’s attempts to disarm his political opponents while arming government agencies, comparing it to Hitler’s tactics in the 1930s.