Jeff Russell

Howdy all,

I've launched a new blog (not that I'm shutting down or giving up on the "Webstead," but having a more dedicated one seemed like a good idea) called Rhetoric for the Renaissance Man.

The goal is to share some of what I've learned about persuasive communication skills in the business world and as a university lecturer in a less morally-ambiguous/non-committal way. Basically, I want to treat these more mundane ways of changing consciousness in accordance with will with the same ethical rigor as the obviously "magical." To achieve that, I'll be drawing on not only modern approaches, but also looking back on the more integrated, holistic, humanist tradition of Renaissance education.

So, I'll be sharing approaches on how to formulate goals in accordance with your values, craft strategies to make them more likely to be achieved, and learn the skills of public speaking and writing that will help you get others on board with those strategies, all with an emphasis on doing things "the old fashioned way."


If any of that sounds interesting, you can check out my more in-depth introduction to what I hope to share on the blog here.

Cheers,
Jeff

This week, I take my first step in tackling Maria Kvilhaug's massive tome The Seed of Yggdrasill. As with some of her other work, it is a frustrating blend of genuinely wonderful insights and sloppy organization, but hopefully sharing my thoughts on them will help both of us get more out of it!

Another week, another post, just under the wire. This time, I reflect on what it was like spending 2022 with the rule that I could only read books by writers who had died. Please comment here or shoot me an email!