About this episode

Michael Knowles and historian Niall Ferguson discuss the impact of war on individuals and society through the lens of Tolstoy's War and Peace.

How does war reshape not only nations—but the souls of those who live through it? In War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy sets Napoleon’s invasion of Russia as the backdrop for what many consider the greatest novel ever written. Michael Knowles is joined by renowned historian and author Niall Ferguson to explore how the chaos of war ripples through the lives of everyday citizens—from peasants and soldiers to aristocratic families. More than a historical epic, War and Peace is a powerful meditation on love, destiny, and the human spirit in times of upheaval. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Michael Knowles

Guest: Niall Ferguson

Topics covered

• war
• literature
• history
• human spirit
• love
• destiny

Keywords

• war
• peace
• Tolstoy
• Niall Ferguson
• literature
• history
• human spirit

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PragerU, PragerU.com, megaphone.fm

Books & works: War and Peace

More episodes of The Book Club | PragerU

• Mollie Hemingway: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin | The Book Club | PragerU · April 21, 2026 · 40 min
• Bryan Callen: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller · February 17, 2026 · 40 min
• Rich Zeoli: Animal Farm by George Orwell | The Book Club | PragerU · November 18, 2025 · 37 min
• Alexandra Hudson: Pascal's Pensées | The Book Club | PragerU · October 21, 2025 · 37 min
• Viva Frei: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway · May 27, 2025 · 35 min
• Neil Shenvi: The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis · March 18, 2025 · 34 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Book Club | PragerU podcast page.