The Tim Ferriss Show

#773: Andrew Roberts on The Habits of Churchill, Lessons from Napoleon, and The Holy Fire Inside Great Leaders

Andrew Roberts has written twenty books, which have been translated into twenty-eight languages and have won thirteen literary prizes. These include Napoleon: A Life, Churchill: Walking with Destiny, and most recently,Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Gaza, which he co-authored with General David Petraeus.

Sponsors:

Our Place's Titanium Always Pan® Pro using nonstick technology that’s coating-free and made without PFAS, otherwise known as “Forever Chemicals”: https://fromourplace.com/tim(10% off all products from Our Place using code TIM)

Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: https://shopify.com/tim (one-dollar-per-month trial period)

LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 1B+ users: https://linkedin.com/tim (post your job for free)

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Start

[00:06:14] Expelled from Cranleigh school.

[00:07:14] Why MI6 considered Andrew for recruitment.

[00:09:56] The teacher who made history exciting to 10-year-old Andrew.

[00:13:05] Words Andrew avoids when writing about history.

[00:14:20] Are steady-nerved leaders naturally born or nurtured?

[00:16:05] The thinkers who influenced Winston Churchill and his sense of noblesse oblige.

[00:18:26] What made Napoleon Bonaparte the prime exemplar of war leadership?

[00:24:37] Lessons from Winston Churchill's autobiography, My Early Life.

[00:26:22] Napoleon's relationship with risk.

[00:29:26] Andrew's signed letter from Aldous Huxley.

[00:30:49] When historical figures carry a sense of personal destiny.

[00:33:07] The meeting Andrew wishes he could've witnessed as a fly on the wall.

[00:34:30] When historical villains carry a sense of personal destiny.

[00:37:14] What Churchill and Napoleon learned from their mistakes.

[00:39:38] "Dear Diary..."

[00:44:00] Maintaining creative flow during the writing process.

[00:47:18] On working with brilliant publisher Stuart Proffitt (aka Professor Perfect).

[00:52:53] Why are some significant figures immortalized while others go the way of Ozymandias?

[00:57:59] Thoughts on personal legacy.

[00:59:18] Fiction favorites.

[01:02:05] Being objective about the history of imperialism.

[01:03:31] The challenges of teaching and learning history today.

[01:06:40] Why "Study history" is Andrew's coat of arms motto.

[01:10:22] What Andrew, as a history expert, sees for the future.

[01:14:01] Counteracting natural pessimism.

[01:15:34] What to expect from Andrew's latest book Conflict (co-authored with David Petraeus).

[01:19:21] Upcoming book projects.

[01:20:26] Parting thoughts.

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors

Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.

For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.

Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.

Follow Tim:

Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss

Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss

YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss

Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss

Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Download This Episode

THIS DOCUMENT IS A LEGAL CONTRACT. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE, OR ANY OF ITS CONTENTS OR SOFTWARE. BY USING THIS WEBSITE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THESE TERMS OF USE AND AGREE TO THEM. IF YOU ARE AGREEING TO THESE TERMS OF USE ON BEHALF OF A COMPANY OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY, YOU REPRESENT THAT YOU HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO BIND THE LEGAL ENTITY TO THESE TERMS OF USE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SUCH AUTHORITY, OR IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF USE, THEN YOU MUST NOT USE THIS WEBSITE OR ANY OF ITS CONTENTS OR SOFTWARE.

1. Agreement to Terms.

This Website (www.allyoucanbooks.com) and its contents are made available by All You Can Books, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (AYCB). Your use of this Website or any of its contents or software indicates your agreement to be bound by these Terms of Use (Terms of Use). These Terms of Use govern your use of the Website and the products, software and services sold and provided by AYCB. By using the Website and the products, software and services sold and provided by AYCB, you signify that you acknowledge and agree to these Terms of Use. In addition, when using the Website and the products, software and services sold and provided by AYCB, you will be subject to any posted guidelines or rules applicable to the Website and such products, software or services that may be posted from time to time. All such guidelines or rules are hereby incorporated by reference into these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, please do not use the Website, or the products, software or services sold and provided by AYCB. AYCB reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to change, modify, add, or remove portions of these Terms of Use at any time without notice. Please check these terms periodically for changes. Your continued use of the Website, or the products, software and services sold and provided by AYCB, after the posting of changes to these Terms of Use means you agree to abide by the Terms of Use as revised. Please note that some of the products, software or services offered and provided by AYCB may be accompanied by their own licenses or terms of use. With respect to your rights in and obligations regarding such products, software and services, and to the extent there is a conflict, those licenses or terms of use take precedence over these Terms of Use, and you agree to be bound accordingly.

2. Ownership.

The Website is owned and operated by AYCB. The contents of the Website are copyrighted and owned exclusively by AYCB. All rights are expressly reserved. AYCB and all associated logos, characters, trademarks, service marks, artwork, stories, photographs, images, information, names and other elements associated therewith are and remain the sole and exclusive property of AYCB or their respective owners. No licenses or other rights in or to such logos, characters, trademarks, service marks, artwork, stories, photographs, images, information, names, or other elements are granted to you by these Terms of Use. Any use of any of the materials on the Website other than for private, non-commercial viewing purposes is strictly prohibited. The sale, auction, lease, loan, gift, trade or barter, or use of any of the logos, characters, trademarks, service marks, artwork, stories, photographs, images, information, names, text, graphics, audio or video material, stills from audiovisual material, or any other materials contained on the Website, for any other purpose, in any form, media, or technology, whether now known or hereafter developed, including the use of any of the aforementioned materials on any other website or networked computer environment, without the prior written consent of AYCB, is expressly prohibited. Modification of such materials or use of such materials for any other purpose is a violation of AYCB's proprietary and intellectual property rights.

3. Links.

The Website, or the products, software and services sold and provided by AYCB, may provide links to other websites or content that is not hosted or managed by AYCB, and you agree that AYCB has no control over, responsibility for, or liability whatsoever relating to any such websites or content, including your use of them. AYCB does not endorse any such websites or the information, material, products, software, or services contained on or accessible through such websites. Furthermore, AYCB makes no express or implied warranties with regard to the information, material, products, software, or services that are contained on or accessible through such websites. Access and use of such websites, including information, material, products, software, and services contained on or available through such websites are solely at the user's own risk.

4. Submissions.

You acknowledge and agree that AYCB's company policy provides that if you send us creative suggestions, testimonials, ideas, notes, drawings, concepts, photographs, images, or other information, irrespective of form or media, of any kind or nature whatsoever (Submissions), such Submissions shall be deemed and shall remain the exclusive property of AYCB in perpetuity, subject to applicable federal and state laws. By making Submissions, the sender automatically grants, or warrants that the owner of such material expressly grants, AYCB the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate and distribute such material (in whole or in part) and to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or hereafter developed, for the full term of any copyright, trademark, or patent that may exist in such material for any purpose that AYCB chooses, whether internal, public, commercial, or otherwise, without any compensation, credit, or notice to the sender whatsoever. The sender waives all so-called "moral rights" and goodwill with respect to all such Submissions. The sender further waives the right to make any claims against AYCB relating to unsolicited Submissions, including, but not limited to, unfair competition, breach of implied contract and breach of confidentiality, and further agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless AYCB, its partners, officers, employees and agents from any and all third party claims associated with such Submissions and the usage thereof.

5. Disclaimer of Warranties.

YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THE WEBSITE, and the products, software and services sold and provided by AYCB, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER MATERIALS ON THE WEBSITE, ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS", "AS AVAILABLE" AND "WITH ALL FAULTS" BASIS AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, AYCB DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NONINFRINGEMENT. AYCB DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED ON THE WEBSITE, OR the products, software and services OFFERED AND provided by AYCB, WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE WEBSITE, OR the products, software and services sold and provided by AYCB, OR ANY SERVER THAT MAKES THEM AVAILABLE, WILL BE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. AYCB DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE MATERIALS ON THE WEBSITE OR THE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OR SOFTWARE OFFERED OR PROVIDED BY AYCB, IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, USEFULNESS, SUITABILITY, COMPLETENESS OR OTHERWISE. YOU AGREE TO ASSUME ALL RISK OF LOSS OR LIABILITY FOR THE USE OF THE WEBSITE AND ANY MATERIALS ON IT AND THE ENTIRE COST OF ANY NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION. TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF ANY OR ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY.

6. Membership and Billing.

AYCB provides numerous products and services in connection with its business. With respect to products and services provided hereunder, you will have a 30 day unlimited access to AYCB website with full, unlimited access to view, read, listen and download audiobooks and ebooks provided through the site. After the 30-day trial that starts the day you sign up, you will be charged $19.99 to the debit card, credit card or other payment form provided during registration for 1 month of ongoing service. Membership rates are subject to change at any time in AYCB's sole discretion. All such pricing changes will be posted to the Website. We will begin billing you for membership fees at the end of the free trial period of your membership unless you cancel prior to the end of the free trial period. We will continue to bill your method of payment on a monthly basis for your membership fee until you cancel. You may cancel your membership at anytime; however, there are no refunds or credits for partially used periods. You will not receive a notice from us that your free trial period has ended or that the paying portion of your membership has begun. You can cancel your participation in this program at anytime by visiting www.allyoucanbooks.com/cancel. There is no obligation and no minimum required purchase. WE DO NOT PROVIDE REFUNDS OR CREDITS FOR ANY PARTIAL-MONTH MEMBERSHIP PERIOD.

7. Termination.

You agree that AYCB, in its sole discretion, may terminate your account (or any part thereof) or your use of the software, products, services, or the Website, and remove and discard all or any part of your account or any Submissions, for any reason whatsoever. AYCB may also, in its sole and absolute discretion and at any time, discontinue providing the services, products, or the Website, or any part thereof, with or without notice. You agree that any termination of your access to the products, services, or the Website or any account you may have or portion thereof may be effected without prior notice, and you agree that AYCB shall not be liable to you or any third party for any such termination. At any time, and without cause, subscription to the Service described in Section 6 may be terminated by AYCB or the subscriber upon notification at www.allyoucanbooks.com/cancel. When you request termination of such service, charges already incurred are NOT refundable. You are liable for charges incurred until termination of service. Termination requests should be made prior to the next billing cycle. IF YOU CANCEL PRIOR TO THE END OF YOUR FREE TRIAL, THERE WILL BE NO CHARGES TO YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT.

8. Authorization.

Unless and until your Membership Service is cancelled in accordance with the terms hereof, you authorize AYCB to charge the credit or debit card provided to pay for any charges previously agreed upon as described in these Terms of Use. You further authorize AYCB to charge the credit or debit card provided for any and all products and website access provided by AYCB in accordance with these Terms of Use. A user is only allowed to have one membership at a time.

9. Privacy Policy.

AYCB is committed to protecting your privacy. AYCB collects only the information that is necessary to process your order. Please visit www.allyoucanbooks.com/privacy-policy to read the AYCB Privacy Statement.

10. Limitation of Liability.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, NEGLIGENCE, SHALL AYCB BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF BUSINESS, REVENUE, PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA, ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED ORDERS, OR OTHER ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE WEBSITE, OR THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PROVIDED BY AYCB, EVEN IF AYCB HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN ADVISED OF, OR REASONABLY COULD HAVE FORESEEN, THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, HOWEVER THEY ARISE, WHETHER IN BREACH OF CONTRACT OR IN TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE). TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY JURISDICTION DOES NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF DIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, PORTIONS OF THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU HAVE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADEQUATE PROTECTION AND BACKUP OF DATA AND EQUIPMENT USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE WEBSITE AND WILL NOT MAKE A CLAIM AGAINST AYCB FOR LOST DATA, SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS, SYSTEM FAILURES, INACCURATE OUTPUT, WORK DELAYS OR LOST PROFITS IN CONNECTION WITH THE WEBSITE OR THE PRODUCTS, SOFTWARE OR SERVICES OFFERED AND PROVIDED BY AYCB. YOU AGREE TO HOLD AYCB HARMLESS FROM, AND YOU COVENANT NOT TO SUE AYCB, FOR ANY CLAIMS IN CONNECTION WITH THE WEBSITE, OR THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PROVIDED BY AYCB. IN NO EVENT SHALL AYCB'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES AND CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU, IF ANY, TO AYCB FOR ACCESSING OR USING THE WEBSITE, OR THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PROVIDED BY AYCB.

11. Accurate information on file.

If the information pertaining to your credit or debit card is changed for any reason, including changes in your home or billing address, changes in the card expiration date, or if your credit card is lost or stolen, you must immediately inform AYCB by e-mail. Your failure to do so is a material breach of these Terms of Use, and, in the event of your failure to notify AYCB, AYCB disclaims any and all responsibility for charges posted to a lost or stolen credit card.

12. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Consumer & Customer Information Privacy & Confidentiality.

You acknowledge and agree that you desire to comply with the requirements of Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 6801-6810 (GLB Act), and the Federal Trade Commission's implementing regulation, Regulation P, 16 C.F.R. Part 313 (Regulation P), in particular, as both relate to the disclosure and protection of Non-Public Personal Information (NPI) for consumers and customers. To the extent applicable, you will substantially comply with the GLB Act and Regulation P and will keep confidential all consumer and customer NPI received or obtained by you in accordance with the provisions of the GLB Act and Regulation P. In particular, you may use consumer and customer NPI you receive or obtain from AYCB or another user of the Website only for the purpose for which such information was delivered or made available, and only for such other purposes permitted under 16 C.F.R. §§313.14 and 313.15. The stated purpose in this case is to assist you through internet and web activities with the collection of consumer and customer NPI, to deliver said information to you for use in connection with stated the purposes of the Website. You agree to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards, as necessary, that comply with federal regulations to guard NPI you receive from AYCB or other Website users pursuant to these Terms of Use and any services agreement entered into by you and AYCB. You agree to be responsible for any breach of these Terms of Use by you and any of your agents or advisors (including, without limitation, attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors). In the event you discover or become aware that another party's NPI has been used in an unauthorized manner or disclosed in violation of these Terms of Use, you will immediately notify such other party (the "Aggrieved Party") of such event, and will indemnify, defend and hold AYCB, its managers, members, officers, employees and agents, harmless from all claims, damage, liability, costs and expenses (including court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees) arising or resulting from the unauthorized use or disclosure. In addition, AYCB will be entitled to all other remedies available at law or equity, including injunctive relief. Upon the request of AYCB, you will promptly return all NPI of a specific party received by you from such party, or will promptly destroy all materials containing such NPI (and any copies, extracts and summaries thereof).

13. Miscellaneous.

The failure of AYCB to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms of Use shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable federal law and the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to choice of law rules. You agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these Terms of Use or the Website, software, products, or services offered by AYCB, shall be filed only in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, or the state district courts of Dallas County, Texas, and you hereby consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. If any part of these Terms of Use is determined to be invalid or unenforceable pursuant to applicable law including, but not limited to, the warranty disclaimers and liability limitations set forth above, then the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision and the remainder of these Terms of Use shall continue in full force and effect. You agree to comply with all local rules regarding online conduct and acceptable materials. Specifically, you agree to comply with all applicable laws regarding the transmission of personal, technical, public, or other data exported from the United States or the country in which you reside. As a condition of your access and use of the Website, and the products and services offered by AYCB, you warrant that you will not use the Website or the products and services offered by AYCB for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these Terms of Use. These Terms of Use constitute the entire agreement between you and AYCB regarding their subject matter, and supersede any prior versions of these Terms of Use. No modification to the Terms of Use will be binding, unless authorized by AYCB in writing or as provided above. Any express waiver or failure to exercise any right under these Terms of Use will not create a continuing waiver or any expectation of non-enforcement. Paragraph headings and captions are for convenience only and are not be to be considered in determining the meaning or effect of these Terms of Use. You agree that no joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and AYCB as a result of these Terms of Use or your access to or use of the Website, or the products or services offered by AYCB in connection with the Website.

If you have questions or comments please contact us at info@allyoucanbooks.com.

Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig

The Tim Ferriss Show

Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig

Podcast Episodes

How It Works

30-day FREE trial

UNLIMITED access

Forever Downloads

Significant Savings

Our Story

Welcome to All You Can Books, the ultimate destination for book lovers.