Notebooks

Notebooks are snapshots from our writers, reflecting on current affairs and underappreciated aspects of culture and history.

A portrait of Sören Kierkegaard (1813-1855).
notebook

Kierkegaard’s philosophy of love

The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard believed that despair could be transformed into hope, under the influence of love, a message that resonates in an age of pessimism.

Zachary Hardman June 20, 2025
Poster advertising the inaugural conference of the United Nations in San Francisco.
notebook

Hamstrung by history: the United Nations 80 years on

All are agreed that the UN is in desperate need of reform, but nobody can agree on what that should look like.

Keith Lowe June 19, 2025
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visiting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Achievement Exhibition at Ashura Aerospace Science and Technology University (2023).
notebook

How Iran’s grand strategy collapsed

Since 7 October 2023, the pillars of Iran's military doctrine have collapsed one by one, paving the way for Israel's lightning strike on the country's military facilities and the p..

Kasra Aarabi June 18, 2025
The bust of the British-French Special Operations Executive (SOE) spy Violette Szabo on top of the SOE memorial in London, United Kingdom.
notebook

The rise of the female spymaster

Blaise Metreweli, set to become the first female chief of the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service, stands on the shoulders of generations of British women who spied with courage and d..

Helen Fry June 17, 2025
Iran's missile attack against Israel.
notebook

Israel and Iran square off

None of the would-be peacemakers have yet stated their endgame vision for a de-escalated region.

Peter Caddick-Adams June 16, 2025
An Iranian protester holds up a poster of Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of Iran's military, who was killed in an Israeli strike.
notebook

The Islamic Republic on the ropes

Following catastrophic strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites by Israel, what will the Islamic Republic do next?

James Snell June 13, 2025
Brian Wilson at home.
notebook

Brian Wilson was made for these times

The presiding genius of the Beach Boys, the late Brian Wilson, was one of the very best of the postwar generation.

Bryan Appleyard June 13, 2025
Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute.
notebook

How Nato can defend the Atlantic

The United Kingdom’s vision of a North Atlantic secured from Russian submarine warfare is possible. But it will require inspired leadership, partnership with industry, and support ..

Andrew Boyd June 12, 2025
A young 'hippie' stands in front of a row of National Guard soldiers outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, on 26 August, 1968.
notebook

America’s National Guard, a history of heroism and violence

Throughout recent US history, the National Guard has been a recurring player in confrontations between the state capitals and Washington, DC. Now, Trump’s decision to deploy the Gu..

Phil Tinline June 11, 2025

Download The Engelsberg
Ideas app

The world in your pocket. The app brings together – in one place – our essays, reviews, notebooks, and podcasts.

Download here

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play