Niall Ferguson, Flying Scotsman | GoodFellows

GoodFellows: Conversations on Economics, History & Geopolitics

Hoover Institution

News, News Commentary, News:news Commentary, Politics, Government

4.6 • 717 Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

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Summary

How does a young Scotsman go from struggling actor and failed politician to internationally acclaimed (and knighted) historian? In a solo installment of GoodFellows, Sir Niall Ferguson, Hoover’s Milbank Family Senior Fellow, discusses his academic journey, fellow historians he admires, keys to successfully multi-tasking through life, plus how he and his spouse, Hoover Research Fellow Ayaan Hirsi Ali (who also appears in this episode), are raising their two sons. Also discussed: Sir Niall’s newfound passion for sailing, his non-Scottish attitude toward golf and fishing, why he doesn’t see retirement as a viable lifestyle, plus the pride he takes in a music legend recently lauding him as the “Jimi Hendrix” of his profession. Recorded on July 30, 2025. Subscribe for clarity on today’s biggest social, economic, and geostrategic shifts — only on GoodFellows.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Peter Robinson of Uncommon Knowledge. To honor the remarkable scholarship of Tom Sol,
0:06.0	renowned economist, social theorist, public intellectual, and Hoover Senior Fellow,
0:12.0	we're inviting everyone inspired by his work to enter two national contests.
0:18.0	The Thomas Soul essay contest is open to high school students and college undergraduates.
0:22.6	Students may explore a cultural issue or a policy issue through the lens of Tom Sol's work
0:28.6	or reflect on how Thomas Soul changed their view of the world.
0:33.6	He certainly changed mine. I imagine he may have changed yours.
0:38.1	The second contest, the Thomas Sowell video contest.
0:42.5	This is open to everybody.
0:44.2	It invites short, compelling videos up to three minutes that answer the question, what
0:50.1	lesson or teaching from Thomas Sowell do Americans most need to learn or remember today?
0:57.0	Winners of each competition will receive a $5,000 prize, along with paid travel and an invitation to a special celebration of Thomas Soul
1:07.0	that will take place here at the Hoover Institution on the Stanford University
1:11.6	campus.
1:12.6	All entries are due by August 31st.
1:15.6	Let me repeat that date.
1:16.6	That's an important one.
1:17.6	All entries are due by August 31st.
1:20.6	To learn more and apply, visit hoover.org slash Thomas-Soul dash legacy.
1:30.3	Hoover.org slash Thomas-Soul Legacy.
1:35.1	Thank you.
1:53.5	Welcome back to Goodfellows, a Hoover Institution broadcast examining social, economic, political, and geopolitical concerns.
	...

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