In this episode of The Athenaeum Book Club, host Jeremy Ryan Slate welcomes Dr. Shaun Rieley of Hillsdale College for a thought-provoking discussion on St. Thomas More’s Utopia.

Together they explore More’s vision of the ideal society—its paradoxes, political commentary, and enduring questions about human nature and governance.

Dr. Rieley unpacks the historical context of Utopia, revealing how More used fiction to challenge both Renaissance realism and modern ideology.

This conversation bridges philosophy, politics, and faith, offering listeners timeless insight into the tension between moral order and the pursuit of a perfect world.