Originally published on December 5, 2022 (Episode 296)
Introduction
“I can’t introduce this book any better than the author himself,” says Al Zambone—and so Cathal Nolan’s own words open our discussion:
“This is not a book about war. It is about mercy and humanity… Mercy happens in a microsecond, wrapped inside a surprise moment of mortal danger; it restrains baser instinct and reminds us about higher things. This book shows that mercy limits cruelty in ways laws and honor codes seldom do, because mercy is the highest personal and moral quality any of us achieves.”
In Mercy: Humanity in War (Oxford University Press, 2022), Nolan explores moments when soldiers and civilians chose mercy over cruelty, even amid the brutality of conflict. Mercy, he argues, is not just a gift to the vulnerable but also an act that elevates the one who shows it.
About the Guest
Cathal J. Nolan is Director of the International History Institute at the Pardee School of Global Studies and Professor of History at Boston University. His books include The Allure of Battle: A History of How Wars Have Been Won and Lost (Oxford, 2017), which he discussed in Episode 79 of Historically Thinking.
For Further Investigation
Cathal J. Nolan, Mercy: Humanity in War (Oxford University Press, 2022)
Nolan’s earlier work: The Allure of Battle: A History of How Wars Have Been Won and Lost (Oxford University Press, 2017)
Related episodes:
Episode 79: The Allure of Battle, with Cathal Nolan
The Great War and Modern Medicine, with Thomas Helling
Healing a Divided Nation, with Carole Adrienne
💬 Listen & Discuss
Do you agree with Nolan that mercy is greater than justice, courage, or bravery—especially in war? Share your reflections in the comments.
