Why We Need Old Books

On November 11, 2026, the legendary SS United States disappeared beneath the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, ending one remarkable chapter of American maritime history and beginning another as an artificial reef.Once the fastest ocean liner in the world, this magnificent ship represented an extraordinary era of American ingenuity, ambition, and adventure.In this special edition of The Caravan Moves On, Chris Duncan reflects on the ship's remarkable history, his recent visit to the graves of Titanic victims in Halifax, and the bittersweet farewell to one of America's greatest ocean liners.Can a ship's story continue long after her engines fall silent?The caravan moves on.thecaravanmoveson.com

What do the Great Pyramid of Giza, the vastness of the universe, and a squadron of brown pelicans along the Gulf Coast have in common?They remind us that the world is filled with wonders—if we'll only take the time to notice them.In this episode of The Caravan Moves On, Chris explores the extraordinary ingenuity of ancient civilizations, the mysteries of our astonishing universe, and the simple delight of watching pelicans glide above the waves.Along the way, he reflects on curiosity, humility, faith, and why growing older should deepen—not diminish—our capacity for wonder.The world has never run out of wonders. We've only begun to understand them.

What makes a great country song? Often, it's the story.From childhood mornings listening to country radio in Opelika, Alabama, to the unforgettable songs of Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, George Jones, and Johnny Cash, Chris explores the remarkable storytelling tradition of country music.Along the way, he reflects on songs that capture love, loss, family, wisdom, and the ordinary experiences that make us human.Sometimes, three chords and a good story are all it takes to tell the truth.

Why do we remember the dead? And what can an old cemetery teach us about life?In this episode of The Caravan Moves On, Chris explores his fascination with cemeteries, from the remarkable above-ground tombs of New Orleans to the ancient traditions surrounding All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.Along the way, he reflects on the stories preserved in stone, the ways different cultures honor those who came before them, and why cemeteries can be places not only of grief and remembrance, but also of gratitude and hope.A conversation about history, memory, mortality, and the remarkable gift of life.Mentioned in this episode: The Cemeteries of New Orleans: A Cultural History by Peter B. Dedek.

Why do we love a good ghost story? From creaking floorboards and haunted houses to Disney's Haunted Mansion, tales of things that go bump in the night have fascinated us for generations.In this episode of The Caravan Moves On, Chris explores our enduring fascination with ghost stories, shares a few personal reflections, and considers what these tales reveal about memory, mystery, and our desire to believe there's more to this world than meets the eye.After all, some stories stay with us long after the lights go out.

What makes a place home? After twenty-six years in Opelika, Alabama, Chris and his wife begin a new chapter on the Gulf Coast—only to find themselves evacuating for a hurricane just three weeks later. An unexpected train whistle stirs memories of the place they left behind and raises a deeper question about familiarity, belonging, and our longing for a permanent home. A personal reflection on the places we love, the memories we carry, and the hope of a home that lasts forever.

Why We Need Old Books. Old books do more than preserve the past—they challenge our assumptions, deepen our understanding of human nature, and draw us into conversation with generations beyond our own. In this episode, Chris Duncan reflects on C. S. Lewis’s warning against “chronological snobbery” and the wisdom of Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren’s How to Read a Book. Along the way, he considers how reading voices from another age can make us wiser, humbler, and less captive to the assumptions of our own moment.

Gospel Echoes in The Mandalorian. Star Wars has always been about more than spaceships and distant galaxies. In this episode, Chris Duncan explores themes of belonging, adoption, sacrifice, redemption, and “the Way” in the story of Din Djarin and Grogu. Drawing on John C. McDowell’s The Gospel According to Star Wars, he considers how a popular story can awaken our deeper longing for grace, family, and home.

We Are Made of Stardust. The atoms in our bodies were forged in stars long before any of us arrived. In this episode, Chris Duncan reflects on the astonishing story of where we came from—from the birth of the elements to the lives we live today. Along the way, voices like Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Hawking help us consider what science can teach us about our place in the universe—and why wonder and faith need not be enemies.

America at 250. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Chris Duncan reflects on the American experiment—its remarkable achievements, its failures, and the ideals that have endured through both. A conversation about history, gratitude, humility, and what it means to inherit a nation still very much in progress.