Hoover Institution (Stanford, CA) — The Hoover Institution proudly celebrates Barry Strauss, Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow, as a winner of the 2025 Bradley Prize. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation announced Strauss as one of this year’s recipients, honoring his lifelong dedication to the study and teaching of Western civilization and classical and military history.
Strauss is also the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, where he served as Chair of the Department of History and Professor of History and Classics. At Hoover, Strauss is a key participant in the Military History in Contemporary Conflict Working Group, contributing deep insights into leadership, strategy, and the enduring relevance of military history.
A renowned historian and best-selling author, Strauss has spent his career bringing the lessons of the ancient world to life. His scholarship focuses on leadership, military strategy, and the foundations of free societies. He is the author of ten books, including the bestselling The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium and the upcoming Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire, to be published in August. Through his writing, teaching, and public engagement, Strauss has helped advance the intellectual foundations of liberty and deepened public understanding of the Western tradition.
Strauss’s scholarship emphasizes the lessons that can be learned from the lives and experiences of the greatest political and military leaders of the ancient world, including Caesar, Hannibal, and Alexander the Great.
In announcing the award, the Bradley Foundation praised Strauss’s principled defense of free speech, commitment to informed citizenship, and contributions to preserving liberty. The prize, which carries a $300,000 stipend, recognizes individuals whose work strengthens American exceptionalism and upholds the ideals of Western tradition.
Strauss is expected to receive the award at the 2025 Bradley Prizes ceremony on Thursday, May 29th, at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
For coverage opportunities, contact Jeffrey Marschner, 202-760-3187, jmarsch@stanford.edu.
