The Executive Cogitator is Bradley W. Bloch's blog on topics of interest to the thoughtful participant in today’s dynamic business environment. It takes its name from The Practical Cogitator, an anthology of philosophical and literary passages on civilization's enduring questions. Compiled during World War II, the book was designed to be small enough to be slipped into a soldier’s tunic, and thus provide respite and perspective to those on the front lines of battle. The book became an instant classic and remained in print for several decades.