The host reflects on a remarkable year focused on Greek literature, sharing insights from epic poetry, tragedies, and fables. They dive into Aesop's fables and discuss modern challenges depicted in contemporary works. Personal growth through impactful reads is emphasized, along with top book recommendations that bridge classic and modern texts. Engaging conversations about Aeschylus and Thucydides reveal enduring themes like war and philosophy. Finally, the host connects Athenian thought to modern politics while outlining exciting future reading plans.
The speaker's 2024 reading journey centered on Greek literature, marking it as their most enjoyable year of reading ever.
By tracking reading habits meticulously, the speaker highlights the importance of quantifying literature engagement to enhance personal growth and time management.
Deep dives
Reading Journey Overview
The speaker shares their journey of reading great books, having started with a goal of 52 books per year, but transitioning to focus on a curated list of significant works that have influenced literature throughout history. In 2024, they dubbed their reading list the 'big fat Greek reading list' as they focused primarily on literature from ancient Greece, including epic poetry, tragedies, and histories. Reading 41 books in total, the speaker enjoyed the depth of these works, expressing how this year marked the most pleasurable reading experience of their life, highlighting their enthusiasm for engaging with such rich material. By taking a step back to assess overarching trends in their reading, they emphasized shifts in personal understanding and enjoyment of literature.
Structure and Statistics of Reading
The reading year is divided into five distinct segments, including starting with the Bible and then focusing on great books in chronological order, allowing for both structure and serendipity within the reading experience. The speaker meticulously documents their reading habits, tracking the total pages read and the hours spent reading, which amounted to over 400 hours for the year. This attention to detail underscores their commitment to the craft of reading and transforms reading into a quantifiable and enjoyable endeavor. By sharing these statistics, the speaker showcases how tracking reading habits can enhance one's understanding of time management and personal goals within the literary space.
Key Takeaways from Greek Literature
The experience of reading classic texts led to significant insights, particularly around the theme of moral choice and the consequences of one's actions, illustrated through tragedies such as 'Medea' and 'Philoctetes.' The speaker found connections between the Greek plays and their modern implications, particularly concerning truthfulness, persuasion, and the use of force, which sparked discussions on the nature of civilization versus war as depicted through Ares and the Areopagus. Additionally, the exploration of the will of Zeus in Greek literature presented a poignant reflection on divine influence versus human agency, raising questions about existential meaning within these works. Such takeaways framed a broader understanding of how timeless themes resonate across generations, emphasizing the conversation that great books invite among readers.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As the speaker transitions into 2025, they are excited to delve further into Greek comedies and philosophical texts by Plato and Aristotle, forwarding their exploration of 'immortal books' rather than merely 'great books.' They have proposed to rename their project to better encapsulate the timeless relevance of these works, hoping to inspire others to engage with literature that has enduring significance. Shared plans for a reading group invite both in-person and online discussion, suggesting an inclusive approach to exploring the classics and enriching the community's engagement with literature. Ultimately, the speaker expresses gratitude for their reading journey, looking forward to continued growth in understanding and sharing the rich tapestry of literature.
Each year, I stack all of the books from the previous year’s reading list next to me and reminisce over the reading year. It’s one of my favorite yearly podcast episodes and it’s a great way for you to hear about some books to add to your reading list.
2024 was My Big Fat Greek Reading List. I’m reading through The Great Books The Immortal Books in chronological order over the next 15 years, and the time frame for this year was all Greek. Greek epic poetry, Greek tragedies, histories, and even fables.
It was an absolutely delightful year of reading, the most enjoyable in my 44 years of living.
In this episode, I cover the year as a whole, some of my favorite works, and some best of lists.
Here are some of my favorite podcast episodes over this past year:
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