AEWCH 288: HOW TO LIVE IN 2025: READ with ALEXANDER CHEE

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Mar 5, 2025

In this engaging discussion, author Alexander Chee delves into the nourishing power of reading in uncertain times. He emphasizes how literature enriches our experiences and offers comfort amidst chaos. Chee also explores the art of authentic storytelling, encouraging deeper narratives over superficiality. The conversation takes a unique turn with tarot readings, linking them to personal empowerment and identity. Throughout, themes of transformation in literature and the dark allure of horror are examined, making for a thought-provoking dive into how we navigate our lives through stories.

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ANECDOTE

Early Encounters with Language

Conner Habib read the dictionary as a teen to feel closer to his awakening sexuality.
Reading the word "penis" intensified something real outside of him.

INSIGHT

Reading and Altered States

Reading style affects consciousness, going beyond empathy.
Tracing an author's thinking creates new pathways in the reader's mind.

INSIGHT

Intense Encounters

Alexander Chee aims for reader absorption through sensory language, echoing Annie Dillard's writing style.
Krista Wolf describes reading as intensifying our engagement with life, not as escapism.

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