Otherppl with Brad Listi: Books & Culture 1039. Anne Enright
Jun 9, 2026
Anne Enright, award-winning Irish novelist and essayist, discusses her essay collection Attention. She talks about attention and distraction in the internet age. She reflects on rereading canonical writers and discovering new voices. She examines silence, family secrets, bodies and politics, motherhood’s effect on creativity, and how middle age reshapes what she notices.
01:07:32
The Internet Is Our Communal Unconscious
- The internet functions as our communal unconscious and reshapes how writers access material.
- Enright says the online space is a busy shared unconscious that provides characters and ideas she mines for fiction.
Treat Writing Time As Binary Focus Sessions
- Protect focused work by recognizing a binary: when writing, avoid distractions completely; when not working, accept they will intrude.
- Enright describes being fully absorbed while working and easily distracted otherwise, recommending structural focus.
Rereading Ulysses As A Rite Of Passage
- Enright rereads Joyce periodically and treats Ulysses like an ocean you dip into rather than a book to conquer.
- She links those rereadings to markers of maturation, recalling reading Ulysses more often after she could 'read it'.
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Intro
00:00 • 7min
Why 'Attention' and essay intentions
06:45 • 2min
Technology, the internet, and attention
08:21 • 4min
Work habits and distraction management
11:55 • 45sec
Personal voice and essay threads
12:40 • 1min
Revisiting canonical writers
14:06 • 6min
Rereading and discovering new voices
19:54 • 1min
What gives literature staying power
21:22 • 4min
Silence, family secrets, and essay form
25:52 • 3min
Ad break
28:49 • 5min
Bodies, politics, and women's experience
33:31 • 35sec
Ad break
34:06 • 59sec
Motherhood's impact on writing
35:05 • 7min
Inheritance, Dublin identity, and nostalgia
42:34 • 5min
Childhood, age eleven, and formative moments
47:15 • 4min
What catches attention now
50:56 • 5min
Topics she avoids and narrative taste
56:06 • 2min
MeToo era reflections and consequences
58:00 • 7min
Current projects and fiction work-in-progress
01:05:20 • 3min
Outro
01:08:26 • 5min
#64282
Kimura
The Triumphs and Tragedy of One of Judo's Greatest and Most Controversial Judo Champions
Christopher M. Clarke
This book tells the fascinating, inspiring, and tragic story of Masahiko Kimura, a legendary judo competitor known for his incredible strength and technique.
Kimura dominated judo competitions in the 1930s and 1940s and is famous for his bout against Helio Gracie in Brazil.
Despite his achievements, Kimura faced challenges in his later life, including a frozen rank and involvement in professional wrestling.
#53967
Attention
Declan Smithies
Christopher Mole
Wayne Wu
#1823
• Mentioned in 32 episodes
Death of a Salesman
Arthur Miller
Written by Arthur Miller, 'Death of a Salesman' is a two-act tragedy set in late 1940s Brooklyn.
The play revolves around Willy Loman, an aging salesman who grapples with the reality that his American Dream of success and wealth is unattainable.
Through a montage of memories, dreams, and arguments, the play explores Willy's consciousness and his inner conflict.
Willy's life is marked by poor choices, delusions, and a desperate attempt to secure a better future for his sons through his life insurance policy.
The play critiques the American Dream and the superficial values that Willy has adopted, leading to his tragic downfall.
The final scene depicts Willy's funeral, attended by only a few people, highlighting the contrast between Willy's illusions and the harsh reality of his life.
#43929
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Wren, The Wren
Anne Enright
#18751
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Humboldt's Gift
Saul Bellow
The novel, told from the first-person perspective of Charlie Citrine, delves into the contrasting careers of two writers: Von Humboldt Fleisher, a self-destructive poet modeled after Delmore Schwartz, and Charlie Citrine himself.
It explores themes of art versus commerce, the impact of mentorship, and the search for meaning and identity in modern America.
The narrative balances humor with profound existential questions, reflecting on the human condition and the role of the artist in society.
#2210
• Mentioned in 27 episodes
Dubliners
James Joyce
Dubliners is a collection of short stories by James Joyce, first published in 1914.
The stories are arranged to track the lives of Dubliners from childhood to old age, exploring themes such as the 'paralysis' of Irish society, the desire for escape, and the intersection of life and death.
Each story features a different plot and characters but is connected by the theme of epiphany, where characters experience life-changing moments of revelation.
The collection is known for its realistic portrayal of Dublin life, highlighting issues such as alcoholism, religious tension, and political concerns of the time.
#12119
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Herzog
Saul Bellow
Published in 1964, 'Herzog' by Saul Bellow follows the life of Moses E. Herzog, a 47-year-old cultural history professor, over the course of five days.
Herzog is in the midst of a midlife crisis and marital turmoil, having recently divorced his second wife, Madeleine, who has taken up with his close friend, Valentine Gersbach.
The novel explores Herzog's intellectual and emotional reflections as he writes letters to friends, family, and historical figures, though he never sends them.
These letters serve as a vehicle for Herzog's introspection on his life, relationships, and philosophical musings.
The book delves into themes of identity, alienation, and the complexities of human relationships, characteristic of Bellow's rich and witty writing style.
#119
• Mentioned in 213 episodes
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
#475
• Mentioned in 87 episodes
Beloved
Toni Morrison
Published in 1987, 'Beloved' is a work of historical fiction that delves into the aftermath of the American Civil War. The novel centers around Sethe, a Black woman who escaped from slavery in Kentucky and now lives in Ohio.
However, her life is haunted by the ghost of her two-year-old daughter, whom she killed to prevent her from being taken back into slavery.
The story is deeply intertwined with themes of mother-daughter relationships, the power of family and community, and the lasting impact of slavery on individuals and society.
The novel introduces a mysterious figure named Beloved, who is the physical manifestation of Sethe's murdered daughter, and explores how this presence disrupts and ultimately transforms the lives of Sethe and her surviving daughter, Denver.
Through a complex narrative that includes flashbacks, stream-of-consciousness monologues, and multiple voices, Morrison examines the trauma and resilience of those affected by slavery.
#28850
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
THE SUN KING
Nancy Mitford
The Sun King by Nancy Mitford is a vivid portrayal of Louis XIV and his reign, delving into the intrigues of the royal court, his numerous love affairs, and the grandeur of Versailles.
The book offers a detailed glimpse into 17th-century France, highlighting the king's role in shaping French culture and politics.
Mitford's writing style brings the era to life with sumptuous detail and witty anecdotes.
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The Gathering
Anne Enright
#1367
• Mentioned in 40 episodes
The Bluest Eye
Toni Morrison
Set in Lorain, Ohio, during the Great Depression, 'The Bluest Eye' tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, an eleven-year-old African American girl who desperately wants blue eyes, believing they will make her more beautiful and accepted according to white cultural standards.
The novel explores themes of race, class, and beauty standards, highlighting the destructive impact of internalized racism and societal pressures on Pecola and her family.
Through a non-linear narrative and shifting perspectives, Morrison critiques the systemic racism and social stratification that contribute to Pecola's tragic downfall.
Anne Enright is the author of Attention: Writing on Life, Art, and the World, available from W. W. Norton & Co.
Enright is the author of eight novels, most recently The Wren, the Wren. She has been awarded the Man Booker Prize and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and was named the inaugural Laureate for Irish Fiction. In 2022, Enright was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Book Awards. She lives and works in Dublin.
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