Online Great Books Podcast

This week, Scott and Karl read a collection of stories starring Conan the Barbarian, a series by Robert E. Howard.  Known as the “Father of Sword and Sorcery,” Howard helped create this subgenre of fiction. To this point, Karl adds, "There is so much of your popular culture, dear listeners, that comes out of Conan." You think of other heroes that we read like King Arthur, Beowulf, and Achilles: none of them are like this barbarian. After reading about him, you may find Conan to be one of the greatest fictional heroes ever created. Open any of his stories, and you'll find a swordsman who cuts a swath across the lands of the Hyborian Age, facing powerful sorcerers, deadly creatures, and ruthless armies of thieves and reavers. As Scott points out, “Conan has absolute trust in his own senses. That’s what sets this apart from lesser pulp fiction heroes."

This week, Scott and Karl read two short stories by Edgar Allan Poe. Poe’s stories are known for following many traditions of Gothic fiction, and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and “The Masque Of The Red Death” are no different.  First, the duo dives into “The Masque of the Red Death” published in 1842. The story follows Prince Prospero's attempts to avoid a mysterious plague, known as the Red Death, by hiding in his abbey. You may find a modern-day parallel in times of emergency and precarity. Published a year earlier, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue" has been described as the first modern detective story. However, Karl points out, “It’s not following the rules of the conventional mystery.” Scott adds, “This is more about the detective than the story or the mystery.”  

In 1580, Michel De Montaigne is asked by the pregnant Madame Diane de Foix on what the best way of educating a child is. In his essay  "Of the Education of Children," Montaigne provides her with a glimpse into his own upbringing, advising her on how children should apply their education to their own life.  Karl warns, “I don’t think you should let anyone read this because they will become dissatisfied with the current state of education.” There’s nothing that will squash curiosity and a love of learning more than compulsion and force. Can Montaigne's mode of education even be done in a modern classroom?  If you are struggling with how to school your children at home, Karl has some advice for you. "Keep the screens turned off, have good things in the house, and eventually they will learn stuff out of boredom." Tune in for more advice from Montaigne, Scott, and Karl on the proper means of educating your children.     

This week, Scott and Karl are joined by Aristotelian scholar and OGB seminar host, John Pascarella. The trio talks about the not-so-obvious side of Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice.  Austen’s Aristotelian ethical ideas are often overlooked by the majority of readers, but as Scott points out, "This isn’t a chick book. This is a people book. This is about rational people trying to pursue a rational happiness, making decisions about their life, and taking agency in doing things on their own behalf according to the contents of their mind.”  Austen wrote her novel in 1813 — you'll find it provides an honest depiction of manners, education, marriage, and money during the Regency era in Great Britain. But it's also a lot more than that.  John says, “You just don’t see stories written like this anymore. [Now] it’s all about the sentiment and not about the virtue."  Tune in to hear a fascinating discussion about why a novel that has consistently appeared near the top of lists of "most-loved books" is more than meets the eye.  

This week, Scott and Karl discuss Schopenhauer's Metaphysics of Love. Among 19th-century philosophers, Arthur Schopenhauer was one of the first to contend that at its core, the universe is not a rational place. His view of love is no different— earnest but slightly unromantic.  Scott sums up Schopenhauer's theory by saying, “Love is an experience you have that entices you to select a mate that would make up your genetic shortcomings and this force that acts on you... is the will to live from your unborn child.”  Karl adds, "It's an illusion of choice, but in fact, you’re doing the species’ bidding.” The truth is, we all care about the things we find attractive, so this podcast may hit close to home.  Tune in to this week's episode and hear more anti-Hallmark love advice from Schopenhauer.   

This week, Scott and Karl read The Sound of Waves, a 1954 novel by the Japanese author Yukio Mishima. The novel follows Shinji and his romance with Hatsue, the beautiful daughter of the wealthy shipowner, on the island of Uta-Jima (Song Island). It’s a charming coming-of-age story, but as Scott points out, “There’s not a reformer in this book.” Do you believe it is the obligation of a good and just society to protect the material circumstances in a place? To this point, Scott adds, “If all the material circumstances in life change from generation to generation, then my experiences are completely irrelevant to my children. I’m unable to transfer my wisdom or my culture to my kids because everything has changed.” Karl says, “I don’t know you can escape the change of material conditions... that just means you should hold on tighter to the spiritual conditions, the traditions."  Tune in to hear more about this heartwarming story that will make you think about the way things are, the way they were, and maybe the way things ought to be.

Welcome, dear listeners, to a show that explores what it means to be human. Sound intriguing? This week, Scott and Karl read Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune which is a book thought to be The Lord of the Rings equivalent in the science fiction genre.  Scott expands, "In The Lord of the Rings, there’s something comforting and familiar about that world even when it get’s scary and the outcomes look uncertain. This world is much scarier, much more uncanny.  It may be because there are elements of this world familiar to us. This book is not about saving the environment. This is about man’s ability to mold his environment." Tune in for a discussion on what makes us human, how certain environments can put our humanity on display, and the type of education that sparks adaptability over mere preparedness in times of crisis.   

This week, Scott and Karl read and discuss the 63 clauses of the Magna Carta.  In 1215, Bad King John pledged, under duress, to his barons that he would obey “the law of the land” when he affixed his seal to a charter that came to be called Magna Carta.  Few men have been less mourned, few legal documents more adored. Although most of the charter deals with medieval rights and customs, the Magna Carta has become a powerful symbol of liberty, influencing the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Mahatma Gandhi. So how should you read an 800-year-old legal document? Scott says, “Read it not straight-ahead for what it says, but what it must be reacting to.” Karl adds, “Presume that the people that are writing this are just as human as you are, just as smart as you are. It’ll give you a more sympathetic, more understanding reading of this stuff.” Tune in to hear a fascinating discussion of the history and legacy of one of the most celebrated documents in history.   

This week, Scott and Karl read the Articles of Confederation. This "firm league of friendship" was written in 1777, stemming from wartime urgency. However, it was not actually ratified until 1781. It now lays on the ash heap of history, formally replaced by the present United States Constitution on March 4, 1789.  Under these articles, the states remained sovereign and independent, with Congress serving as the last resort on appeal of disputes. Karl says, “It does not impose anything from the top down. You wonder, why did they get rid of it?”  Tune in to this week's episode and learn more about the first governing document of the United States of America. 

This week, Scott and Karl read A Modest Proposal, a satirical essay written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift in 1729. Are human lives the sort of things you should add up like numbers? Despite suggesting that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food to rich gentlemen and ladies, Swift actually thinks you should treat people like humans. Needless to say, Swift's essay is widely held to be one of the greatest examples of sustained irony in the history of the English language. Tune in and hear insights into public policy, rhetoric, and Swift’s savage commentary on England’s legal and economic exploitation of Ireland.  A special thanks to Brett Veinotte of the School Sucks podcast for helping to make this show possible. Scott is a presenter in Brett Veinotte's virtual summit on how to better organize your thoughts, effectively synthesize information, and become more persuasive. Learn more about all the presenters and topics at sspuniversity.com/ideasintoaction. You can save 30% and help Online Great Books by using the coupon code HAMBRICK at checkout.