I was a bit sad that you never replied to my comment for this video a month ago but then I realized I provided a link on that one too and so it probably didn’t show. Anyway, I hope you don’t mind this being a long one. A topic like this shouldn’t be relegated to quips as it unfortunately often is on the internet. I’ll come at this from the Christian perspective and I’d be fascinated to hear your thoughts. Typing this on my phone so hopefully not too many mistakes :) This is a good video (though frustrating at times!). I could’t tell when I watched this whether you believe this so forgive me if I’m misunderstanding. Almost no Christian (or Jew, or Muslim) believes that God is a man in the sky. If you read any of the Church Fathers from long ago, this was not their belief. Pagan critics mocked Christians for their invisible God. Many of the Church Fathers wrote of God’s infinitude and his essence being beyond human understanding. The “man in the sky” talking point is a caricature and I think you probably know that but I wanted to make sure, just in case. I think you’re being a bit unfair to Ayaan Hirsi Ali when you say she believes that without the Gospels, Genesis, etc., that we’d all be murdering and raping with impunity. I don’t think she would say that areas untouched by Christianity are a moral wasteland of nihilism and that great moral truths and upstanding people can’t be found elsewhere. At least that’s certainly not my position. What I think she may be trying to say is that many of the values we in the West take for granted today as being so universal are actually not universal. At all. That instead, they derive from the seedbed that is Christianity. I don’t think this is an extraordinary claim. And the more I study history, the more I’m convinced that there is no such thing as a universal set of values across all cultures. I think it’s an untenable position. And so I think her malaise about culture starts with the question: What happens when the West begins to abandon Christianity? Will the values and ideals we cherish as being universal (an untenable position) be abandoned with it? I highly recommend checking out the Tom Holland’s gorgeously written ‘Dominion’ for more on the history of western values, his thesis being what’s written above. It’s a book that’s been well received across the theological spectrum (I can’t emphasize enough, these are not extraordinary claims). Steve Donoghue wrote a positive review of it for Open Letters and has discussed his agreement of the thesis on his channel. Diarmaid McCollough, a historian who does not shy away from his secular beliefs, also praised the book. On the point of there being other gods, it’s an important contention and people will respond to it differently. A brain dead firebrand might say “My God is the true one and everything else is satanic and evil!” Obviously not much progress can be made there and it saddens me that there are those that hold that perspective (in any tradition). Another perspective though, and this is my own, is that the variety of religious experiences across all cultures points to a greater truth, a transcendence beyond total human understanding, and that different cultures will respond to this transcendence within their own cultural contexts. And, that points of light can be found in other traditions but Christianity (or name your tradition) contains the fullness of the truth. This latter point, about points of light and truth, is actually the position of the Catholic Church post Vatican II. I would also differentiate an actual religious tradition with folk paganism. To me, there’s a clear difference between folk worship of Aphrodite and the utterly transcendent God of Islam described in the Quran. Lastly, on Hitchens’s snarky comment about “illiterate Palestine,” that Jesus didn’t go to a “great place of learning”, wouldn’t a Christian argue that’s kind of the point? That God did not incarnate as an elite of great renown but that of the lowest of the low. A crucified peasant from the backwaters of Galilee. And isn’t that part of the shock of the claims of the early Christians? Christians often point to certain passage of the Old Testament that foresee Jesus but this is only in hindsight. No Jew at the time thought the messiah would be anything at all like Jesus. Messianic expectations were of a great and towering figure! Some groups thought the messiah would be a great Davidic King; others thought he would be a pious priest; others, a cosmic judge. Absolutely no one thought that it would be a crucified criminal. A man who died the agonizing and humiliating death of a slave. And it’s hard to imagine in today’s world, where we are so desensitized to the cross, just how shocking it was to proclaim this to the Greco-Roman world. The social stigma against those condemned to crucifixion was enormous. It was the fate of the slave. Considered immensely shameful, undeniably humiliating, anyone looking down from the cross was among the lowest of the low. And then here was the early Christians. Claiming not only, that Judaism’s long awaited messiah was a crucified criminal, but that the eternal Lord of the universe, God himself became man, and was beaten, spit on, humiliated, and tortured to death in excruciating agony. It’s an incredibly powerful belief. That God became of the lowest among us. The problem of evil and suffering is an incredibly difficult topic, and I don’t have all the answers, but I can say this: a Christian can be sure that we are not alone in our suffering. That our creator has suffered with us. God bless you Joe Spivey!

Maybe due to the time difference between the US and the UK I missed your livestream. “The Rest is History” podcast (also on YT) brilliantly hosted by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook. I think you would likely appreciate their snappy and informative dialogue between them.

Thanks for sharing on this livestream. I came on to it late (in U.S.) but totally enjoyed learning more about your writing and reading experiences. A lot of interfering noise (not buzzing, more like objects knocking about) in audio but still able to understand you. I too always write by hand. Love the feeling of pen on paper. Tried laptop once and not the same experience… Again, thanks!

gimmie a pigfoot and a bottle of beer

I haven't read the book, i did watch the show however, based off glowing reviews. Ummm... it was very frustrating. I don’t mind coming of age/romancy books not having happy endings. To me though the story lacked cohesion. Maybe the book is better at fleshing out why Connell can't commit to Marianne or why when he finally does she wants him to leave. It's probably supposed to be her self destructive programming from childhood, but i just couldn't wrap my head around Connell.

Bravo regarding your writing. That is a very good effort for just a few days of work. I’m also a huge fan of Wodehouse. I would say the Blandings stories are my favourites, but the Jeeves and Wooster books are also fantastic.

So entertaining! I just want to say I hope you keep making videos for a long time. It's a wonder to listen to your mind work. And your lungs. Happy New Year!

8:52 About happenings in USA, that I obviously have to mention, even if I would like not to do so (there are other things and problems I would like to follow more than the US ones), I obviously have to due to nature of happenigs. All I will state is that certain rhetorique and ill manner of calling oposing politicians girls and giving tham bad names in general is really ugly at least, childish, and not what is expected from a superpower such as USA. Some enemies or time wasters may think it is funny, they even may find joy when reading such headlines, but this was not amuzing. Quite the contrary, it seemed illegal, rude, and it gives a really bad example to younger audiences. People from all over the world have certain expectations, and naming isn't one of them.

Zuleika Dobson by the incomparable Max is required reading currently reading Space Mining by John S Lewis The Tibetan book of the Dead trans R Thurman requires close attention but worth every minute . both authors are legit no legerdemain no prestidigitation no specious reasoning I remain your CIC Starship Neversink What do you want from life? To kidnap an heiress or threaten her with a knife What do you want from life To get cable tv and watch it every night The Tubes see full lyrics God gave rock and roll to you Put it in the soul of EVERYONE Rejoice o my brother Your refuge is found!

'Tectonically rich'?

Wow, nice writing progress! Thank you for the video, Joe.

He can't do anything about elections and how and when votes are counted, Joe. US elections -- of any kind -- are entirely under the authority of the states. The federal government has nothing to do with their administration.

Shackletonian! Yes indeed-perfect descriptor! (-4.5 C-I had to look it up-which is unusual for a daytime temperature here.) And periphrastic? Why not just use a simple word like circumlocutory? I am a big believer in the serious dangers of a Trump term, but his presser was so crazy and disorganized that it was almost hard to take it seriously. I’m wallowing in Arendt right now and thinking of you. We Hannahs appreciate your opening.

Endurance by Alfred Lansing and Shackleton by Ranulph Fiennes are two other very good reads on the great man. The AJP Taylor book looks interesting. I haven’t yet read him either.

I discovered your channel about two weeks ago, and I'm really enjoying it. I appreciate your humor and your thoughtful commentary on books. Personally, I've had enough of politics and cultural commentary-there are dozens of channels like that on KZbin. While commentary on movies and similar topics is fine, there are already so many people doing that. Very few, however, offer intelligent and insightful thoughts on books. Just my perspective.

Do believe you have missed the point in your opening rant regarding the Asian (Pakistani / Muslim) rape gangs. The issue is it appears as if your government has turned their heads to rapes primarily because they are immigrants. The posts I have seen do not make their ethnicity the main issue however even the numbers you point out indicate that a disproportionate percentage of gang rapes are perpetrated by those of Asian decent compared to the percentage of the English population that is of Asian decent. Further it seems that calling them Asian rape gangs is further effort by the media and government to cover up their more accurate cultural demographic description.

I enjoy your sense of humour 😂👍

I feel that I may not be the only one thinking that reading The Secret History would be a lot of fun for you. ;)

Normal People by Sally Rooney was a big disappointment for me. I actually finished it, but I'm happy I got it from the thriftstore

Rarely has TMI been shared in such an erudite fashion. Thank you,Joe!

whatever you say oscar piastri

Interesting story, Joe. It’s happened to us all one way or another.

Took two for the team there, sir! Reading Truss and Boris Pfeffel so we don't have to. Hope you didn't pay for those turds-in-dust jackets. As to who the ghost writer was for Truss, I'm sure it was the lettuce. I don't know who Rooney is. I've read Crime and Punishment twice. I created a great "edition" of my own by collecting endnotes from several editions, plus two Norton Critical Editions (one old, one recent), and added also several prefaces. Put it all together in one folder and carried it with me to read along my Norton Critical 2nd edition (a disappointment), and the Pevear-Volokhonsky Penguin edition of the novel. I chose the second one over my other copies because their notes were the most comprehensive. I did this because my first reading was unsatisfactory. Yet, the book stayed with me, so I gave it another shot months later, and now it's one of my favorite works of literature, but I had to actually work to get the best combination of alternatives so my 2nd reading would be better. The edition you showed (Wordsworth) is translated by Constance Garnett: its notes are not comprehensive and Garnett is far from my favorite translator. So, as you eloquently told people who read that Rooney author, I'll tell you, Go and read Austen, or Dickens, or Thackeray, and stay away from Dostoevsky and Tolstoy: they're not for you. And if you try again with the Russians, chose a better edition and translator. I did not care for Daniel Deronda, either.

Great story. I Can completely relate.

Let's read a future classic; Other People, by Martin Amis.

Tremendous review. Do you like The Claverings? That's the only one I've read by him. I think I'm going for The Way We Live Now when I grab him again.

So this year (after I wrap up the last book in The Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Cornwell) I am reading strictly translated works. First up is The Iliad by Emily Wilson looking forward to reading her rendition, as for Russian books on the chopping block is Ward No. 6 and Other Stories 1892-1895 by Chekhov comes highly recommended and will be my first time reading a Russian work, I will also be reading White Nights by FD! Cheers!

A librettist may, in fact, be one who writes the libretto for an opera.

Great vid, thanks Joe. Do you ever give up on books? And if so, is there a criteria that has to be met by which point you decide to chuck the book at the wall?

Lovely video!!!🎉 I have to agree with your enthusiasm about Middlemarch!!!❤ I just bought the pink clothbound edition in preparation for a re-read at some point, so I now officially own 2 different editions of it!! ❤❤❤

I love the idea of an annual Middlemarch pilgrimage! It is probably my favourite book, but I certainly don't read it that often. I read it again in 2024, after more than a decade, and it was a magical experience. A few thoughts on your list: 1. Dickens. Given what you have said, I'm not totally sure that you will like Bleak House, as it is still very much Dickensian, especially in characterisation. The least Dickensian in that respect is perhaps Great Expectations. However, if you don't like it, I'd suggest coming back to him in a few years. It took me 10 years to go from heartily disliking him for precisely your reasons to falling in love with his books. By the way, the book that finally did that for me was David Copperfield. 2. Jane Austen. I'm surprised that her charms have eluded you thus far, but I would say that I consider her a genius for her lightness of touch - something that, for all her virtues, could not be said of George Eliot. I do think that reading her books in order (Northanger Abbey to Persuasion) is the best way. I like Emma best, followed by Mansfield Park (which I predict will be your favourite, as it is definitely the most nuanced of her books). 3. Madame Bovary. Another one that I grew to love with time. My professor, who translated the Penguin edition, gave me the fantastic tip to read it as a comedy. After that, it all seemed to slot into place! 4. Howards End. I think that you will love this one, without question. It has a lot that will appeal to a Middlemarch fan. 5. Homer. I also have never quite managed this for similar reasons, but now I have bought Emily Wilson's translations of both works, so I think that it's time. Thanks for inspiring me!

I must say that list is quite impressive :) I've got Sleepwalkers on my list as well for 2025. As for Russian authors - I haven't read anything other than obligatory school literature (and then, just excerpts), but I'm getting into Bulgakov (well, the shorter works, Master & Margarita is far too long for now) - perhaps one of his works will also suit your tastes? (I've read only Zoykina's Apartment and Morphine/A Country Doctor's Notebook but got White Guard lined up for this year)

Thank you, as always, for your clear opinions elegantly expressed. You are slowly persuading me to embark on Middlemarch again, perhaps in 2026?

You deleted my comment? :(

Regicide what

What you looking at?