A Conversation with Chris Via of Leaf by Leaf

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[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Big thanks to Ridge for sending me this wallet and supporting the channel! Here’s the site if you want to check them out! > ridge.com/BETTERTHANFOOD

[@georgegreig8054]

Sombrero Fallout. A Japanese Novel. Richard Brautigan. An absurd shortbook. I cannot find it in me to wax lyrical or praise anyone or anything so I shall say only this. This book isn't shite.

[@josephk536]

"To experience the joys of people while actively avoiding them." That is brilliant.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Definitely the highlight of the video. (I like your (presumably) Kafka-inspired name!)

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks very much ya'll.

[@origins8978]

Amen

[@susanaesteves6112]

Imagine they had a weekly podcast 👌🤯

[@oscardavila3874]

so true

[@jainutkarsh94]

No. Chris via talks too much about stuff that's beyond him.

[@battybibliophile-Clare]

​@@jainutkarsh94so what do you suggest, that he doesn't approach stuff that is beyond him? Don't we all tackle stuff that is beyond us, and then learn? Isn't it why we all read?

[@harlanrosen2494]

I'm heartened by your admissions of reading speed. When I'm really breezing through a book, I can read 20 pages an hour. Most books read closer to 10-12, and very dense texts will slow me down to 5-6 pages an hour. Knowing that you both read as slowly as I do makes me feel less alone. Cheers!

[@crikkopepe07]

Which minute?

[@khadimndiaye7730]

The concept of speed reading, when it comes to fiction, is really strange. If you enjoy what you read, why read it quickly in the first place?

[@trinityanthony2151]

@@khadimndiaye7730 Yes!! Wish more people would talk about this.

[@khadimndiaye7730]

@@trinityanthony2151 I don’t really mind. What to read and how to read are personal choices. For me and, I think, for most that appreciate the classics, the major concern is what you get out of the book and not how quick you are through with it

[@mattneale3128]

@@crikkopepe07 43:30

[@angelawebb7676]

“To experience the joys of people while actively avoiding them.” Nailed it!!!

[@kirkalex5257]

Cliff, if I may, when you write your own novel (one day, down the road a bit) it will be profoundly amazing. Who am I? Not a youngster at all. Nam vet. Worked many blue collar type jobs over the years to buy time to write. So, my conclusion? For a young dude of 32, man, you are inordinately sharp, yet devoid of pretense. You're real, you're brainy, you're a lover of good writing. Exactly why people like me appreciate your channel. Even though am fairly well read, you make me aware of books I may have overlooked in the past and perhaps ought to give a concerted try. Thank you and Chris Via for the hard work that you both put into your podcasts. You guys make this crazy world (that we all struggle to survive & live in) a better place. Thank you kindly, gentlemen.

[@santidontsurf.mp4]

The crossover event I've been waiting for my whole life!!!

[@TS1111WYWH]

Like eavesdropping on two well articulated minds. What a joy!

[@emanueleboscofilms]

One of the most ambitious crossover between booktubers ever. Great advice and insight guys!

[@valpergalit]

Only halfway through the video, but I feel compelled to thank you both for fostering my interest in literature. Cliff, I discovered your channel in high school, and the books I read at your suggestion helped influenced my decision to study English in college. Chris, I discovered your channel in college, and your insights pushed me further down the rabbit hole of literary studies. I graduated with my BA in English earlier this year, and now you guys have finally collaborated, combining two major pillars of my literary life. Much appreciation to you both for the great influence you’ve had on my development as a reader.

[@himangshusarma7649]

Waoooo!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

🙏🙏

[@Fiction_Beast]

It is so wonderful to see two of my favorite book reviewers on youtube together. I hope you do more of these chats.

[@Ultimotomasino]

I love the metaphor that re-reading a book is like having multiple relationships with a person throughout time because you change.

[@mariaclararibeiro8045]

The crème de la crème of booktube together in one video

[@jameshumphries7272]

I thought the same thing..just awesome

[@natashapschool]

💯

[@jasonbezzant4311]

I'm one of those guys who loves everything you do for years and says nothing. Was blind but now I see.. Thankyou both. What you do is so important.

[@someobserver844]

Great conversation. I would listen to you doing a regular podcast together.

[@Wolverine3660]

Well, finding Cliff's channel was a godsend. And then I leart from Cliff about Chris's Leaf By Leaf channel. Thank you both for putting out such wonderful materiel in you channels. I am very grateful.

[@Wolverine3660]

After dealing with brain cancer, I had lost my passion for reading. But Cliff and Chris have rekindled in me the desire to read and to write again. Sort of like Cliff said, their videos have kindles a visceral reaction within me, and have made me want to read and write again.

[@writeitdown2013]

When conversations become events. Thank you for doing this!

[@theheadytimetraveler3864]

This was so good that I watched it 3 times, back to back, while driving my truck....Best two book review channels on youtube....Looking forward to your future collaborations!

[@RutzMac]

Watched this interview and promptly went to a library book sale and got a beautiful Webster’s dictionary and a copy of The Sound and the Fury, among other books. Thanks for this! I learned a lot!

[@terileekline]

Fantastic conversation! Thank you to both of you gentlemen

[@RenataSantos-qw4pz]

Chris has the most beautiful bookshelves I wish I had one of those in my house.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

🙏

[@1c1pal]

YES

[@ryanthomas7119]

Looks like a post office in there

[@henrique3194]

demais, muito bonito e organizado. todo vídeo dele fico só olhando as prateleiras e tentando reconhecer ou identificar os volumes que ele tem.

[@Dirtxbc]

What's even more beautiful is putting all the work on to get there.

[@MrKrisstain]

Listening to this conversation brought back my brain from the horrible barely conscious brain haze state that I had been living in for many days. Truly thanks. Right now I remember myself.

[@b.kennedy7152]

Thank you both for this!

[@BlahBlehBlooh]

The crossover we needed! 💞 Absolutely brilliant! Love you both! Wish this was a regular thing.

[@TheJudgeandtheJury]

I love both channels, great interview!

[@enidkapelsen3694]

Thanks so much for this great video guys. I really enjoy your passion for what you love, and your openness and honesty. You both rock!

[@stephaniel5436]

I have been waiting for this collaboration my entire life.

[@Dorakskel]

You two are my absolute favorite "booktubers" (hate that term but it is what it is haha). I look forward to your future collaborations!

[@bighardbooks770]

Two of my most favorite BookTubers! Excellent idea, Cliff 🤓📚😎

[@helpyourcattodrive]

Very meaningful. I’m 57. I like your comments on the changing times. It is over. Mass consumption habits dictate changes in writing, production. Thanks for saying there isn’t much coming from your generation. .. I’m loving these channels. Great conversation.

[@barbarajohnson1442]

Hey, its been a year, time for a reunion! Love you both.

[@priyankadubey1418]

Such an insightful conversation! Thank you both ♥️🙏

[@humyrahfatima]

Oh my god, I'm so excited! Two of my favourite reviewer together.

[@deborahlindsey6074]

Better Than Food guy. You got me to read Gravity's Rainbow. I did finish it but had to buy a companion to understand the more technical parts and I don't speak German. Now I understand it a little more and realize what Pynchon was trying to do. Quite the book!

[@tectorgorch8698]

War and Peace is a real page-turner, honest, guys.

[@davidnorris166]

Agreed. The fairly recent BBC series is also awesome.

[@johnsailorsgoat]

It's a spiritual experience!

[@MaximTendu]

@@davidnorris166 meh. the Soviet movie was better.

[@nelsonfrida]

Totally agree 👨🏻‍🌾🦾🐝✨

[@rifan_j]

Indeed!! Agree. I'm reading it at the moment.

[@adhithyaravindra7580]

I'm grateful that I made the time to watch this. Great stuff! 👍

[@brevitysfool6118]

A very fruitful conversation, thanks for sharing it.

[@elmooko69]

This was an incredible episode! Both of you are truly learned Gentlemen and I'm looking forward to your future collaborations!

[@LzPutte]

Just a brilliant conversation! Thanks guys

[@TheSalMaris]

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.― Heraclitus

[@jameshumphries7272]

Thanks guys. What a wonderful and interesting conversation.

[@gordonwithers]

Great conversation - looking forward to more. And thanks for the intro to Sherdstube

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

This happened. This happened. Sometimes, sometimes, the beautiful convergence can happen.

[@senatorturkey5332]

I’ve been watching Better Than Food for a couple of years, and discovered Leaf by Leaf a few months ago. Seeing my two favorite KZbin book reviewers collaborate made my day.

[@philipmcgee6869]

Brilliant conversation guys

[@gerozayas9425]

Fantastic conversation! Thanks a lot 😁

[@meyersmegafictionalmusings7692]

Soooo great fellas...awesome that you did this.

[@Midichi]

Learnt something new. Thank you guys for the conversation.

[@Booksandchess]

This is definitely the good side of booktube. Hope more collabs with Chris will happen in the future. Great stuff!

[@davidmcivor6936]

So glad 'Leaving the Atocha Station' got a shoutout. Its my favourite book and feel its so underrated in literary conversations. Without sounding pretentious, that book completley opened my mind to what prose can do.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I look forward to checking it out!

[@sierrafaust853]

If you haven’t read 10:04, I would suggest doing so. I thought it was better than Atocha. It might be my all time favorite book or at least the most life altering. The Hatred of Poetry is worth a read as well

[@davidmcivor6936]

Oh yes I have consumed all of Lerner’s fiction! I agree 10:04 is fantastic and builds on the meta foundations from Atocha. Atocha will always be my fav book in the same way I’m sure 10:04 is for you, I read it at the perfect time in my life and connected instantly.

[@muskmadness1]

this was so so nourishing to hear

[@yogablossom100]

I really enjoyed this interview. It was very inspiring. I am going to buy myself a dictionary. I used to love dictionaries too but no longer own one. I never find enough time to read but I find so deeply fulfilling when I do. A mix of pleasure and contentment and curiosity all at the same time. ❤

[@bookwizard23]

My two favorite channels just joined forces, thanks for this! Do a part 2!

[@hils4228]

Love you Cliff. You’ve introduced me to some of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life. Take care man ❤️

[@billyalarie929]

to hear these two intelligent human beings agree fervently that you're not going to understand the fullness of whatever lengthy tome you've just read, that absolutely makes me breathe a huge sigh of relief.

[@natashapschool]

This is one of my favorite videos, I've rewatched it a few times already. Great conversation

[@ZenosConscience]

I enjoyed every bit of this interview/crossover. This reminded me of a film called My Dinner with Andre. Especially when you converse on why today's literature, films, or music suck so much, maybe because we all turned into walking robots, thinking nothing, feeling nothing, consuming garbage (a generation of plastics with junk values and junk food). Great episode. A big fan of both of you guys. Take Care. 😔

[@moralweiss986]

I bit of a pedantic point but Nietzsche's concept of Eternal Return was actually to reinforce the notion of "you can't live multiple lives". The Eternal Return was not like reincarnation where you would get the opportunity to redo life again, but rather your life would repeat in the exact same way as it had for all of eternity. No ability to change your decisions or for you to even understand that things were repeating. The point was to see whether or not that would make the person who discovered this Eternal Return would affirm their life or despair over it. It actually is more similar to the concept of "you only have one life" than "what if you could do things over again" Regardless, really enjoyed the conversation and it was nice to discover a new book channel. Thanks for the great videos Cliff

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Ahhhh, thanks for your pedantry!

[@joshtate6476]

Wow, can’t believe I’m just now watching this. Great interview! Very insightful, Chris just got a new subscriber

[@LAKKnessmonster]

I really struggle with my phone sometimes - it’s so difficult to put a cap on how much we let ourselves be stimulated by it. I know this may not be for everyone, but I now lock my phone into a timed digital lock box for hours at a time - there’s no override function, and the timer just pauses if you take out the batteries and resumes once they’re back in. My brain might itch for the distraction but there’s simply nothing I can to do to access what I want - bliss!

[@cheeseofultimatedoom]

great conversation. Regarding banishing your phone, the best thing for me is to go out for the day into the city with just my book and no phone. Leave it at home and you really can't do anything about it.

[@Robert-si5su]

Leaf by Leaf is the best in the game

[@sgtOOX]

What an absolutely amazing video; you guys are absolutely brilliant to listen to talking to one another; no hubris, yet profound discussion. Feel like I'm sitting at a cafe in Paris in the 1920s or something listening to great writers shooting the shit with one another unafraid to be totally authentic and without the need to cover everything they say with irony or some other cheap trick

[@themaninironmask]

This video is what KZbin needs 🙏

[@ana-anatomiadolivro-2244]

Im so happy I’m even leaving a comment today! Thank you!

[@burke9497]

Love both of these dudes. Could listen to them talk for hours. You guys need to read War and Peace! And check out Clarissa too...

[@Ozgipsy]

This is a really good conversation. Enjoyable. I hope that guys like this, Cliff in particular, find their way into a career of literary criticism. I’d buy his serious critical work, and I imagine he’d make a great lecturer.

[@lalitborabooks]

What a crossover... What a Video.... Thanks!

[@richdudley2888]

We need another one of these guys, and soon.

[@KDbooks]

Wasn’t this just grand 🙌

[@sevdanaivanova6379]

Great conversation! Thank you .

[@nixyboy8039]

No one is more well read than Chris!

[@annadarsell5760]

Genius conversations. Enjoyable!

[@rgmichaelswrites]

This was such a good interview. Thanks, Cliff, here's to monogamous first 50 pages

[@ricardosteinkohl1084]

How would we understand tragedy without comedy? In the stages of life the interest of the participants removes from reality the practicality of looking at eternity. Looking at eternity hates stages. But stages rule the world, hard as may be that people try for it to be the opposite. Your recognition of such is terrific. I enjoyed the mutual talk with Chris Via, especially the mutually enhancing contrast of reading styles. So the mix of componemts that I find myself being appreciates your a to z exploration of good literary practice. So maybe, as someone who does not subscribe to philosophies, I can yet say there is the thought of much work with little benefit. Perhaps we are not post-intellectual even though we are post-dogma. Some would disagree. And although I am not always very conclusive I have written a book "100 Ways to Understand and Say No to Badness". Available for preview on e-books. If you may look at it and like it I would send you a copy. Ricardo Steinkohl

[@donaldkelly3983]

This was a great episode! Please read Tolstoy's fiction and Montaigne!

[@IanGamache]

Great interview with the two best book channels on the KZbins.

[@thekeywitness]

My own technique for big books is to get the audiobook to supplement the physical (or ebook), listening to it at 1.5 speed as I follow on the page. It improves my concentration and enables me to read books more quickly than I normally would, allowing me to continue “reading” while taking a walk or working out.

[@olav1354]

It was actually very relieving to hear that I have to read big books several times. I used to read them once and I thought I was a bad reader for not understanding everything at once.

[@calebwmcgillicuddy9161]

Great talk. Clifford, you should read and make a video on Lonesome Dove.

[@thelivingmanpart2]

damn, this was a great conversation! (: so cool hearing the back and fourths of these two gentelmen

[@alwaysbrightandmerry]

This was refreshing. Cliff, just wanted to put on your radar the latest release from Fernando Flores, called 'Tears of the Trifflepig'. An absolute monster, comical, terrifying, and my favorite book of last year. It seems like you don't repeat authors often, yet since you had introduced me to him, I thought you should know, his latest is totally brilliant. No one has seemingly reviewed it yet.

[@jackwalter5030]

I loved Look Homeward Angel! Wolfe's sensibility is so all-encompassing (to me). I have tried to get into Middlemarch three times and just can't. I like Eliot's writing, but sometimes she does go on.

[@XxsmgderyxX]

In relation to funny books, Beckett's Murphy made me laugh like hell. Gonna have to re-read that one.

[@kaidoloveboat1591]

I've been waiting for this

[@Thomas_Stearns_Eliot]

This is like when I teamed up with Hulk Hogan. Unbelievable collaboration

[@tectorgorch8698]

How's the afterlife workin' out for you, Bro?

[@hbaird7258]

what a delightful surprise!

[@Aerakade]

I hope you are both able to have another round of this kind of dialog.

[@mattjmjmjm4731]

My new favourite video

[@humyrahfatima]

Easily the best hour and a half I've spent on the internet.

[@TheSalMaris]

I contend that writers like Coover, Hawkes or Gaddis couldn't find a publisher today, as the system has changed so much since they were published in the sixties.

[@blakealexander9729]

Great chemistry. Awesome conversation!

[@thebigredfish]

I found "story of the eye" via "the past is a grotesque animal" by Of Montreal. Also read it on the computer and could stop till I finished it.

[@AmandaS18]

Enjoyed very much😊

[@michaelmcgee335]

Something so cool listening to buddies talk about books.

[@jafrytvasia9609]

If you two don't create a podcast that would be a crime against the public good!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

:)

[@enzo3122]

Great video!!

[@terileekline]

The most hilarious part of this video was two 30 something chaps bemoaning old age! My god! You guys have no idea!

[@svenw8781]

You guys really made me laugh, being in your thirties and talking about ageing. Stop reading so many books of authors who died before they turned forty. People get really really old nowadays you know. I really enjoyed listening to Chris who talks in complete well formulated sentences. Such a relief in an otherwise mostly fragmented world of social media conversations. And Cliff, don’t apologise for sounding pretentious. It’s exactly this filter called political correctness which turns a lot of contemporary literature into uninteresting and boring rubbish. Be more french man. Their whole existence is personified pretentiousness - in a good way of course. Thanks a lot for this great conversation, I enjoyed it immensely. By the way, Chris mentioned Kafkas take on what great books should do to you. It’s from a letter to Oskar Pollak: “Altogether, I think we ought to read only books that bite and sting us. If the book we are reading doesn’t shake us awake like a blow to the skull, why bother reading it in the first place? … What we need are books that hit us like a most painful misfortune, like the death of someone we loved more than we love ourselves, that make us feel as though we had been banished to the woods, far from any human presence, like suicide. A book must be the ax for the frozen sea within us. That is what I believe.” Well, this is why we read Kafka. Cheers

[@jimlivengood3962]

Bloody brilliant, Cliff and Chris. I was tickled that neither of you had read War and Peace (at that time anyway.) Neither have I. If you like mid-century authors, may I suggest Robert Ruark? My favorites are The Honey Badger (his last novel) and The Old Man and the Boy (memoir.) He also wrote two excellent novels about Africa during the Mau Mau rebellion, Something of Value and Uhuru. Aging? I'm aged, and it's brutal. Well done, mates.