CLOUD ATLAS Demystified

With the film CLOUD ATLAS in theaters, BOOKD takes a close look at the astonishing, genre-defying novel that inspired it. Join an English professor, Buddhist teacher, professor of philosophy and the hosts of Sword & Laser as they deconstruct and debate David Mitchell's CLOUD ATLAS.
BOOKD is a series brought to you by THNKR that explores game-changing books through the insights and opinions of engaging personalities.
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Visit the THNKR Tumblr page and download a BOOKD Club Guide for CLOUD ATLAS: thnkrtv.tumblr....
Direct link to the CLOUD ATLAS Guide: goo.gl/VBoNz
This episode of BOOKD tackles the nonlinear, nesting doll structure of CLOUD ATLAS; its literary influences; the many different voices that author David Mitchell employs; the thematic similarities shared among the six different stories; and ultimately whether or not it all ties together.
Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont are the hosts of Sword & Laser, a popular online book club, podcast and KZbin series dedicated to fantasy and science fiction. You can visit their website (www.swordandlas...) and watch their own episode on CLOUD ATLAS here: tinyurl.com/8cr...
Ethan Nichtern is a Buddhist teacher and founder of The Interdependence Project. He is also the author of two books, ONE CITY: A DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE and the novel, YOUR EMOTICONS WON'T SAVE YOU. You can follow him on his blog at: www.ethannichte...
Matthew Hart is a professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, and is currently gearing up to teach CLOUD ATLAS in the future.
Samir Chopra is a professor of philosophy at Brooklyn College who has written about CLOUD ATLAS on his blog: tinyurl.com/9sx...
Amy Lau is a graduate of the Draper Master's Program at New York University, where she wrote her MA thesis, titled "Recognition of the Other: Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in CLOUD ATLAS".
The views expressed in this video only represent those of the participants. They do not necessarily represent the views or endorsement of @radical.media LLC or any other party involved in the production and distribution of THNKR.

[@Broyale26]

Just finished reading Cloud Atlas. Excellent read, not nearly as challenging or difficult as I has expected. Alot of people are making a big deal out of the structure of the book and I don't understand why.

[@Broyale26]

***** I read the book before seeing the movie and .....I hated the movie. The movie's structure of jumbling the stories makes the story feel much more intimidating than it actually is. Have you read The Bone Clocks, yet? Love it!

[@withnail-and-i]

Really late but: 1)The first part is challenging for some since it's harder to engage with a journal that just stops mid-sentence, some are turned off by that. 2)On pirate websites (like thepiratebay.org ) there is the ''Cloud Atlas - Everything is Connected'' fan-edit. It's slightly shorter, but it removes some movie scenes and adds others that were deleted. Plus, after the introduction scene, the stories are pretty much presented in the same way as the novel. Much better experience if you can find it.

[@markpagtama7954]

Its not that its hard to understand. Its hard to make yourself read after reading 10 pages of nothing and unless you drag on and steel yourself to read it youre never going to be rewarded. Unlike some books which has good stories but not uneccessarily convoluted.

[@dazzahoward7104]

No, I think the structure works well. I couldn't put it down.

[@davemarx7856]

Chopra sounds like the Critic who gets thrown off the roof.

[@yeeroy]

Haha, I read it because I was enraptured by the wonderful and riveting movie trailer with the beautiful music. The novel and movie are amazing by themselves, but trying to piece the movie and the book together, finding where they divert and compromise on some specific themes, and the beauty that the author created and how the directors translated it into cinematic form, is just frickin amazing.

[@pantalaemon]

I think Robert Frobisher's story is the most heartbreaking, in the end. Dear god.

[@84paratize]

I thought the same thing. But did you notice how 'Soylent Green' was actually mentioned in the movie by Timothy Cavendish? And perhaps Sonmi 451 is a reference to Fahrenheit 451 - another dystopia.

[@spotoftrouble]

What I love about this book is that I discuss this book with others who have read it - link the smallest characters between all the stories. The language took a while to get into, but eventually I got into the stories so much! I sensed a theme of rebellion or rejection from within each story, as well as each character going on a life changing journey, whether it was emotional or phyiscal. It was great finding all the links, such as simple things mentioned, like Luisa's fear of guns.

[@hebrux]

I NEED to read that book! Already watched the movie!

[@hebrux]

***** I have the book. And your right!! It's the hardest read for me since Voltair! I will read the whole thing though, there is alot more detail than in the movie.

[@mizikoniss]

Read the book, i'm not a native english & i"m trying to keep goind & read it It very powefull

[@renieleesalig351]

LGamesNStuff bh

[@dazzahoward7104]

I found it an easy read, it kept me going as it cycles through the stories. There are much harder/drier books out there to read.

[@keysersoze73]

What if nobody believes this truth? SOMEONE ALREADY DOES

[@angellabelami3264]

After watching the movie a got this sudden burst of energy to begin writing a novel! I feel inspired :)

[@jamesmajor5978]

You all prolly dont care but does any of you know a method to get back into an Instagram account? I somehow lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me

[@coltenben3470]

@James Major Instablaster ;)

[@jamesmajor5978]

@Colten Ben i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im in the hacking process atm. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@jamesmajor5978]

@Colten Ben it worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much, you really help me out :D

[@coltenben3470]

@James Major glad I could help =)

[@acgogoacgogo8854]

First encountered "Cloud Atlas" as an (gasp) audiobook. I then read the book. Listened to the audiobook again. Then re-read the book. That's how dense I am. Anyone who had difficulty with the book, should definitely listen to the audiobook which is one of the best in that format I've ever heard. Also, the film should have been a TV mini-series, not a crammed into one long movie.

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

Post Apocalyptic was about overcoming your flaws and inner demons, and learning to coexist and trust another person, this being a different race that Meronym came with, which were basically aliens. The protagonist of that story played by Tom Hanks learned to overcome his demons and let another species help correct his sense of morality, and let alone salvage what was left of the human race for a better future. Not to mention he fell in love with Meronym XD

[@PrestaClubTeam]

but it's worth every minute of it Just imagine a painful climbing up the cliff , You almost decide to give up several times before reaching the top but you hear music, gospel like music, a bird song,and ancient drums.... and...on the top a view, oh my God what the VIEW !

[@ericward8459]

saw the movie. must find this book!

[@WhatTheFuckJames]

Trust me, you'll hate the movie after reading it. Nothing compares to the original whole story.

[@ElfTrap]

Respectfully disagree. Book was phenomenal but the movie is a solid adaptation for a movie (would have been better as a TV series, more time for the stories and characterization). Reusing many actors between the times rather than just the one with the birthmark. Also allowed for more diversity -- Halle Berry as Jocasta, Doona Bae as Ewing's wife.

[@CesarSalad2.0]

i find this soo interesting. i wanna write a novel now

[@thatboiq4799]

Do it! I also want to write a novel.

[@withnail-and-i]

What's up with the novels?

[@guitaoist]

brilliant book. nietzsche at 6:30 should have been mentioned because the WHOLE premise revolves around his ETERNAL Recurrence. it is mentioned 4 times in the novel.

[@withnail-and-i]

It's older than Nietzsche, Ancient Egypt, Judaism, India and so on.

[@user-jc2we4sn1i]

Beacon cold plasma aerial motorways of "Neo Seoul 2144 A.D." were patented by Marshall J Corbett of Grumman. Bradford T. Sorensen has patented flying utility step van service work vehicle used by "Plumber Hae Joo Chang". Plumbing fixtures and laser tools of "Neo Seoul 2144 A.D." were patented in North East Asia by Keitaro Yoshihara of Riken's Toyota Labs.

[@IEatCereal4Dinner]

I've read so many books, and I still think this is the best book ever written.

[@user-jc2we4sn1i]

"Recycling of fabricants inside a ship docked in of flooded Seoul " scene is similar to how Nazi Germany recycled prisoners into soap, potassium phosphate fertilizer. etc..

[@rogerbrown907]

Need to see the 4 hour Cloud Atlas!!!!!

[@snoogboonin]

Just picked this up today, can't wait to read it!

[@asmellyhamster]

Just finnished it, feel confused as fuck going to have to read it again sometime. Really enjoyed the Sonmi 451 parts.

[@jjho8]

I absolutely love the film. So read the novel! And it was so fascinating seeing what they had to do to make it into a film. Both hold on their own and are brilliant!

[@zeroun92]

Thought this was about the movie...I'll stay and watch.

[@Chillydreamers]

Take that comment back, the movie is a masterpiece Art of work,other movie like this are also inception as donnie darko, ty.

[@user-jc2we4sn1i]

I noticed how they changed "Fabricant waitresses of Papa Song's of Neo Seoul 2144 A.D.s such as Sonmi 451 from Marylyn Monroe Aryan blondes to East Asians since even East Asians like my own father often have a Eurocentric preferences of how western civilization is so dynamic. My own father died when such a film debuted to remember how reincarnation was how of barbarian times how they described genetics of heredity when people believed in religious malarky since living tissue is only nanotechnology of gelatinous ooze that was sealed from atmospheric dust in porous minerals according to Vail III's patent.

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

The most heartbreaking on screen as well.

[@guitaoist]

nor did they mention james joyce my god, it has ulysses (oxen of the sun chapter) written all over it

[@jasonrobertsASTONISHES]

sonmi was the best story for me!

[@sasha-gayesolomon1837]

Do you think there is an ounce of possibility he and Sixsmith ever meet again? I have a strong feeling that because he committed suicide there's definitely very little chance they ever do.

[@gediman15]

I don't think this is a particularly "difficult" book tbh. The themes are very much in the foreground, the only thing really unusual about it is the whole story within a story within a story gimmick, and, really, isn't that just The Arabian Nights? That said, it's one hell of a fun read.

[@scarecrow1701]

Watching this, pleasantly surprised to see Veronica on this panel! She didn't get enough talk time! Intriguing as it all seems, I'll watch the movie before I read the book...the layers of back story that predicates the "now" story has been done well before, as noted in this vid - and to read half a thick book before the A-HAH moment.. I find it very distracting...the teeth, the impossibly white teeth, and I seem to focus on that instead of what they are saying...I'll just watch the movie first.

[@jasonrobertsASTONISHES]

the post apocalyptic story the shoosha one i was struggling so hard with that one..i just couldn't get through it so i left it and watched the movie instead to figure out how those stories individually intended and connected with each other

[@keysersoze73]

True true, I have a cog in what you need

[@undergroundcactus]

I didn't have to read the novel... saw the movie so BOO-YAH. Saved me some time on that one.

[@将軍九八.彁]

Is it dry or a good read?

[@WhatTheFuckJames]

It's a really good read. It gets a bit monotonous from time to time but it definitely gets better and better. From the second half and up to the end the stories get connected in a stronger way.

[@LetsGetHighOnMorris]

WhatTheFuckJames Do you think the movie is a justifiable adaption of the book?

[@dazzahoward7104]

A great read. Easy one to read. I didn't find it hard work at all.

[@Muxen92]

Yupp, now I have to read it...

[@AmirCadadar]

Well, I only saw the film (Athens). Kept me watching with interest throughout but it bothered me that some of the ideas were not that original (Soylent Green, anyone?). After watching this discussion I realize that (and that too is not at all original, I know) the book must be way better and richer that the movie.

[@MDBowron]

Soylent green was mentioned because the entire book and film is about predacity, people manipulating people, groups manipulating groups, nations manipulating nations, tribes manipulating tribes. Cannibalism is mentioned also not just in the 2010s, but also 1840s with the Maori, in the 2140s with Sonmi-451, and in the 24th century post-apocalyptic fantasy, and in the film version the year Luisa Rey is set 1973 was the same year the Soylent Green film was made.

[@Motavian]

To be fair I think we can give this one to Heinrich Heine and not Nietzsche, his eschatology allowed permutations in our experience.

[@chordata1]

It sounds like a painful read, like the demons souls of the book scene

[@memocordob18]

I'm totally reading it.

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

Cloud Atlas 2, starring these folks.

[@leannji5375]

read this a few years ago...riveting

[@MajorKeisaito]

I'll have to check it out :)

[@bipinanand]

Watch the film - it's a good adaptation... Very different, but told well!

[@starrynightfall00]

Can anyone suggest some novels set in a futuristic world like in Sonmi 451 please?

[@MDBowron]

in the novel there are nods towards some dystopian classics like "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell which was set in a post-apocalyptic surveillance state, from which we get the term "Orwellian", there's also a rebel group called "The Brotherhood" which is an inspiration for the rebel group Union in Sonmi-451's story. There's also a novel where an underclass of clones exist before DNA and cloning was actually scientifically possible in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", which also has a consumerist culture in a totalitarian state. The name Sonmi-451 is a call back to the novel Farenheit-451 by Ray Bradbury where television has replaced book reading, which is why in the novel the Sonmi-451 is written as a transcript of a visual-audio recording suggesting a post-literate future like in Bradbury's novel. The idea of a fabricated underclass, police trying to track them down and kill them, off-world colonies, genetically-engineered animals, a post-apocalyptic environment and corporations ruling everything, was written in Philip K Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" which was adapted into a film known as "Blade Runner". In 1984 William Gibson published a novel called "Neuromancer" which was about a post-apocalyptic world where the natural has been replaced by technological, with corporations ruling everything, there being space-colonies, cybernetic enhancements, clones and AIs, hackers and Asian-influenced society, called the first 'cyberpunk' novel. The term Soylent Green comes from the whole "Soylent Green" film which is based on a book called "Make Room! Make Room!" by Harry Harrison, which is about an overpopulated and polluted world involving a detective and the then event of the new Millennium, the book was set in 1999 while the film version was set in 2022. I hope this list of books helps.

[@ChadAdamsTHE]

1:13 badass shirt

[@HunterOsking]

I think infinite jest fits that description better.

[@Dontboxmein7]

Who is the true savage? That is Cloud Atlas demystified.

[@lucasthebull]

Timothy Cavendish was my favorite :D

[@bowdownORbringthawar]

This book made my brain hurt a bit.

[@benjigb1900]

He's only 8 and I'd vote for him.

[@jdsykes9125]

Ok I'm buying the book.. also there's one hater in this video. The asin guy. Mad hating lol

[@yazanasad7811]

Loss of control/slavery

[@skaetur1]

Snowcrash & Diamond Age.

[@chaos396]

Fantastic book, even if reading it can be incredibly jarring at first. Just don't do a book report on it. Neeeeever do a book report on it.

[@HomelessOnline]

Great book, lousy video here.

[@magney13]

META.

[@samimalmstrom]

Narcistic, pretentious critics. What a sad bunch of pseudo intellectuals!

[@Joe-wq4mo]

Agree. They did not demystify or analyze anything, it was all how impressive David Mitchell is. Yes, he is impressive but there was no sort critical engagement with the text whatsoever except at the end but even that seemed so superficial.

[@hoisec2013]

Woke movie.