Cormac McCarthy Interview on Faulkner, Writing, & Science

This Cormac McCarthy interview has never been released before on KZbin. Cormac McCarthy discusses topics never discussed in his two recent interviews such as why he writes dark novels, Faulkner, and the origins of humans. There is also a beautiful scene where Herzog reads a passage from "All The Pretty Horses." His willingness to answer questions at length is also much higher. This interview took place with Lawrence Krauss and Werner Herzog on NPR on April 8th, 2011.
This is a reupload as the first one was taken down.
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McCarthy talked about his writing process, saying that he never outlines his novels or knows where they're going until he gets there. He also discussed his interest in human nature and how it is reflected in his work. Herzog praised McCarthy's ability to capture the essence of the American Southwest in his writing.
Herzog, on the other hand, talked about his experience filming "Into the Abyss," a documentary about a triple homicide in Texas. He discussed his belief in the importance of storytelling, particularly in documentary filmmaking, and how he tries to find the humanity in even the darkest of situations.
Overall, the interview was a fascinating discussion between two great artists who share a deep passion for storytelling and exploring the human experience in their work.

[@timchuck9969]

I love how Cormac brings his own great depth of knowledge to the conversation, and absolutely keeps pace with Werner on the subject of these ancient caves. Two men of bottomless curiosity. Such an inspiration.

[@WriteConscious]

Yes!

[@SorenHume]

Krause, as usual is a total vibe killer.

[@egressoutofthedark]

What this interview elucidates is that the reason Cormac McCarthy spoke not of his writing, is because it made him deeply uncomfortable. See how each time the conversation turns away from objective topics and towards his subjectivity (his writing), he immediately shifts the focus elsewhere: to Faulkner, to Krauss. I will not pathologize this, or say whether it is right or wrong or healthy or unhealthy, but rather say that it is simply different. To have a mind, a powerful, unique, curious mind, and to want to turn it towards the world, towards ideas and possibilities, rather than pure self-referentiality, is a gift. I know the comments cry out for more, lamenting the lack of McCarthy’s explanation of his work, whether process or content, but to me such thinking misses the forest for the trees. I came to Cormac McCarthy after his passing, because of his interview with David Krakauer. Such life! Such vitality! I did not need him to tell me how he writes or why, because he showed me in that one interview how to think, how to feel, how to SEE. He was led by curiosity first and foremost. All of the writing stemmed from that. These human traits are the bigger piece of the puzzle. The why of it all, the searching. It is far richer and far more beautiful to see his mind at work, rather than seeing it limited by speaking narrowly about his own work.

[@moviereviews1446]

Imagine if Lawrence Krauss decided to never speak on anything again. The world would be a little better, I think.

[@Lobishomem]

A lot better.

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

Herzog is absolutely right. In 40 or more years such beautiful literature hasn't graced the written page. Rest in peace, you legend. Cormac McCarthy was such a magnificent genius and I am utterly grateful to have read his works. I really wished we could have heard more on his process, on his philosophy on existentialism, and his thoughts on Nietzsche and any potential influence the Nietzschean notion of the ubermensch may have had on such characters as Judge Holden, Anton Chigurh, and on the bearded man from _The Outer Dark_ . However, it's clear, he absolutely hates talking about his work, his process, and how extraordinarily prodigal, rare, and beautiful his genius was. And I guess that's okay. I've a brain that works on occasion, and I'll figure things out on my own. Thanks for the video.

[@WriteConscious]

RIP

[@suneethamay3615]

Hi Vernon nice to see you Lot of love Suneeha

[@jaykay6387]

I have come to believe that the individuals who possess what we characterize as "genius" don't really have any grasp of what it is, either, and/or how to describe how it works. I have heard many musical artists describe it as "channeling", i.e., they are simply a vessel for the product. When Tom Petty was asked about the "process" of writing a song, he said that he doesn't like to "look it in the eye". These people can just "do it", and if they did understand it, I don't think most of them would open up honestly about how. It's not really possible to deconstruct genius, and I think that they instinctively understand that and that there is a danger or fear of losing this ability that they have been blessed with. A real world manifestation of this would be the observation that in many instances, the best "teachers" are not the most talented. The reason behind this would be that those individuals have to work much harder to become proficient at something than a "prodigy" would, thus they understand "process" and how to explain it better than a gifted individual.

[@Bolgini]

Krause says a whole lot of nothing very quickly. Herzog and especially McCarthy took their time in making sure their thoughts were clear. Wish they were the only two being interviewed. Krause kept rudely interrupting them.

[@WriteConscious]

Lmao. He was too busy planning events at Epstein's island in his head to focus on the moment.

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

He was antithetical to McCarthy in my opinion. As a lover of _The Road_ and all of his works, Krauss' early comments about humanity dying out and saying it wasn't so bad really pissed me off. No. Read _The Road_ read your Dylan Thomas, you son of a bitch. Damned roll over coward. I was amazed at McCarthy's humble modesty and how he swiftly switched the topic from his writing, after Herzog brought me to tears reading my second favorite McCarthy passage, and instead focused on Krauss' book, graciously complimenting him on how good it was. Sure, fair enough, maybe it is good, but man, Krauss' soft, cowardly comment before pissed me off.

[@keithm257]

he's so annoying. he only partially redeems himself in the last few minutes

[@liammcooper]

I'm a simple man, I see Werner Herzog and Cormac McCarthy discussing William Faulkner, I click... though I think McCarthy has more in common with McCullers, O'Connor, and maybe Welty

[@uniquechannelnames]

Also, my most heartfelt and utmost respect for Cormac McCarthy, please RIP. Blessing us with his masterpieces of writing (Blood Meridian, No Country for Old Men, The Road, and hopefully The Passenger/Stella Maris dual-book is a cool experiment literarilly) . Still need to read the All the Pretty Horses series but i'm working on it)... RIP to Cormac McCarthy and much love and respect forever. Kxç,I'm very interested in his dual books released around his death (The Passenger and Stellas Maris). One of my favourite novelists of the 20th and 21st century and just a beautiful, humble, ever curious, and highly intelligent and deeply enigmatic man. I feel blessed that I was graced to live in the same time as him. We'll miss you Cormac.

[@johndoe4073]

This is amazing. Thank you for doing this!

[@tompurcell9287]

Nearly one year now since Cormac’s passing. Never know what you have until it’s gone. Great writer’s share a gift of honesty in observation, coupled with mastery of story telling. I am hopeful that time will treat him well and his stories will endure and gain greater appreciation.

[@euphegenia]

39:30 Herzog reads from McCarthy’s “All the Pretty Horses”

[@djamesv]

and Cormack immediately segues to Lawrence's writing :)

[@comanchewillkillyou]

This part is a gem shining bright; nothing Krauss (crass?) said before or after could ruin the insanely delicious moment of Werner Herzog reading a passage written by Cormac McCarthy. Yes, THAT happened. And here it is.

[@doctorquid]

This channel is not only entertaining It is important

[@WriteConscious]

Thank you! Let's go!!

[@darkoale3299]

Blood Meridian is The Great American Novel. RIP. His passing is a true loss.

[@ryanthomas7119]

😂 No it is definitely not

[@tarrat3717]

Will we ever get a complete understanding of Cormac and his works? Ian, thank you for uncovering and exposing these loose puzzle pieces allowing us to form a picture, albeit incomplete, of not only Cormac but ultimately of all of us.

[@WriteConscious]

Yes, I believe we are pretty close to a complete understanding. If he hadn't left tens of thousands of pages of his notes/drafts to an archive we wouldn't. But, I think now that he is dead friends/family of his will also fill in a lot of the gaps.

[@architchaudhary1285]

​@@WriteConscious People haven't even begun getting to some aspects of McCarthy. Kelly James' work on Blood meridian shows how far behind most people are.

[@uniquechannelnames]

The best part before I've even finished the first minute of this is saying a novelist, a filmmaker and a physicist, when Cormac McCarthy has been at the Santa Fe institute hanging out amongst top level scientists for decades. Even personally just starting his new book The Passenger he references leptons. I'd wager he's got a good grasp of a number of science fields, especially physics.

[@johnhernan9238]

I was reading The Passenger and Stella Maris when Oppenheimer film was released. I was hoping deep down Nolan & Murphy would read McCarthy…. 🤷‍♂️

[@andrewgirvan3540]

I am happier knowing I will never wind up on an interstellar journey with Herzog, his vision is quite something!

[@scientifico]

My two favorite creative minds... together?!?!?! Unreal and wonderful!

[@WriteConscious]

Yes!

[@Atomb]

If you don't mind me asking, I've only seen Grizzly Man and one about ski jumping (which was great). What are your favourite Herzog movies?

[@caseyclausen2627]

​@@AtombI'll jump in. Aguirre, the Wrath of God was the film that caused my interest in cinema. The opening scene set in the mountains is one of the great images, in my opinion. For a more recent film, the absurdity in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans suited me wonderfully.

[@Atomb]

@@caseyclausen2627 Thank you sir. I'll put it on my list.

[@evelynmayton470]

Thank you, excellent and you are so appreciated, I admire your McCarthy travels and dedication.

[@WriteConscious]

Thanks!

[@Lopfff]

Oh my God I remember this interview. They must’ve broadcast this a long time ago, because I quit listening to NPR years ago

[@WriteConscious]

Me too

[@TheOfficialChillClan]

its still very good. Should start listening again. Radio lab is pretty great!

[@riffraffrichard]

2009 maybe

[@jartladder15]

What a great interview and great combination of intellects. Werner Herzog is an amazing film director by the way. I recommend Aguirre The Wraith of God. About a Spanish conquistador.

[@WriteConscious]

Great movie!

[@jasonanderson5980]

Also great Herzog films: The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, Fata Morgana, Heart of Glass, Stroszek, too many to list really...

[@henryulric]

I'm glad radio is over. Every time the freaking broadcaster interrupting the trio. Fuck that.

[@WriteConscious]

Exactly, Cormac had that 1.25 hour interview, but nothing longer than that. He would do great on a free form podcast with a Joe Rogan type figure.

[@henryulric]

Precisely what I was thinking. Too late, Cormac is dead. Lawrence/Herzog could make it, though. Didn't happen so far :P@@WriteConscious

[@henryulric]

But I'm aware Lawrence did interview Herzog on his podcast. It was good.

[@petercheney8316]

I'm almost done with "Blood Meridian" is there a support group, or a therapy program available for me?

[@WriteConscious]

This channel!

[@simuliid]

Yes! This is the way. That book gave me PTSD, but it's one of the best books I ever slogged through. Good Lord, it needs a cover warning, but it's fucking amazing.

[@johnhernan9238]

yes…. you read the rest if mCCarthy’s work and then you read Blood Meridian again. Best therapy I ever got

[@davidbonar5190]

we need something similar where david lynch and werner herzog interview each other :)

[@WriteConscious]

Yes!

[@mariocoelho9380]

Hey, man. Do you have any plans to make a video on The Pale King?

[@WriteConscious]

Of course!! More like 100+ videos.

[@mariocoelho9380]

@@WriteConscious Fantastic! Thank you so much.

[@kvitnu88]

The desert he rode was red and red the dust he raised, the small dust that powdered the legs of the horse he rode, the horse he led. 🐎🐎🐎

[@WriteConscious]

Yes

[@jamesstanton2012]

Thank ya good sir.

[@WriteConscious]

Thank you!

[@willthomson3561]

A shame we have to suffer Krauss and the host to get to Herzog and McCarthy.

[@WriteConscious]

All growth connected to suffering lol

[@paulsass4343]

you are in error to not appreciate Lawrence Krauss

[@paulsass4343]

also ira Flatow !!

[@christopherhamilton3621]

@@paulsass4343I can appreciate him shutting the FU…!

[@christopherhamilton3621]

@@paulsass4343That’s certainly your opinion. Most of the time he’s insufferable.

[@robbykurle6195]

Do you feel there is any analog in how Cormac McCarthy and Werner Herzog write? Such as Werner Herzog's "Twilight World?"

[@WriteConscious]

Haven't read it yet!

[@gerardluken6544]

What is the quote regarding being a pessimist but no reason to be miserable about it?

[@jawnsushi]

The link for the tshirts doesn't work. Got one that does?

[@IndieAuthorX]

Man, wish Lex Friedman could have gotten an interview with McCarthy, I feel the lack of interruptions and a long 3 or 4 hour run time would have been really wonderful.

[@robbykurle6195]

Wow. This is akin to having Einstein, Oppenheimer and Niels Bohr in the same room and discussing Freud.

[@WriteConscious]

lmao

[@saramontgomery4840]

Regarding the quote of Picasso that we have learned nothing (after viewing the cave paintings) I read the following passage and it seemed apropos. From An Episode In The Life Of A Landscape Painter by Cesar Aira "hypothetically, that, were all the storytellers to fall silent, nothing would be lost, since the present generation, or those of the future, could experience the events of the past without needing to be told about them, simply by recombining or yielding to the available facts, although, in either case, such an action could only be born of a deliberate resolution. And it was even possible that the repetition would be more authentic in the absence of stories. The purpose of storytelling could be better fulfilled by handing down, instead, a set of "tools", which would enable mankind to reinvent what had happened in the past, with the innocent spontaneity of action. Humanity's finest accomplishments, everything that deserved to happen again. And the tools would be stylistic. According to this theory, then, art was more useful than discourse."

[@WriteConscious]

Thanks for this quote!

[@synthmalicious7541]

35:10 they start talking about Faulkner

[@JohnSmouseFilms]

Start Cormac, bench Werner, cut Krauss.

[@jungastein3952]

Man, that Ira Flatow is just rancourous!

[@WriteConscious]

lol

[@killyourtvnotme]

it’s like a perfect triangle

[@WriteConscious]

lol

[@keithrobinson7638]

I would really like to hear this interview performed by Terry Gross.

[@samm8190]

Why was this taken down in the first place?

[@WriteConscious]

"Hate Speech" lmao.... Human reviewed too after a protest by me! But, they wouldn't tell me why it got removed because it would be a "security violation." They have removed at least five or six videos. That's why I started the course because I had all these videos I couldn't post lol.

[@michaei1726]

@@WriteConsciouscrazy

[@samm8190]

@@WriteConsciousI was hoping they’d say what they thought was “hate speech”. That’s such nonsense.

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

@@WriteConscious Herzog gives the German title for Joseph Conrad's _Heart of Darkness_ . Look up the German word for "dark" or "black" and you can hear him say it. Ridiculous. This is what we are fighting, the seeping, creeping, obliterating idiocy of rampant Liberalism, unhinged and uprooted from its original, beautiful source and hijacked by ideologues using feeble AI to root out "racism". It's insane. Don't they read their Stan Lee? Don't they know that with great power comes great responsibility? God damned Philistines.

[@BLooDCoMPleX]

This was a wonderful discussion, though I wish the moderator made fewer interventions.

[@user-cq5sg9cb4t]

Great stuff, but oh, God, not this guy Krauss again.

[@interestedlen8823]

My reaction, too... "Two out of three ain't bad..."

[@cooperveit3289]

Sadly he speaks the most, and what he says is so banal that Cormac and Werner can’t even engage with it

[@WriteConscious]

He flew back on the Lolita express from Epstein's island just to do this interview!

[@fireball43]

@@WriteConsciousKrause tries so hard and can’t do what seems almost effortless to Werner and Cormac

[@WriteConscious]

It's interesting Cormac seems to love Krauss though. He edited two of his books. But, that could have been because Cormac knew that it was for the good of science. For instance, one of those books he edited got Krauss on Joe Rogan (where he shared some awesome info for beginners but was intolerable again lol) but that episode I'm sure has been heard by millions now.

[@othelo989]

what a cool conversation but I hate this old school garbage of stopping conversations for commercial's Guess I'm too used to 3 hour uncut podcasts all over the internet

[@999titu]

One of the most mysterious set of eyes

[@sidDkid87]

*_powerhouse!!_* 💪

[@WriteConscious]

Ayeee!

[@looseunit9180]

Krause is such a tool

[@peterwhite7428]

But the road is not a pessimistic book. Of course, nuclear war is not a pretty thing, but the story is really about the love a boy and a man have for each other

[@TheeRogerWayne]

Sound like epstein. "A boy and his father.."

[@warriorpoet9629]

“ you Americans …you talk and talk and talk and you say nothing.” The grim reaper from the Meaning of Life.

[@Alex18NY]

Krauss is repellent.

[@WriteConscious]

lol, yup and took Epstein money

[@gourmetghost]

finding this after the epstein list unfortunately

[@rztricky]

My epilogue for Cormack Under your personal ceiling tomorrow, when you awake. Under your personal sky tomorrow, when you step out, you then make a choice. To proceed under the untempered, raw world of wilderness and all possibilities. When we awake, and look at the sky tomorrow, every possibility historical or fiction could happen. The same space of our present pessimism could be the backdrop of the extraordinary. God, Satan all possible in the creation and imagination. Or a higher structure of adaptation that allows emotion and sentient consciousness in harmony. Where will you row when you are placed on that remote lake?

[@WriteConscious]

Thanks!

[@elel2608]

Lawrence Krauss? Good grief. Just have Herzog and McCarthy talk to each other.

[@WriteConscious]

There can be no growth without suffering

[@elel2608]

@@WriteConscious 😂😂😂

[@davidash2727]

Bottomless curiosity no exclamation point needed.

[@jungastein3952]

man these guys are a bunch of haters! so much hate! this aggression will not stand, man....

[@WriteConscious]

Lawrence Krauss really tied the room together 🤣

[@therobotocracy]

Did they call him “Ira”? Haha

[@claudesaint-nuage]

Krauss again

[@WriteConscious]

Always

[@Templar112299]

I’m sorry but this Kraus guy is insufferable. He has almost nothing interesting to say.

[@davidknox5484]

Hey Krauss, maybe quiet down around the smart people. You don’t have much to add.

[@user-xj3mt5uf2z]

Suttree🚁🛸🛹🫛

[@WriteConscious]

Yes

[@suneethamay3615]

Is this Mary's husband?

[@kynismos]

Two prople too many on this panel😊

[@adamskorupskas2184]

sickening propaganda.

[@WriteConscious]

lol

[@pantalaemon]

morbid curio makes me ask: sickening propaganda for what? and by whom?

[@nosmoker8]

About what? Fuckin cave paintings?

[@tenthletter2678]

You should only use words you at least have a vague grasp on the meanings of....

[@courtesyofdickboak]

The science/art connection is a stretch and usually scientists wishing they could be cooler than they are

[@Seablack66]

This is great, its just very unfortunate Ira Glass sounded often like an anxious man looking at his watch. When you have three great minds like this together, why on earth would you not let the conversation unfold naturally and freely, instead of frantically interrupting it at times, and then editing it for time later on?

[@WriteConscious]

This is why radio is dead