Eleven Of My Favorite Books | There Is A Personal Story Behind Each Of These Selections

[@Rusticmood]

I was searching for a good KZbin channel for YEARSSS. When I saw yours, I knew this was the only ever intellectual channel I'd ever need. Your stuff on Nietzsche was particularly excellent. Thank you for all your good work, Sir!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoy the channel. I don't know why you'd want to confine yourself to just one channel, though

[@WoolleyWoolf]

@@GregoryBSadler yeah Jason j Campbell has good stuff too as well as carneades for more intro stuff among many many others…

[@facilegoose9347]

He was a trailblazer in an intellectually barren early youtube environment. Still is.

[@oussamajt7099]

You are by far sir my favourite KZbin professor, most wholesome one i should add, THANK YOU ❤️

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome - and thanks!

[@mhmj747]

I'm from iran and its so wonderful for me to see people reading and enjoying works of Khayyam, your channel is fantastic.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks so much!

[@alihamdan5739]

Huge fan of Philosophy here. Been following your work for almost 2 years now and ive learned a lot from you while studying philosophy on my own without a college or a mentor, where I had you as my mentor in that beautiful journey im still in and will never stop. So happy to see your collection and would love to read some of the books that you mentioned, if not all of them here. Huge fan of philosophy and of yours as well doctor!❤

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoy the visdos

[@supak108]

I really like the idea of this video being about specific copies of books you’ve kept. I too lost a parent relatively early in life (my mother when I was 23). I was admittedly drinking a bit much after her death and reading Ulysses which I had been reading prior to her death. It was the first book I finished after her death a little less than a month after she died in March of 2017. It’s all folded, battered, and covered in beer stains. There’s something ironic and sad but also liberating about that copy of the book to me because finishing the book was the first thing I did after her death that required real effort and energy, things I was pretty drained of most of the time. My condolences for the loss of your father and great video as always.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, I was drinking quite a bit after my own mom died, when I was 29. It's pretty common, I expect. Quite a long and dense book to plow through

[@marija2525]

Awesome channel, it helped me a lot during my studies and kept my love for philosophy alive :D

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks!

[@Eli-vb9zv]

I’m glad somebody is giving the Loeb classics some love! I’m a big fan of those translations.

[@GregoryBSadler]

They're great editions. Kinda old oxfordy translations, but you use them for the Greek/Latin

[@Bryan-vu5fu]

I loved the part with your mom getting you "De la grammatologie" and how it reminds you of her. Now that I think of it, some books that I have read through do have stories, nostalgic or intimate, of their own. I also really like how this video is unedited.

[@GregoryBSadler]

It's edited. Glad you enjoyed it

[@mohammadhoseynpoor3544]

Good for me as an Iranian since I can read Khayyam poems in Persian and you know it's sth else ♥️

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, my Iranian friends told me that about Khayam some time ago. It's nice to be able to read in the original

[@leojenkins4232]

love to see some Borges appreciation! i got a copy of fictions for my birthday a week or so ago and over halfway into it i think it's one of the best things i've ever read. The Library of Babel is probably my favourite story as of rn.

[@GregoryBSadler]

That is one of my favorites as well

[@CoreyAnton]

Thanks. I enjoyed this quite a bit. I always preferred the Matheson translations of Epictetus. Best to you.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, there's lots of translations. This is just the book that has personal meaning for me. Usually, I'm providing my own translations,

[@nasar8480]

Reading Meditations and Ficciones, myself. Borges is a force to reckon with. What a sublime author! I don't know how many times will I have to go through his short stories (they are more of literary and philosophical meanderings) to get the full juice out of them, but God knows I'm trying and I AM LOVING IT. Thank you for this video, Sir. I would love to watch you talk about books in the future as well. Cheers!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You’ll find quite a few books videos in the channel

[@deserthorsedude]

Excellent list of books that cover a very broad and interest in spectrum of ideas. I've read about half of these books and agree with you love of them. Each of these books are useful to the reader to expand your mind and build your character. We are the average of our friends and what we read helps us create our mental framework (outlook on life). So choose your friends carefully and read only the books that have something important to contribute.

[@GregoryBSadler]

I do plenty of reading that's just for pleasure

[@GlenfordSmith]

Thank you! I found your post rather interesting.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You’re welcome!

[@mariocoelho9380]

Had only seen your lessons so far and this was unexpected, but I really enjoyed this new type of video. Love from Portugal

[@GregoryBSadler]

I’ve got quite a few personal videos in the channel!

[@jcrass2361]

Cool video! I’ll have to pick up that translation of Epictetus.

[@GregoryBSadler]

It's a bit old-fashioned in its language, but decent enough

[@roniius8784]

have kind of wanted to ask you this question for a while honestly but never had the guts to do so. i love videos where people i respect talk about their favorite books. great video now that it's actually come out.

[@roniius8784]

by the way, how's land been treating you so far?

[@GregoryBSadler]

So far Land has been run of the mill 1990s continental stuff. Doesn’t measure up to the mystique

[@gardens2b7]

Enjoying your content very much from Champaign, Illinois

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks! Been through there many times

[@freehuman4931]

Thank you for your Service Dr. Sadler. Socrates was a war veteran.

[@GregoryBSadler]

None of that is really relevant to the books. Lots of people were vts

[@freehuman4931]

@@GregoryBSadler Understood. Just thanking you for sharing.

[@jedrzejjaworski7714]

Man, that sure sounds like my reaction to After Virtue as well. "Finally someone is making some sense!"

[@GregoryBSadler]

Kinda. I’d found lots of people making sense by that point. This was something deeper

[@jedrzejjaworski7714]

@@GregoryBSadler Huh, Id like to hear more about that at some point.

[@GregoryBSadler]

@Jedrzej Jaworski I've been clear enough I'd say - is there some part that isn't?

[@jedrzejjaworski7714]

@@GregoryBSadler Sorry no, I just meant I wanted to hear more about your experience reading MacIntyre someday, like you have with Blondel or Nietzsche etc. Just always happy to hear more about MacIntyre!

[@GregoryBSadler]

@@jedrzejjaworski7714 Ah - got it. You know, I should probably do one of those "Philosophical Developments and Commitments" videos on MacIntyre

[@colelolicato5574]

just found your channel, your videos are very good! thank you

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoy them

[@dalefull88]

Godel, Esher, Bach is also one of my favourites too.

[@ThePeaceableKingdom]

Aye!

[@jonathanmoore5619]

Thanks for this. Your work is much appreciated. Best from the UK...

[@GregoryBSadler]

You’re welcome!

[@jettdormitorio8555]

This was good. Loved it!!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad to read it!

[@johndoe767-c6l]

Thank you, great video!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome

[@sumitrashankarchamoli8547]

A lot of love and respect from India. Keep making such amazing videos

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks - will do!

[@harsht17]

I have similar copies as yours of the Rubaiyat and Labyrinths!! thanks for the great list

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome!

[@stiller44]

Thank you for your work! Would you be interested in making a short series or video explaining the fundamentals of Lacan?

[@GregoryBSadler]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJy7fKeuocp6d5o

[@abdussalampakistan3694]

We love your videos

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks!

[@spicyshizz2850]

Wow that’s very interesting, so many books to read. What’s your opinion on not finishing a book that you once started. I want to read so many books but theirs limited time, so i guess I must choose wisely or at least spend the time wisely

[@GregoryBSadler]

I think it's up to you whether or not you finish a book

[@ThePeaceableKingdom]

I read Zarathustra when I was too young. I don't think I was ready for it. But I read the Birth of Tragedy at just the right time... I loved and still love Fitzgerald's Omar Khayam. To call it a translation is _almost_ a misnomer. Certainly Edward added his own editor's spin to the material, reducing a couple of thousand verses to a hundred plus, and reworked it over his life. It's almost a translingual collaboration. I have the Classics Club edition - cheap hardbacks of various classics, translations generally chosen because the were old and cheap, if not free. (And old in the 1940s!) An exception is their version of the Rubaiyat. In a slim volume they published all five editions. No gorgeous illustrations, but incandescent verses of melancholy or sardonic comfort in the dark of night.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Hahaha! I don't think I understand half of what I was reading in Zarathustra in college!

[@DaseinClimbs]

"Into Existentialism, and some Marxist stuff, and some Pragmatist stuff." Get out of my mind! Great video, love hearing the stories behind the choices.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@joelprovides8930]

After virtue is a brilliant book, my old history teacher he went to one of Macintyres lectures it inspired him so much he took a master's in Theology.

[@GregoryBSadler]

It is indeed, though like every one, with some gaps

[@vincentandrew4544]

Hi Dr Sadler. I've watched ur interview with Better than Food, and read your related article on medium about "three books that most changed my life". There you mention The Republic, The Nichomachean Ethics, and The Discourses. I could see Aristotle and Epictetus' here, but not Plato's Republic. I'm curious why? Do you change your mind since then? Or do you simply think books that "changed your life the most" isn't strictly the same thing as "favorite books"?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Gotta read the video description carefully

[@vincentandrew4544]

@@GregoryBSadler with all respect I failed to see the answer to my question in your description. I don't believe the description necessarily answer my question; maybe my reading comprehension isn't capable to understand what you meant, or you're the one that didn't read my question carefully. If you're kind enough to answer it, I'm going to be grateful.

[@GregoryBSadler]

@@vincentandrew4544 "Each of the eleven books - the actual copies - I discuss in this video is a favorite of mine." THE ACTUAL COPIES. Your question was answered in the video description. Gotta read carefully

[@vincentandrew4544]

@@GregoryBSadler Well, I never knew you don't have any specific attachment to an actual copy of the republic. Thank you for the answer.

[@hiradvl174]

as an iranian i know khayam well. good choice for sure

[@localmo88]

Great video

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks!

[@morgoth615]

What do you think of Schopenhauer by any chance? Since you're a professor with a long list of videos on Hegel, this has been on my mind ever since I found this channel

[@GregoryBSadler]

He's all right

[@emmanueloluga9770]

@@GregoryBSadler lmao ayo chill...this seems like giving a response to what Schophenhaeuer says with the phrase..."Same energy"

[@most765]

Reading discourses right now and I'm having a blast! Your thoughts professor on why classical works are still relevant today? Maybe even in the future. Does humanity (in general) never learn or something else? Thank you.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Classic works are rich and human nature is complex

[@skiphoffenflaven8004]

Subterranean Books by any chance? Left Bank? Dunaway?

[@GregoryBSadler]

No idea what you're asking about or how it's relevant to this video, which has a pretty clear topic

[@Retrogamer71]

Hey Greg. What are your eleven favourite all time books? 4:50. Douglas R Hofstadter. Loved that book. Still in my library. 15:28 I have that in my library thanks to your recommendation of the Loeb book.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Sometime, I'd like to revisit the Hofstadter and read the followup to it

[@alexjohnson9798]

This is kind of veering into self-help territory but could you make something about being a diligent reader of philosophy when temptations like social media exist? The spectacles have been beating my ass lately.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Like this? medium.com/practical-rationality/acedia-the-internet-and-social-media-57f105891a31

[@alexjohnson9798]

@@GregoryBSadler That's great. Thanks!

[@parakram7689]

I have thus spoke zarathustra so i should just start. I should not overthink it and nust start. Your lectures should be enough lol. But great stuff!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes. The first time you read a philosophical book, overthinking it is a real mistake. Just dive in and read it through, knowing that you’re going to reread and reread, and understand more each time

[@Gusativo]

Was there a book that first sparkled your love for philosophy?

[@GregoryBSadler]

There was not A book, no

[@1bangdan121]

Can someone make the list in the comments please

[@GregoryBSadler]

They’re all in the video description

[@kw1ksh0t]

New Model Army?? Are you still a fan? What a great band

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, I expect I'll be a fan for life

[@tejindersss]

Thanks for this video professor. Would you consider yourself a religious person? Sorry if this has been asked before in one of yours ama's

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes

[@ChristianReinholdt]

It's funny how different particular books gain personal meaning. I now routinely worry about someone spilling a drink over my danish edition of the Phenomenology of Spirit at parties, because of the countless hours spent on taking notes and underlining key passages. Also, in the course of following your Half Hour Hegel series and through acquiring the English, German and Danish translations of the work I really learned the importance of such differences in translation. Though your helpful comments often mentioning the original German makes this almost unnecessary.

[@GregoryBSadler]

I think I would have similar worries for a book that I'd invested that much time and annotation into