The Greatest Novel Ever Written? W/ Peter Kreeft

Dr. Kreeft and I talk about boredom and how it may be a specifically modern idea. Kreeft shares stories of his ADD, and we discuss which books might be considered the best ever written.
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[@clarissaorticio]

"..and that's what converted the world, the happiness of the saints... no answer to that question except the Truth" -Dr. Peter Kreeft

[@igg20]

I loved this interview Matt, invite this awesome man more often! Cheers for your wonderful work!!

[@deaglanuafhlaithbheartaigh8241]

Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy! AVE MARIA

[@peenweinerstein9968]

If you read Anna K. and see Levin as the main character, with Anna there for contrast, it’s much better

[@suzysmith3406]

I totally agree. I read Anna K in high school (quite a few years ago) and was much more interested in Levin and his story. I need to read it again and see if years later that still holds true.

[@eamonob84]

LotR is my favorite novel but number two, above The Brothers K, is Island of the World by Michael O’Brien. I’ve read it twice now and it is so unbelievably beautiful and so well written.

[@athenassigil5820]

As hoky as it may sound, but being in nature, watching waves, listening to the rain, walking in the snow, it's universal and the rhythm of the earth. You can feel creation, you can see it and most of all, experience it all and remain connected to it all while still being you...yet one with everything. And yes, Lord of the Rings, it's still brilliant and an epic, indeed.

[@dynamic9016]

Really appreciate this video.

[@perun814]

Probably the works of Dostoyevsky…all five of them.Unprecedented world revealing ideas His conservative ideas of small government.Small and transparent.Individual free will….Absolutely unparalleled. As Einstein said.Dostoyevsky gives me more than scientist ever,

[@peterdeschenes1995]

Hey Matt, could you please do a video about books you would recommend for Catholics to begin with philosophy? For some of us that want to learn more about the Catholic faith, I think sometimes the question forst comes, "Where do I begin?". I think this would be so helpful. Love the channel! God bless!

[@magaman6353]

Aristotle is like Jupiter when it comes to the foundation of Catholic theology, because Aristotelianism provided the philosophical basis of Thomism. It's almost impossible to understand Catholic theology without it.

[@peterdeschenes1995]

@@magaman6353 Thank you!

[@magaman6353]

Kreeft is old enough to remember the detective series "Columbo" with Peter Falk. The series was inspired by Inspector Porfiry Petrovich, who slowly but surely trapped Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, the anti-hero of "Crime and Punishment."

[@thegregoriangardener0325]

Another writer that accomplishes what Flannery O'Connor did with her short stories (preaching the Gospel a cynical audience/protagonist) is Donna Tartt, at least in her novel The Goldfinch. Haven't read her other novels yet, but The Goldfinch is BRILLIANT. O'Connor/Dostoevsky-level fiction.

[@JP-rf8rr]

Shusaku endo is one of my favorite Christian novelists. His theology may not be good, but his writing is superb. I think the samurai was basically a novel version of CS Lewis argument from desire.

[@blakemorris7]

What's wrong with his theology? I haven't read him yet, so I'm just trying to find out, not argue.

[@JP-rf8rr]

@@blakemorris7 He devalues the miracle accounts of Jesus. I don't think he goes full anti miracle but he leans that direction. That said, he does a great job expressing the character of christ in imaginable and faithful ways. I personally think he often tackles similar subjects and themes as dostoevsky. So if you like his works you'll probably like Endo's (though his books are not as long). His most famous book is silence (made into a movie) but his book (samurai) serves kinda as a prequel to that book.

[@blakemorris7]

@@JP-rf8rr Thanks for the reply. That's strange, i'll keep an eye out for it. I'm familiar with his work - just haven't read any yet. I own Deep River, will probably start there. Wasn't really expecting a response, so thanks a lot.

[@JP-rf8rr]

@@blakemorris7 I actually haven't read deep river yet, I've read "the girl I left behind" "wonderful fool" "sea and poison" "silence" and "samurai" So when you finish deep river please tell me what you think, I'd certainly like to know.

[@blakemorris7]

@@JP-rf8rr alright I will. You wouldn't happen to also be a cinephile?

[@neiljohnson7914]

Shards Of Divinities is an incredible novel that will transform you spiritually and intellectually. It's about the intersection between science/logic and religion/spirituality. The novel is available on that site named after a river in South America.

[@johndrayton8728]

"Bleak House" and "Alice (Wonderland + Looking Glass)"

[@jen9774]

Laziness? You have to concentrate to read a book. You don't concentrate watching water.

[@Jack-uo7gz]

I had no idea Dr. Peter Kreeft has ADD!

[@NachoManBoy4]

Beautiful corn cob

[@martianman5840]

Any fans of "All Quiet On The Western Front"

[@edh.9584]

Anna though is meant to be long and spacious- wait until you get to the long pastoral scenes with her and Levin if you're bored now, but of course they are beautiful.

[@stfclm]

What about the Latin: tedium?

[@JoshuaMSOG7]

9:19- What author is he talking about? Anybody?

[@homoviator5553]

Dostoevsky

[@christophersnedeker2065]

I've heard one universalist say Judas would be better off never born because he'd learned nothing in all his years of life. That his life was to him nothing but years of wasted time.

[@ashley-vz3dt]

I was also bored with Ana Karenina! I really struggled to get to the end...and I agree, I think it's because Ana is so annoying...but I think most of the characters are annoying...literally Karenin is the only person I could tolerate

[@jen9774]

😂😂😂 you're like a friend of mine who read Tess Of The D'urbevilles. GEEZ she said that Tess is so wishy-washy.

[@harrynac6017]

In the Netherlands we had a writer of whom was said "he writes faster than God can read".

[@2wimpies556]

Who?

[@harrynac6017]

@@2wimpies556 Simon Vestdijk.

[@2wimpies556]

@@harrynac6017 Why was it said about him?

[@edh.9584]

Jesus could have meant Judas' fate in this world, as the most notorious person ever.

[@gabesmokeymartatom]

There is a word for what you and Mr.Kreeft are talking about at the start of the video. It's the "noon day devil". Acedia. You guys must have forgotten. You guys need a few more bottles of cold water on the table.

[@dr.limabeansshometherapy1300]

Is it sinful to read books where God’s Name is used in vain?

[@annajones6805]

I had the same question and I have come to the absolute conclusion that we should avoid these kinds of books out of respect for God, same goes for films and series. They can be extremely interesting but same as it ultmately wouldn't feel good to hang out with someone who insults your father, no matter how interesting they are, would you really want to "hang out" with the author who disrespects God inside his book? In my experience, it helps to say " this is a really interesting book, but I love you more, God".

[@cleovargis7806]

Right off the bat, boredom is not a "modern concept" the reason you dont often see words for boredom in ancient literature is because boring tales dont last very long. Odysseus sat on his throne, didnt go anywhere or do anything, and was generally bored, is not a story anyone would read. Just because we have a bit more free time to play with these days doesnt mean ancients never got bored. You can be busy and bored at the same time.

[@deaglanuafhlaithbheartaigh8241]

Life had alot more things you just had to do - we probably weren't just so generally bored EN MASSE as a society as we are now as a society. Only those who had comfort were bored, and maybe thats why we had some of the tyrants we did?

[@cleovargis7806]

@@deaglanuafhlaithbheartaigh8241 how bored would you get if you had to thresh an entire field of wheat by hand? Hours upon hours of the same motions over and over? Rich people had concubines, gladiators, minstrels, court jesters, etc to keep them entertained. Look at modern dictators. They're just as bad.

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

@@cleovargis7806 Everyone gets bored, no matter what era you live in. I think the poor couldn't afford to be _often_ bored. But yes, the rich classes definitely suffered from boredom. This is a huge theme in some of Jane Austen's books or Chekhov's plays, and the subject of many of Vincent G. Stiepevich paintings

[@BigPhilly15]

Great books but for me Don Quixote is the greatest novel ever written.

[@jeanlanz2344]

Re: Jesus saying it would have been better that Judas had never been born, is not the same as Jesus saying it would have been better that Judas had never existed. I pray for unborn people who got aborted or miscarried to be brought to heaven by God. They are innocent and we desire them to be saved. If Judas had died before birth, he would have been innocent.

[@christophersnedeker2065]

That's a fair point, it ties into an counter argument I came up with to the free will defense for hell that supports either universalism or high calvinism, if God truly loves all people even those who go to hell than was it benevolent of God to create them in the first place? What is the purpose of creating someone who he knew would be damned. It either supports the idea God will save all people or that he doesn't love all people. Not saying I'm a calvinist or a universalist I'm just putting it out there.

[@mazza8408]

Lord of the rings and Marvel films show true heroism in my opinion