Why should you read James Joyce's "Ulysses"? - Sam Slote

[@TEDEd]

Up to the challenge? You can download an audio version of "Ulysses" (or any audio book) for free at adbl.co/2y0J0DT. And you can check out even more book recs from our team at bit.ly/2gAYa7F.

[@Ronenlahat]

You convinced me

[@jeraldvannbuhat6185]

Thanks. I hope I read it.

[@SaiyaraLBS]

Ted Ed YOU'RE THE BEST

[@guyclykos]

I sincerely feel sorry for the one reading it to us.

[@jeronimotamayolopera4834]

INTELLIGENT PEOPLE LOVE READING... DO NOT TRY TO IMPOSE THAT ON EVERYBODY ELSE.

[@smaakjeks]

"If Ulysses isn't worth reading, then life isn't worth living" - Joyce Well, we'd all like to write our own reviews.

[@purefoldnz3070]

Well he never read Twilight. Life isn't worth living while such a book exists.

[@bebopbountyhead]

"To learn one must be humble." Hmm... Whole book is foppery.

[@coreylipow180]

Not sure that's the best way to end this video, which is supposed to encourage you to read it. Seems like a bit of bravado we could have done without.

[@rishiparashar6868]

Imagine if the book reviews on the cover say... 'Meh' 2 stars.

[@ezzy2254]

he was comparing life to reading Ulysses.

[@conorrooney2669]

I started reading Ulysses 15 years ago and am nearly one third the way through it.. I'm 40 now so I should get there before I die

[@Tflexxx02]

I've started it 3 times. Never get very far. Not too smart, I guess.

[@unicornsprinkles3277]

Or your great grandchildren may one day read the final chapter

[@Ana_crusis]

I cannot imagine why

[@guitarmatricide4834]

Wait till you get to the chapter where Joyce writes in like 8 different styles chronologically and each ensuing style is just as maddeningly incomprehensible as the next... That chapter almost made me give up on the book altogether and shot-put it across my living room. But I’m glad I didn’t. IMHO: “Ulysses” or “The Great Gatsby” is the greatest novel of the 20th century.

[@Ana_crusis]

@@guitarmatricide4834 There's nothing remotely difficult about Ulysses. It is a funny book and perfectly easy to read. It has an entirely unfounded reputation of being difficult; I'm not sure why. Maybe from Joyce's general reputation as a major wordsmith and from his 'Finnigans Wake' , which is another kettle of fish altogether.

[@karmaic8282]

If anyone is looking to start reading "Ulysses", please read Joyce's other book "Dubliners" first. Dubliners has a few short stories which help you grasp the writing of Joyce. Then Ulysses will be (slightly) easier to read and comprehend.

[@fish-fingers_and_custard7685]

And read Portrait of the Artist!!!!

[@deadoralivecowboy1401]

Thanks

[@emilianoturazzi]

@@fish-fingers_and_custard7685 for sure, a masterpiece itself and a better introduction to Ulysses than Dubliner

[@pemehl6414]

Not true, its impossible to read me without an IQ slightly less, the same or greater than mine.

[@malzzzzification25]

Man, those stories are soooo boring.

[@MNelson1800]

I've been reading "Ulysses" this year and I've needed a lot of help getting through it. Mostly, I've been listening to a lecture series from The Great Courses. If you look up Joyce's "Ulysses" by Professor James A.W. Heffernan, he gives a chapter by chapter analysis to help you understand what Joyce is saying. It's very helpful, and entertaining! Heffernan really knows his stuff and he's good at doing accents as they appear in the book. Sorry for sounding like an ad, but the book is super challenging, and the lecture series made it a lot easier for me.

[@abirkar4496]

thanks man.

[@mattp1873]

I used Great Courses as well -which is just flat awesome whatever the topic. Did not enjoy the book, however. I realize I’m supposed to but shoulder shrug emoji.

[@nicholashill9302]

If you are reading it to get through it don't. If you read it a bit at a time for fun. 😊 As for War and Peace or Les Miserables get a cheap copy and chop them into 5 manageable novels, each. They're too big to carry round. These authors didn't write them all in one go either!!

[@helenamcginty4920]

A novel should be able to stand on its own. I prefer Flann O'Brien (a pen name) for off centre writing. His "The Third Policeman" I have read and laughed out loud at several times. "At Swim Two Birds" reminded me a bit of Joyce's "Portrait.. ." Having, as it dies, a young male student at the helm. But the author's sense if humour shines through all the convolutions.

[@seanfaherty]

If an author needs a translator for the same language how good of a writer is he ? If writing is meant to convey ideas Joyce failed. If writing is merely a tool for self promotion he's a genius

[@dumpstercub2902]

Perfect for reading over the course of 15 years with the last page being read to the girl who told you to after trying to run away from home

[@jberger94]

Nice reference

[@Eric-dn9bx]

Dumpster Cub reddit

[@dabtican4953]

what?

[@moon_marina]

Based Bætican de /bant/ Ulysses bucket list

[@lm14000]

Dumpster Cub that’s a queens fact .

[@57chacarita]

If you want to read it, as I did, I advise you to buy one copy of Ulysess along with the books "Ulysses Annotated" by Don Gifford (which contains more than 8000 entries that explains historical and literary references within Ulysses) and "James Joyce's Ulysses: A Study" by Stuart Gilbert, which is a reading guide for the novel written by a personal friend of Joyce.

[@pradhumn7401]

But why?

[@Neha-vy3dk]

Thanks! I will try that next time i attempt to read it

[@MsBettyRubble]

Thanks for the tip!

[@steingar7820]

I disagree. Ulysses is already a whale of a book: it's far better to read it without an endless number of annotations and distractions to grind you down, and just enjoy it with a fresh eye. I read it without reference guides, and it's still incredibly amusing and interesting without having to dissect the minute details.

[@byronp2311]

I spent three or so months reading Ulysses. I was young then and had better powers of concentration. I also carriied with me up to 8 books to help me get thru the damned thing. An treatise by Anthony Burgess, something called "Allusions in Ulysses" (I think), the Stuart Gilbert book, which I believe Joyce approved of and the Gifford and Seidman book. That last one is really the only one you need as it seems to encompass all others and is very well laid out. It's got maps and everything :) However, you will want to choose either Notes for Joyce or Ulysses Annotated depending on what version of Ulysses you are attempting. Hum, it seems the Gabler version has been more or less dropped so Notes for Joyce it is! (just found this out in the Wkipedia)

[@shoxruxturaev1931]

"If Ulysses isn't worth reading, then life isn't worth living". Yeah i agree; life isn't worth living.

[@shoxruxturaev1931]

@@sweiland75 'cause i can take a joke

[@pemehl6414]

​@@shoxruxturaev1931 You're right if you don't read it, you cant live.

[@pemehl6414]

@J I A M T H E B O O K

[@yinxiong1988]

just love this wit comment. yes, life isn't worth living, I think maybe most of us just bear through it.

[@Chillerll]

@@yinxiong1988 just like reading Ulysses

[@britishparisian6846]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the beauty, detail and elegance of the animation and music in the video. Well produced Ted-Ed ✨

[@pepepecaspicapapas4726]

No.

[@carl_hansson]

I think the best advice that I could give someone who wants to read Ulysses is: 1. Accept that you will not get everything. People have made it their entire job to study this book and try to understand it completely. You will not get everything on one pass. And that is okay, it makes it even more fun when (or maybe if...) you decide to read it again. 2. Read his earlier works: Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. This will get you used to his language and some themes and make it an easier start. 3. Get "Ulysses Annotated". This is like the encyclopedia of Ulysses. If you find something that you don't understand and want answered/explained then you will find it in this book. 4. If you feel like you have the energy you should read "The Odyssey" (and therefore also the prequel "The Iliad") by Homer. This may seem daunting but it is really rewarding. Just make sure to get a good and not overcomplicated translation. With these things done and with the correct mindset of "I won't understand every detail" getting through this book, while not a breeze will be much easier. It may seem like a lot of work (and it is) but I for one think reading ulysses for the first time is among the greatest literary experiences of my life and I hope it will be for you too. Ps. If you get through Ulysses have a look at Finnegans Wake also by Joyce. If you think getting through Ulysses was hard try getting through the first page of that book.

[@viktorija.jankauskaite]

Thank you for this comment!

[@plankcaller]

so should i treat it like when i watch david lynch then? seems like the same mindset and if that's it then i could give it a try

[@the-doubting-thomas62]

Do you have any suggestions of good Homer translations?

[@jimbeam-ru1my]

this guy is a great example of how easy it is for people to deceive themselves. You won't understand ulysses because it's just the ranting of schizophrenic who was obsessed with one day in turn of the century dublin. However, if you want to be viewed as intelligent then you have to pretend that you loved ulysses and joyce. our society has the worst intelligentsia in the history of the world. completely delusional pseudo intellectuals with zero intellectual honesty

[@nbenefiel]

You’ve just described the reality of a first rate education in literature.

[@UnchainedCyclist]

A book so great, I’ve never met anyone who actually read it all the way through. And I have a degree in English literature.

[@yingyang1008]

So true - and yet everyone still recommends it

[@ЕвгенийШачнев-ж3г]

Montreal Roller I am Russian, dare say I read a lot in English. I red Ulysses all the way through. Difficult, enjoyable, hilarious at times. Want to read again.

[@ЕвгенийШачнев-ж3г]

I read, sorry for the mistake

[@dukadarodear2176]

I've a teacher friend who has fully read the book scores (if not more) of times. He's not a teacher of literature but of science. He's Irish like myself but he hasn't time to go to Dublin cos he's into Finnegan's Wake now. Joyce was almost as blind as a bat when he wrote that latter tome, hunting and locating words on the page like they were moths in the night. My favourite story is 'The Dead' from 'Dubliners' and John Heuston's film adaptation is a mighty fine job. Try as he might Joyce couldn't throw off the Jesuitness.

[@LannasMissingLink]

@Luke Thomas hah fair play dude!

[@ShaudaySmith]

This made Joyce sound like a hipster laying down every cultural reference and joke he knows in a book and then got mad that no one got his reference or that his book didn't make sense. Joyce was hip before hip was hip.

[@sirknight4981]

I know right, a bunch of references to other works and 19th century Dublin doesn't really sound appealing to me.

[@donnagoode6923]

Lonely at the top I guess. What's the use of being "hip" if no one gets you?

[@yunsuuu]

Well Joyce said that was the only way to ensure his immortality as profs would argue for centuries about the meaning 😂

[@feliscorax]

If it's hip before hip is hip, is it still hip?

[@thorr18BEM]

Sounds wrong. That quote was because a country censored it. It wasn't censored because it didn't make sense or because people didn't get the jokes. And it wasn't censored everywhere.

[@johnpotter8039]

I have participated in Bloomsday events over the years. The first thing that I realized is that the text is meant to be read aloud. Once I got that, I was happy to join reading groups. It is like the bit in "Educating Rita", when Rita's intellect and love of literature blooms and addresses the question of "How to Stage Ibsen's Peer Gynt"? Put it on the radio.

[@1995yuda]

You just convinced me to read Ulysses. It is almost unbelievable that a human wrote such a masterwork as you've described it. Thank you.

[@nilsanieves3457]

Sorry. He over exaggerated his review. Honestly.

[@1995yuda]

@@nilsanieves3457 It's been a year since I made this comment, and I've since developed as a reader. I see why you responded this way. Ulysses is very much an experimental artsy kind of book rather than a traditional story. There's no denying the literary artistic merit of Ulysses, but it does not satisfy readers who seek a traditional story experience. Thank you for your comment.

[@riyascorner9198]

Can we appreciate the creativity of this animation? It's just brillant.

[@pepepecaspicapapas4726]

No.

[@margheritatodaro6905]

I am currently reading Ulysses and before that i was convinced that it was a terrible book. Well, i was wrong. I still haven't finished it but I feel amazed at Joyce 's style. It's disarming (but in a good way), elegant, refined. It's the kind of writing that pierces your soul and become engraved in your memory. I'm so happy i discovered this book.

[@kaziislam2785]

They make it sound like Ulysses is the Dark Souls of books.

[@tnttiger3079]

Don't you mean it's the cuphead of books?

[@justinward3679]

It's the JoJo of literature.

[@jacobdriscoll8276]

More like the Rick & Morty of books....

[@elrecursodelmetodo]

Jacob Driscoll you kidding? Rick and Morty is certainly an intelligent and clever show full of (quite easy, for the literate) references, but never ever as hard to grasp as Ulysses.

[@LannasMissingLink]

I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic. That's where this thread was going

[@KevinGuyerPrime]

I've avoided the work for many decades, this video has convinced me that it is worth giving a genuine attempt. Thanks for sharing this.

[@krehetpi]

Kevin Guyer It’s a stream of consciousness.There’s a lot of strange unrecognizable words in it.They’re background sounds. You will probably read it several times in your life.Come to Dublin some time and retrace Bloom’s steps.Most of all,enjoy it.

[@seanmcmeown1992]

Goodluck

[@melrose1138]

Did you read it?

[@PandaBeatsStudios]

I really love this “Why you should read” series, I end up reading the books in those videos. Keep it up!

[@lillyypn]

Well, I like this kind of video too but I end up not reading the books at all lmao

[@leitecunha]

Indeed Ulysses is hard to read... but hey, imagine how hard it was for Ulysses to come back home from Troy! And that's how I read it...every chapter, an adventure, with perils and hardship. For instance, it is very hard to pass the sirens chapter... You get super distracted but the sounds, the rhymes, the alliterations...that you can't pay attention to the story. Pretty much like when Ulysses had to past through the sirens in his own journey....In a nutshell, when you overcome the whole book, it's bliss. Unforgettable. Trust me, you'll never read any other book the same way, after this journey.

[@peterpuleo2904]

I tried to read Ulysses twice. The first time I made it to page 50, and returned it to the library. The second time I did rather better; I returned it after reading page 3.

[@johnkilgallon207]

This might be the best comment I have ever read on this subject!

[@hewitc]

The second time is definitely better.

[@nilsanieves3457]

Congratulations for trying. Sorry to disappoint you, however you are just one more amongst millions of people who have tried and have given up 50 pages later.

[@blahblah8209]

@@nilsanieves3457Wow, that joke went wayyy over your head

[@Shreyaagrawal_1657]

😂😂

[@sophiemontecalvo7503]

This is my dad's favorite book. Originally I was unsure if I would ever read it or not, but now I definitely will. Thanks, TED-Ed!

[@joshg.4448]

it's extremely difficult, but it's totally worth it and surprisingly entertaining, relatable, and hilarious!

[@TeachUBusiness]

Here's a great video series to walk through the book---it's actually fun. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3yWc5aif9mDh7s

[@sophiemontecalvo7503]

Thanks!

[@MA-zs5cu]

i feel so cultured by watching Ted-ed Videos

[@williamshakespeare8748]

Don't just feel it then. Be it. Read a book.

[@bob-nb3vv]

Well said Mr.Shakespeare

[@Kruemmel97]

i love your comment. made my day.

[@loocie4636]

How

[@danconnor8422]

Geo Cena Nice. Try the channel "closer to truth"

[@ms.farmgirl]

Everyone who is a reader [or wants to be a reader] needs to add the 25 hardest books on their bucket lost. all James Joyce books and all Leon Uris books. They really opened my eyes to creative writing, and reasoning. My reading was never the same after I read Trinity and Ulysses!

[@afrozairin8438]

Trinity

[@gregoryramirez2303]

The best advice I got is to read it while listening to its audiobook. I used various KZbin videos to do this. Like “The Odyssey,” which was originally shared orally, “Ulysses” is intended to be read aloud.

[@ramlathers8182]

Well I think you may have convinced me to take a stab at this famously tough read. One tip I can pass along to others regarding tackling challenging books is to simply keep reading. Don't get hung up on a difficult passage or sentence just plow through it. If you understand none of it you can choose to reread it or not. You don't need to get everything in a novel to enjoy a work in it's totality. It's more important (for me at least)to get into the flow and enjoy the language and how the author has chosen to arrange his words. The glow of the metaphors and tanginess of the humour. All the things that bring books alive in your mind. Don't miss out or be intimidated by the big boy books. Jump into the pool and splash around. Have fun. That's what I'm gonna do with Joyce's Ulysses.

[@geethamadhuri8023]

Very happy to see this video coz recently I bought the book 'A portrait of the artist as a young man' written by the same author ,which I tried reading but couldn't understand, then I felt I'm very poor at English but watching this video gave me confidence.

[@gourabdas9329]

geetha madhuri I am afraid that I won't be able to understand Ulysses 😞

[@Lawrence2525]

don't give up :) I wrote my bachelor thesis on it, it's worth your energy, trust me!

[@XavierGuillaume]

Portrait is a good book. I went to Catholic school as a young boy too and then later went on to college, also was bullied, so I related to Dedalus a lot.

[@russellngwinn6800]

geetha madhuri don’t feel too bad, I’m a native English speaker and I can’t understand Joyce either.

[@bizphyz3461]

Take a look at this video series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3yWc5aif9mDh7s I think you will enjoy it. The guy making the videos is very helpful.

[@Anthony-gq7dk]

Well done, a brilliant summary of one of the greatest books of all time and right on the money in every way. Your summary does it justice in such a short space.

[@Mazidox]

Currently reading Dubliners by James Joyce. That collection of short stories is a fantastic expression of creativity and immaculate story telling. Once I wrap up that book I intend to try my hand at Ulysses. After all.. I do consider life worth living.

[@WooogaTooga]

Mazidox Gaming. Try reading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man before Ulysses. I highly recommend it.

[@uristjoyce877]

Last chapter, The dead, is a miracle. Very simplistic metaphores and a host of uninteresting characters when they act as they should act in boring Irish Bourgeois environments. The best thing is when their passions and desires kick in and they end up becoming heroes / philosophers / dreamers in their own world. Dubliners is the best of Joyce's works to start. Portrait is a good followup since it sheds a lot of light into Dedalus who is a kew character in Ulysses.

[@bizphyz3461]

When you are ready for Ulysses, look at this series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3yWc5aif9mDh7s

[@postmodernrecycler]

Dubliners is so wrenching, so rewarding to read. Agree with previous comment that The Dead is a real literary miracle--one of the best short fiction pieces in our language. The film adaptation by John Huston (with Angelica Huston), is must-see as well.

[@bobpolo2964]

Read the gospel of John

[@ggrizzo]

Ulysses makes your brain open up; physically and emotionally messed with my brain. You can say whatever, but it is definetly a mindblowing experience. Pure Genius.

[@oxytocinplz4177]

“My book is so detailed you could recreate a city from it!” “My book is as meaningful as life itself!” Yeah, Joyce sounds like he was a real joy to be around

[@mariammontaser7843]

He must've been popular at parties too

[@justincurll1110]

Carl Jung knew him personally and said he needed a lot of help😆.

[@basserman]

It’s not bragging if you can back it up

[@OldSkoolWax]

@@mariammontaser7843 He actually was popular at parties.

[@langerd6711]

Those aren’t his quotes you’re just paraphrasing. It’s strange that you put quotation marks around it lmfao

[@rubewaddell1704]

I'll get to it after I finish "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and this pile of Billy Bunter and Biggles novels.

[@onsight1318]

Biggles 😭😭😭 man they are the best

[@nickbaxter8797]

Ooh Billy Bunter. Now you’re talking!

[@selwyncaspar8067]

Billy Bunter and the Greyfrairs crowd......Brilliant, literature that every everyone should read!

[@jumhed994]

'Ulysses' is the Mount Everest of books. Undeniably brilliant, but bloody hard work

[@jeffreykalb9752]

Very deniably brilliant.

[@alfonsomartineztorres5749]

Gravity's Rainbow begs to disagree

[@pemehl6414]

I'm also the superman of people

[@EconomicBearish]

marcel proust laughs at your coment

[@mllecd24]

Finnegans Wake is the Mount Everest.... Ulysses is warm up ;)

[@basedigor]

Having studied it in college and read it three times, I would recommend The Cambridge Centenary Ulysses, released last year. It comes with critical introductions to each chapter that are accessible to anyone who would choose to read Ulysses for fun/pleasure, and it includes plenty of maps, pictures, and some footnotes but not an overwhelming amount. It is a doorstop of an edition - I read virtually every word in it, and it was a great way casually read the novel in a month - but it is also one of the physically largest books in my home full of books.

[@Juliana-rw6pt]

hello. I am thinking of majoring in English literature / taking classes in English lit in university. When you studied this book in university, were there any interesting ideas discussed in class or discussed by the professor that isn't in The Cambridge Centenary Ulysses? I really only want to take English classes for analysis of texts but if the same ideas are available in books or online, I don't want to bother with paying for a class :) thanks

[@cinderelladevil1687]

I cannot believe this. I have never ever searched for Joyce or Ulysses on youtube or google. But a friend of mine happened to ask me about this book yesterday just when I had my mobile in my hands.... and now this recommendation on my youtube app!!!!!! These devices have ears, and surely eyes.

[@mirandahernandez7478]

Okay y’all. Ted talk always makes me want to read books, and this was not an exception. And let me teeelllll youuu! I tried reading this book 3 times and it was difficult!!! It’s still on my list lol. But ugh, I am so excited for the day I can finally read it.

[@michaelwu7678]

Ted-Ed, please consider doing a video inspiring people to read Paradise Lost. It has taught me so much and enriched my life in so many ways. And thank you for all your work.

[@nastber]

Convince me :) what's it about?

[@kaylemkerr6989]

@@nastber Paradise Lost is an epic poem about Adam and Eve and the fall of Lucifer (Satan and his Angels). It deals with the war in heaven and how Lucifer influences Adam and Eve. I have never read it but will one day. Paradise Lost when interpreted this way seems to make Lucifer/Satan a sympathetic character. Also for modern readers the language at times can be difficult to comprehend.

[@راعيالريشاء-ل6ظ]

Kaylem Kerr written by John Milton 500 years ago a dead and sofistcated language

[@dantehadafriend2432]

Paradise lost = one of the most renown works of literature to ever be recorded , a masterpiece written by one of the greatest intellects to ever grace the surface of this earth , a srsly awesome piece of history to read I'd say 😆😆

[@jacksonneptune4083]

Paradise Lost was truly epic. The speeches by Lucifer make you wanna cross over to the dark side.

[@GratifyMeNow13]

It took me a year to read it for the first time. This was before the ubiquity of smart phones and almost universal access to computers and I got stuck on a chapter titled “Laestrygonians”. Once I got past that I found that if I read the speech of the characters in a Dublin accent it flowed so much better. Once I’d finished reading I went to the beginning and started all over again just to enjoy the sheer use of language and constructs employed by Joyce.

[@petermatthew123]

Time to start on Finnigan's Wake then!

[@iridaspace]

I started reading Ulysses after watching this video and finished it just yesterday! Finally! :D

[@seanalimov372]

We’re you able to absorb it though? I read the first chapter so many times that I memorized the first few pages. Then finally decided to read it through all the way once without looking anything up.

[@juless3568]

Thank you for a simple explanation that has encouraged me to read Ulysses by James Joyce with enthusiasm. It will be a delight to know how many people have seen a theatrical version of Ulysses.

[@jimmyb1043]

Video: “it’s up to the reader to get a shovel” Me: *hits book with shovel*

[@Historyfreak-f7o]

The shovel has to be to bury this book in the yard somewhere. You already wasted enough time with it.

[@dwood1228]

Use the shovel to spread the ashes after you’ve burned this thing ensuring that it never falls into the hands of another. Too risk to burry even

[@Bamcis100]

You know what else a shovel is good for ...

[@anatine_banana_69]

**slaps book with shovel** "This bad boy can fit so many obscure references!"

[@anatine_banana_69]

@@Bamcis100 ( ͠° ͜ʖ ͡ ͠°) Wait... (　☉д⊙)

[@porcodiomede1094]

I finished it today. 2 months of reading and it was really worth it.

[@zyphonic4512]

I was 15, i hoped to manage it. Bless me!

[@gqh007]

To be fair, you need a fairly high IQ to read Ulysses. The humor is subtle and complex...bla bla bla

[@toyotaprius79]

HERE! Have your damn likes!

[@uristjoyce877]

Mr Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and LMAO

[@rajeshsharmajaipur]

I too liked your bla bla

[@siddharthkrishna8463]

Well I watch Rick and Morty. So I think I'll do just fine. Thank you very much

[@liannapfister8255]

Then I guess life isn’t worth living

[@StreetLifeIndia]

What a wonderful, invigorating, substantial, inviting, enticing animation here. Many kudos to the animation/graphics artist/s here. Beautiful.....can't get over it. I will attempt reading Ullysses once again.

[@mdebhul1528]

I read it with a Harvard Professor in a Harvard Ext School class for 5 months, with the aide of Giffords annotation. I could not have read this on my own. All of the above necessary to assist and to finish it. I went on to read it in another Lit. class (albeit a speed read - 2nd time). SO I have read Ulysses twice:)

[@czgibson3086]

You should read Ulysses because it's the best book ever written. If you take to it, it will inhabit your mind till the end of your days. It is endlessly rewarding, endlessly fascinating and beautifully written. I would put Joyce's prose style up against that of any writer, living or dead.

[@O-Ophelia]

I read it, wasn’t as difficult to read as I thought it would be- the book is amazing

[@jacobmattsonn]

I think you are the only person to have ever said this about Ulysses

[@erambuttar3416]

A classical masterpiece! The only thing bad about Ulysses is that it's time consuming, it's hard, it's lengthy but after all it's no ordinary book. If you're a student or lover of English literature, you just can't avoid it.

[@butterflymoon6368]

what makes it hard?

[@ky3644]

@@butterflymoon6368 it’s literally described in the video..

[@jimbeam-ru1my]

yeah, you can very easily avoid it. The only reason to read it is so you can pretend to be intelligent, but the people you're fooling have never read it either

[@SpicyTexan64]

​@iamme25yago it's not about the book's age. It's about the writer's incomprehensibility

[@SweetReed17]

wow the animation in this is marvelous.

[@AtlasBlizzard]

I would never in a million years read this book but the part at 2:37 is awesome.

[@adolphsanchez1429]

Dubliners is one of my favorite books. I read Ulysses many years ago before I was ready for it, and I am ashamed to say that many of the allusions went over my head at the time. I hope to reread it after reading Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

[@robhendrikx2198]

When I was in school, we had to read 30 books for Dutch, 12 for French, 12 for German and also 12 for English. When the teachers created the list with English lit, it was judged that Finnegan's wake by James Joyce was so hard, it would count for 12 books. Nobody read it, which I now regret. How can a teacher disapprove of your interpretation when he doesn't understand it himself?

[@eronavbj]

I minored in English Literature in undergrad school while in my 30s. One of my profs told us that there are probably less than 1,000 people in the world who understand “Finnegan's Wake.” I replied that if that is true, then the author has failed. That was before I found out that his Ph.D dissertation was on Joyce. (I got a ‘B’ in that course!)

[@themaskedman221]

@@eronavbj I honestly don't even think 100 people understand it. Maybe not even 10.

[@llywrch7116]

@@eronavbj I wouldn't be surprised if 1,000 people in the world have *finished* Finnegan's Wake. I'll confess I've been unable to.

[@girlmath-abolisher]

First Virginia Woolf, then Ulysses. I'm lovin' it! Maybe you could do one about a contemporary novel, something that is more recent? I would love some recommendations on such books!

[@AllendeEtAl]

Read The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño

[@leftyjones9792]

On The Road - Jack Kerouac

[@karenjames5063]

Sylvia Plath perhaps

[@999is666upsidedown]

do the tempest or hamlet

[@loocie4636]

McDonald

[@IOxyrinchus]

It’s about time I read this book. I keep hearing about what a treasure trove of beauty and wit it is. It’s Stephen Fry’s favourite book in the English language. even though it’s extremely tough to get into, once you do you won’t want to leave. So I hear. “Encyclopaedic Treasure trove” is the perfect description. I want to be taken on a magical tour of the expanse of Joyce’s imagination and genius. I enjoy tough books (like those of Vladimir Nabokov)

[@nbenefiel]

I read Ulysses when I was living in Dublin. Knowing the city helped. We did Bloomsday and got totally smashed. I could never get through Finnegan’s Wake but one of my college profs brought in an old 78 of Joyce reading it. The rhythm and the lilt seemed to make it magical.

[@msxmurda2385]

I’ve been to Dublin because I read this book. In actuality, I’ve never been there. It is unbelievably fantastic.

[@themaskedman221]

I think you'll find that the Dublin of 100 years ago is very different than the Dublin of today. Never been there either, but I'm sure of that.

[@rhianna4972]

I started reading Ulysses just so I could say I read Ulysses but after 1100 pages and days of my time I can testify that the experience is a great deal richer than I ever expected.

[@sayanchatterjee355]

One can never merely read Ulysses. One can only study it. I had two books "Ulysees Annotated" and 'The New Bloomsday Book" to supplement my reading of Ulysses for my PhD. Yes, it can be challenging but if you get through all of it, the book does make you feel a myriad of emotions that you would have never thought a book can make you feel. And it's a comedy.

[@Justdon-s2s]

Truly one of the best books I’ve ever read. Rewires to mine in the most magnificent ways. A little challenging until you get about 300 pages in, and then, there it is, you’re stuck…retired for life! In answer to the topic question, why should read Ulysses ? because it’s great

[@surferpam1]

BIG "thank you" for these explanations! I tried the book years ago and could *not* get into it but this analysis just might allow me to try again.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

4:06 "It has highbrow intellectual humor" *RICK & MORTY FANS TRIGGERED*

[@leighfoulkes7297]

Rick and Morty is the dumbest thing I've ever seen!

[@sudipchatterjee]

“If Ulysses is not worth reading, then life is not worth living.” - James Joyce That is immortal! ❤️

[@josepholeary3286]

except he did not say it

[@ekoi1995]

reading auto-generated subtitles is like a stream of consciousness as well

[@riledmouse4677]

This was awesome! Answered so many questions I’ve had, piqued my curiosity, and whet my appetite to learn more about Ulysses.

[@jordansullivan5764]

Thanks! This actually really informative. I had been thinking about reading Ulysses for some time, but wasn't aware of many of the things you mentioned. I think I'll give it a read!

[@FiveFigsDigital]

I read it in Dublin, every word read out loud in class to let it sing and seep in, under the Professorship of Roland McHugh. 1979. I learned so much.

[@santoshjoshi8722]

Why should we read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? Always fascinated by this classic Please analyze this novel written by RL Stevenson.

[@zthetha]

"Pick up a copy..." Well, being a Mick meself, I picked two copies of Ulysses... but the second was no better than the first.

[@mencken8]

I tried, I really did, because at the time I was young enough (hard to imagine now) I thought that when someone said I was “supposed to” read something that I should take that statement at face value. What Ulysses did for me was to help disabuse me of that notion.

[@neilwilson5785]

I love a high-effort video. This is so nicely done.

[@tunny_NGGaming]

The first time I herd of this book was earlier this year on a trip to Dublin. I came across a small, old, book shop that was ironically called “Ulysses” great little shop and the owner was very friendly. He had many original books for sale in there and whilst browsing I came across this book. Whilst walking around the city I saw a piece of wall art that was a portrait of James Joyce I felt like I didn’t choose the book, the book chose me😂 as soon as I got back from Dublin I ordered the book online.

[@NegativeAccelerate]

No way! I was in that shop today for the first time.

[@tunny_NGGaming]

@@NegativeAccelerate great little shop, isn’t it?

[@shradman93]

Happy Bloomsday 2020!

[@Guergeiro]

I was like: “Homer wrote Ulysses!” Then I remembered Homer wrote Odyssey which the main character is Odysseus (Latin: Ulysses). Really interesting video and I hope once I become a fluent English speaker, I can then become a fluent English reader using this book.

[@slugfly]

Breno Salles I'm a native speaker and my first reading of Ulysses may have screwed my fluency a bit. :p

[@mausambi613]

Breno Salles what's your native language?

[@nicoleb1105]

actually no one knows the true athour of the oddesey

[@WMDistraction]

As a teacher of EFL... don't. It's not a good example of actual written English language as it is normally used. It's a work of art. Also, your English is great.

[@camilocarrillo2132]

im not native but fluent reader/speaker, I kinda gave up on Ulysses, maybe I will try again with a dictionary and a book for notations. Certainly a read for the masochist.

[@armandj.8864]

Ulysses is a gorgeous book. Leopold Bloom is US. And Penelope, that ending, is so poignant and sad and beautiful and raunchy and funny all at the same time. There's so much in there you could reread it over and over and still get something new every time.

[@mangstadt1]

In 1990, the summer when I turned 28, I read Rayuela, by Julio Cortázar. I always say it's the book that opened my eyes to literature, although I was always quite literary in my reading choices, The following summer I read Ulysses, and then and there I saw that Joyce was basically the father of a great deal of 20th century literature (better said, that asserion is something I've dwelled upon over the years). I had already read Dubliners and the Portrait in previous years. I enjoyed Ulysses, found it very amusing and indulged in his mastery of the English language. As I see it, Joyce opens all tha paths for 20th century literature. I compare him to Schoenberg in 20th century music, although Schoenberg closed quite a few musical paths and made others mandatory. With Joyce there is more freedom, there are fewer constraints. This century I re-read Rayuela and found that it hadn't aged too well, or maybe it was I who hadn't aged well. I did the same with Ulysses (the revised edition that was published in the late 1980s or early 90s) and found that it had withstood the passage of time wonderfully. A few years ago I found an edition with the 1922 text at a used book store in Madrid and bought it (4 euros). I'll be reading that edition for the centennial in 2022. William Faulkner is arguably the greatest writer in English since Joyce (among those who can be considered his followers), although I haven't read much by Samuel Becket (only Camier and Mercier, or Mercier and Camier, not sure about the order). I have the trilogy waiting for me (Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnameable) and I also want to read his plays. Every few years I take my edition of Finnegans Wake and read a few pages. I'm currently on page fifty something of 628 or 648 (Faber and Faber). That book is what I would consider unreadable, but i know there are people who have managed. For me, it's definitely an effort in progress, with plenty of interruptions.

[@37Dionysos]

"The most difficult of funny books, and the funniest of difficult ones." Richard Ellmann

[@dragonfly9786]

can you please tell me one aspect of understanding this book. I try to read this book and I don't understand the author's reference to various "he's" appearing through out the text. For example, on the fisrt page itself I find it hard to understand which "he" is Buck Mulligan and which "he" is Stephan Dedalus and so on. So is there a certain logic to go by, when reading?

[@37Dionysos]

@@dragonfly9786 I think in general you just have to wrestle patiently with Joyce's style, and it gets easier as you grow more accustomed: he might also leave some "which he is he" ambiguity to suggest how people's minds and words tie them together. A great cure for those kinds of problems, as with Shakespeare, is to read it aloud too. Can only promise it's a worthwhile book from cover to cover and then some!

[@dragonfly9786]

@@37Dionysos thank u for the reply. i appreciate it.

[@37Dionysos]

@@dragonfly9786 If not already mentioned don't miss the best companion to "Ulysses" called "Ulysses on the Liffey" by Joyce biographer Richard Ellmann. Might be hard to find but not expensive, a true standard of clarity, accuracy and lots of delightful help with every episode, plus a powerful "new" idea of how ethically concerned Joyce's writing was/is. Enjoy!

[@afce44]

Great video as usual!! Now I'd love to see "Why should you read John Steinbeck's The grapes of wrath"

[@onlydrinkH2O]

Ulysses- exists That guy off of reddit- I’m about to end this whole mans career

[@speedyscout44]

THATS WAT I WAS THINKING LOL

[@Beaucopz]

What post are you referring to

[@SMXanathar]

@@Beaucopz The Ulysses Bucket List

[@GrandmasterFerg]

Finnegan's Wake- exists That guy off of reddit- *surprised pikachu face*

[@hellatze]

Ulyssesss y Usssseless

[@Tolstoy111]

One of my absolute favorite novels. Funny, deeply moving, and exhilarating.

[@Ironbattlemace]

Because it is a truly a book. One of the most book ever written.

[@kingshuksaha9204]

I'm reading Ulysses now and goddamit is it difficult. Seems like I need to master Latin, French (I understand basic French) and Italian with Irish slangs just to understand the text. References are another matter. Through the advice in the comments, I'll continue my voyage with Ulysses Annotated. Wish me luck!

[@BookClubDisaster]

Just Google the phrases. You will know them in seconds. I read the book BEFORE THE INTERNET because I like to torture myself.

[@elizabethjanemorgan3607]

In college, I took an entire month long class about "Ulysses." I hated it. The book made absolutely no sense to me whatsoever and I felt underprepared every time I stepped into the classroom. My teacher even commented that he was surprised no one quit the class after Chapter 3, the philosophy chapter. He joked that the class would be married to the book for the duration of the class, but that we could get a divorce when it ended. I love reading and writing, I really do. I've even written my own fantasy book, called "Silver Rose." But, I never want to read "Ulysses" again. It was just too painful.

[@vk9758]

I'm saying again best channel teded

[@erickguz]

The videos in this series, and especially this one, are wonderful. As if I needed more encouragement to read the book.

[@RedRebel8]

Start Ulysses - after a few chapters maybe you'll think you should try something else by Joyce to get you started. Start Finnegan's Wake - halfway through the first page, you go back to Ulysses.

[@scottysantos377]

When I finally start and finish this book I'll know that I have gotten into a legendary level of English as a second language.

[@isabelrodiles3158]

PLEASE RECOMMEND MORE BOOKS

[@bizphyz3461]

The Tin Drum is a superb book. The metaphor of a screaming child as a representation of (I won't say) is incredible.

[@pushkarmahale912]

The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins The kite runner - Khaleid Hosseini

[@LeRouxBel]

I recall the day I tried reading this book. Read around 90 pages, realized I didn't understand sh*t, just stopped.

[@AK-rn7xx]

Art Work c me too

[@pinco_pallo]

Art Work c Try again!

[@slugfly]

Art Work c 90 pages is pretty heroic if there was no grade pushing you forward. :p

[@cesargeney5268]

Art Work c It happened to me too. almost 10 years ago, my english wanst very good and I just grabbed and started it. I was like " where is Ulysses in all this?, do irish talk like this? I should have a go at it again

[@sirknight4981]

lol

[@scottruplin]

Awesome Sam and I love your "Annotated Ulysses" from awhile back.

[@danielx40]

This is a truly beautiful piece of English literature.

[@AllHaiLKINGTIsHeRe3]

Next video: Why you should read Finnegans Wake Video length: 2:00:00

[@johnschwartz1641]

Finnegans Wake is for people who've never had a dream before and want to know what it's like.

[@stuartkelly3106]

@@johnschwartz1641 I like that very much

[@darkrider1878]

.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

Reading "Ulysses" will make you a better reader but reading "Finnegans Wake" will make you have to relearn English afterwards. "Finnegans Wake" drove me made but I steal think it is a fantastic idea but I'm just not smart enough for that one.

[@mattlien5844]

@@leighfoulkes7297 Joseph Campbell once said that more people have written a book about Finnegan's Wake than have actually read it.

[@mirthoutofmire]

If I had money I would support them on patreon

[@shivamchauhan8381]

ScienceAIR i watch all ads on ted-ed

[@shivamchauhan8381]

ScienceAIR i checkedout ur channel, its good

[@shivamchauhan8381]

ScienceAIR i love ur science jokes as well

[@sebastianelytron8450]

Joel Applegate Nice to know I'm not the only broke person who watches their videos for free. Then again, I guess that's better than not watching them at all.

[@aizen7761]

broke we are , i always use ad blocker but next time i watch ted ed i might as well watch the full ad. :)

[@ilikepancakes512]

i heard of this guy who had a girl sitnext to him on a bus and they talked and when they were about to part ways the girl said “give me challenge, as long as you give me the rest of my life to complete, i promise i will do it.” and so the guy gave her a challenge and the girl told the guy to read this book i have seen too many stlries.

[@cameronmccaw7823]

you copied this off reddit, search up r/ulyssessbucketlist if you wanna see where he ripped off the story

[@sarahbyrne8501]

I love reading it aloud, and doing different accents and voices.... Typical of my home city Love it!!

[@adolphsanchez1429]

Stately, plump Buck Mulligan... I need to reread Ulysses as I am now much older and can appreciate it in a way I could not when I first read it. I have always loved Dubliners and the story The Dead (I recently rewatched Huston's film version again and enjoyed it greatly).

[@asurajsharma]

Add to bucket list!

[@donnierussellii4659]

I read it twice. It's not hard, not really that long, funny, rarely boring, and there are mysteries that no one has figured out so don't stress about it if you can't either. Also don't worry about the edition, they're all about the same.

[@ryans9094]

Donnie Russell II you contradicted yourself in the same comment. It's not hard, and there's parts no one has figured out. I mean surely that's the meaning of hard in this context. If you can't figure it out, it's hard.

[@donnierussellii4659]

It's not hard in the sense that you can't get enjoyment from Joyce's playful, indulgent writing (this was to be a birthday present for himself, after all). That he throws in puzzles is no different from the intriguing things you find in modern TV shows. It keeps the casual reader interested, and baits critics he so loved and hated.

[@donnierussellii4659]

I can't say if I'm like most readers, but just hearing a little about this book make it imperative for me to read it. I forget and lose context sometimes, but I am often surprised at all the things I recall and connect together. I sometimes just read an episode out of the blue, like Oxen. I just googled this one, and one critic said it should have been called Hades due to its difficulty. Maybe I'm not reading it correctly and should enjoy its parodies of Beowulf and Samuel Pepys less.

[@eightfootmanchild]

I read it. In fact, I read Ulysses, Finnegans Wake and Gravity's Rainbow all in the same summer. Go hard or go home.

[@elrecursodelmetodo]

eightfootmanchild mad respect. How was the headache at the end of your journey?

[@eightfootmanchild]

Daniel F. I'm pretty sure I could see through time by the end of it. Now everybody -

[@ЕвгенийФилин-г6э]

But isn't it harmful to your bodily fluids?

[@elrecursodelmetodo]

Евгений Филин that reference tho

[@lynnmcclaine7683]

eightfootmanchild Tried to read Finnegan's Wake but only got through about 10 pages. Should I try again?

[@geetanjalimali5053]

One of the best videos by TedEd!🔥