Needless to say, these authors are obviously not "new" but they are new *to me* What is an author you have recently fell in love with or plan to explore soon?
Wow, Brock remarkable new format! Takes one breath away to see you speak and share in this manner. That’s all I’m gonna say in such mixed company. I would say to have a companion in your wife that also reads with you is a wonderful blessing. She is one lucky woman! ❤😮
"Borges makes me fill dumb", LOL, You're not alone, but that's part of his charm and what makes his writing so fascinating. He always leaves the reader feeling that there is something more to the story that is not told, and if you just think about it more you'll get it. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't, and sometimes there is no more, it's just a Borgesian universe that has it's own rules. If I had to take one book to a desert island, it may vey well be this one, because of how many times you can read it, and still find new things to think about.
Henry James is one of the great novelists. Read Portrait of a Lady. Dimitri Shostakovich was one of the great 20th Century composers. Listen to his 48 Preludes and Fugues for piano and to his Symphonies.
I love the Henry James novellas, The Turn of the Screw (a wonderful psychological ghost story - the title can be taken two ways to modern audiences: in the more accepted meaning of an action that can make matters worse, but also that the possibly unreliable narrator has a screw loose) and The Aspern Papers (Washington Square "like").
Love the way you filmed this! Fascinating to hear you discuss House of Government. I had no idea this was your first real history book! Oh, man, that is quite the chunker to have be your first. Glad you've been able to find it engaging. I'm going to recommend (and insist upon), again, A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes, for an elaborate extension on your revolutionary learning, and you may even want to check out Vanguard of the Revolution by A. James McAdams for the ideological spread outward across the world, and if you REALLY get into the ideological backbone, check out Main Currents of Marxism by Leszek Kolakowski for a history of Marxist thinkers. And, of course, you gotta read Capital yourself at some point, just to grasp the subject that spurred so many to upend so much in the world. I promise, Capital is fascinating even if you completely disagree with its method and conclusions (but keep in mind it doesn't open softly). I find the recent Penguin edition nicely readable, but there's a brand new translation that just released. May be worth comparing the two. Sorry for constantly recommending books! I feel like that's my 'love language,' for lack of a better phrase. Hearing you discuss Borges is pure instigation: I am practicing intense self-control in not writing a huge wall of text. I'll have to discuss him in a video. Borges was HUGE in my development as a reader, defining so much of what I desire in literature (and specifically because he is imperfect, I feel, and that creates a want that then drives further reading across various other writers). That viewer who sent you those books is an absolute champion! Wow! What a phenomenal set of additions to your collection! [Okay, I'm gonna stop just writing and writing as I watch. Honestly, dude, this might be my favorite video of yours thus far. This is packed with great, great discussions throughout.]
Haha I appreciate your always thorough and thoughtful comments. I’ve had Orlando Figes on my Amazon list since the day you recommended him months ago so rest assured he’s on my list. I’ll certainly get to your other recommendations as well. I have no aversion or hesitancy to reading ideas I may not agree with so Capital is no problem. Lastly, I think Borges will come to be one of my favorite writers in due time. I’ll have to chat with you about him sometime to get a better grip as I read more of his works
Really enjoyed this format and style of video from you, hope to see more. I've been meaning to pick up Borges for a while now. Specifically "Forking Paths"? I'm not sure if that's correct but i've been told Solenoid took influence from the story in the way Mircea describes how a version of himself that chose to turn left instead of right can still exist somewhere. Anyway, great video and cute dogs.
I’ll have to read that story and see the connection! It wouldn’t surprise me at all considering how cerebral Cărtărescu’s work is that he was influenced strongly by Borges
Seems like a good reading week. Personally, I handle short stories as novels and do one at a time. I don't tend to want to read one after the next as I feel like I'm then just rushing through them. The exception was The Arabian Nights because of the massive amounts of embedded narratives. I do find, however, that with essays I'll read a few here and a few there if they're all on one topic. Otherwise, those two would be treated completely separately. BTW, I loved your wife's "Master and Margherita, because you loved it so much."
That makes sense! And I think she said that because she was nervous at pronouncing or remembering any others 😂 but hopefully I’ll get her to read it soon!
It's interesting to note that even though each of Borges' stories are generally brief, he has been an influence on many artists whose work is far from brief. Director Christopher Nolan is one who acknowledges Borges as I believe did director Nicholas Roeg, not to mention John Barth whose most popular books, The Sot Weed Factor and Giles Goat Boy are meaty reads.
I’m reading The House of Government right now! I like it a lot. It’s very extensive, and I’ve yet to get to the house part. I’m on about p. 280. What’s good about it is that it goes above and beyond the Soviet House of Government but gives you the whole history of the revolution. I have the same copy of Borges. He’s amazing! And yes, he’s extremely cerebral and philosophical. “Tlon, Iqbar, Orbis, and Tertius I love, especially the last paragraph before the postscript (p. 78). The Wings of the Dove is the penultimate novel that James wrote. It’s about Molly Thiel, an American heiress, who is ill, and the two English people who are scheming. Shush -tuh- koh-vitch. 😊 He’s also amazing to listen to. Waltz 2 from Jazz Suite is great. They used it in Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. Okay, I’ve said enough, except you should read The Sound and the Fury first.
Haha I’d have a much easier time reading the Russian - Шостакович - surprisingly than the English translation of his name. And that’s neat that we’re both around the same spot in The House of Government! It sounds like you’re loving it as well
Hey yo, can you make a video on "getting back in the groove" of reading.. Recently due to an event I was unable to read, and now it's kinda getting hard to get back to reading OR "find the groove." I ask you because your approach to reading is similar to mine and you're the one of the few book-tubers I watch
I’m not sure if I’d have much to add, but I’d suggest finding a particular book or author you are very enthusiastic to read and letting that loop you back into the habit and love of it
Nice video! I tried to leave a comment about the movie director you mentioned from a Susan Sontag essay, but I think it got censored by UA-cam. You can see some of that director’s work on UA-cam (ironically) if you look her up. Enjoying your channel, as always!
Yes, many filmmakers cite her as a director of tremendous skill and influence in technical terms who happened to push an abhorrent ideology. Same thing happened with D. W. Griffith whose Birth of Nation was apparently a wonderfully made film while also being irredeemably racist.
It's been some time since I last read Ficciones, but if I remember correctly, Berkeley's Idealism plays a large role in these stories, especially in Uqbar/Tlon. I think I came to the conclusion that in the universe in which Uqbar exists, one can create a world like Tlon simply by imagining it and then putting your imaginings down in writing. That's the book the narrator is reading -- Tlo story of Tlon creagtes Tlon -- IIRC. My two cents -- which has been battered by inflation -- so take it for what that's worth. It helps to read Ficciones more than once and in a group. I've read it twice with other people and still wonder if I understand what Borges is trying to do or am I just letting my imagination run wild. I enjoy your channel.
I agree, that story (and it seems most from Borges) benefits from multiple re-reads. And yes, I think Berkeley is specifically mentioned in that story if I remember correctly - I'll have to revisit it in the future. And thank you :)
If I'm reading a sht story collection, I've taken two approaches: 1. I add it as currently reading and i update/review/rate each sht story and it will just stay as currently reading until i finish. Or 2. I use small sticky notes to rate each story either on the table of contents or at the beginning of each story and note the "start date" of the first story in the collection. I think i prefer #1 since i don't care how long it takes me, I'll eventually finish it. I liked this vlog style. What's your favorite coffee?
Needless to say, these authors are obviously not "new" but they are new *to me*
What is an author you have recently fell in love with or plan to explore soon?
The format of this video was great! Would love to see more like this. Happy reading, man!
Awesome format! I liked it a lot. Come back with more videos like that, please!
This new type of video/blog was really good !!! Hope to see more ... and what time you WAKE UP ???!!! 🤣
Will do! Happy to hear you enjoyed it! And 3:50am haha
So much better format !
Wow, Brock remarkable new format! Takes one breath away to see you speak and share in this manner. That’s all I’m gonna say in such mixed company. I would say to have a companion in your wife that also reads with you is a wonderful blessing. She is one lucky woman! ❤😮
Grateful for the support!
"Borges makes me fill dumb", LOL, You're not alone, but that's part of his charm and what makes his writing so fascinating. He always leaves the reader feeling that there is something more to the story that is not told, and if you just think about it more you'll get it. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't, and sometimes there is no more, it's just a Borgesian universe that has it's own rules. If I had to take one book to a desert island, it may vey well be this one, because of how many times you can read it, and still find new things to think about.
Henry James is one of the great novelists. Read Portrait of a Lady.
Dimitri Shostakovich was one of the great 20th Century composers. Listen to his 48 Preludes and Fugues for piano and to his Symphonies.
I immediately did listen to his symphonies and recognized a few instantly! Interested to see what I think of Henry James too
I love the Henry James novellas, The Turn of the Screw (a wonderful psychological ghost story - the title can be taken two ways to modern audiences: in the more accepted meaning of an action that can make matters worse, but also that the possibly unreliable narrator has a screw loose) and The Aspern Papers (Washington Square "like").
Love the way you filmed this! Fascinating to hear you discuss House of Government. I had no idea this was your first real history book! Oh, man, that is quite the chunker to have be your first. Glad you've been able to find it engaging. I'm going to recommend (and insist upon), again, A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes, for an elaborate extension on your revolutionary learning, and you may even want to check out Vanguard of the Revolution by A. James McAdams for the ideological spread outward across the world, and if you REALLY get into the ideological backbone, check out Main Currents of Marxism by Leszek Kolakowski for a history of Marxist thinkers. And, of course, you gotta read Capital yourself at some point, just to grasp the subject that spurred so many to upend so much in the world. I promise, Capital is fascinating even if you completely disagree with its method and conclusions (but keep in mind it doesn't open softly). I find the recent Penguin edition nicely readable, but there's a brand new translation that just released. May be worth comparing the two.
Sorry for constantly recommending books! I feel like that's my 'love language,' for lack of a better phrase.
Hearing you discuss Borges is pure instigation: I am practicing intense self-control in not writing a huge wall of text. I'll have to discuss him in a video. Borges was HUGE in my development as a reader, defining so much of what I desire in literature (and specifically because he is imperfect, I feel, and that creates a want that then drives further reading across various other writers).
That viewer who sent you those books is an absolute champion! Wow! What a phenomenal set of additions to your collection!
[Okay, I'm gonna stop just writing and writing as I watch. Honestly, dude, this might be my favorite video of yours thus far. This is packed with great, great discussions throughout.]
Haha I appreciate your always thorough and thoughtful comments. I’ve had Orlando Figes on my Amazon list since the day you recommended him months ago so rest assured he’s on my list. I’ll certainly get to your other recommendations as well. I have no aversion or hesitancy to reading ideas I may not agree with so Capital is no problem.
Lastly, I think Borges will come to be one of my favorite writers in due time. I’ll have to chat with you about him sometime to get a better grip as I read more of his works
Really enjoyed this format and style of video from you, hope to see more. I've been meaning to pick up Borges for a while now. Specifically "Forking Paths"? I'm not sure if that's correct but i've been told Solenoid took influence from the story in the way Mircea describes how a version of himself that chose to turn left instead of right can still exist somewhere. Anyway, great video and cute dogs.
I’ll have to read that story and see the connection! It wouldn’t surprise me at all considering how cerebral Cărtărescu’s work is that he was influenced strongly by Borges
Seems like a good reading week. Personally, I handle short stories as novels and do one at a time. I don't tend to want to read one after the next as I feel like I'm then just rushing through them. The exception was The Arabian Nights because of the massive amounts of embedded narratives. I do find, however, that with essays I'll read a few here and a few there if they're all on one topic. Otherwise, those two would be treated completely separately. BTW, I loved your wife's "Master and Margherita, because you loved it so much."
That makes sense! And I think she said that because she was nervous at pronouncing or remembering any others 😂 but hopefully I’ll get her to read it soon!
Try Sontag's essay "Illness as Metaphor."
Yo just stumbled across your channel. Our tastes in reading are very similar. Love your videos, man. Keep it up 👊🏼
Grateful for the support!
It's interesting to note that even though each of Borges' stories are generally brief, he has been an influence on many artists whose work is far from brief. Director Christopher Nolan is one who acknowledges Borges as I believe did director Nicholas Roeg, not to mention John Barth whose most popular books, The Sot Weed Factor and Giles Goat Boy are meaty reads.
That makes sense considering how inexplicable, creative, and multi-faceted Nolan's movies are!
Loved it! Interesting you get up so early, if I may ask, about what time do you go to sleep?
Around 8pm so that I still get 7.5-8 hrs of sleep
@@TheActiveMind1 Interesting! Well, I just discovered your channel and loving your content. Thanks for making it, I'm looking forward to see more.
I’m reading The House of Government right now! I like it a lot. It’s very extensive, and I’ve yet to get to the house part. I’m on about p. 280. What’s good about it is that it goes above and beyond the Soviet House of Government but gives you the whole history of the revolution.
I have the same copy of Borges. He’s amazing! And yes, he’s extremely cerebral and philosophical. “Tlon, Iqbar, Orbis, and Tertius I love, especially the last paragraph before the postscript (p. 78). The Wings of the Dove is the penultimate novel that James wrote. It’s about Molly Thiel, an American heiress, who is ill, and the two English people who are scheming.
Shush -tuh- koh-vitch. 😊 He’s also amazing to listen to. Waltz 2 from Jazz Suite is great. They used it in Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. Okay, I’ve said enough, except you should read The Sound and the Fury first.
Haha I’d have a much easier time reading the Russian - Шостакович - surprisingly than the English translation of his name.
And that’s neat that we’re both around the same spot in The House of Government! It sounds like you’re loving it as well
Hey yo, can you make a video on "getting back in the groove" of reading..
Recently due to an event I was unable to read, and now it's kinda getting hard to get back to reading OR "find the groove."
I ask you because your approach to reading is similar to mine and you're the one of the few book-tubers I watch
I’m not sure if I’d have much to add, but I’d suggest finding a particular book or author you are very enthusiastic to read and letting that loop you back into the habit and love of it
Nice video! I tried to leave a comment about the movie director you mentioned from a Susan Sontag essay, but I think it got censored by UA-cam. You can see some of that director’s work on UA-cam (ironically) if you look her up.
Enjoying your channel, as always!
UA-cam is funny with nonsense like that. After reading the essay, I am a bit curious. I appreciate you watching!
Yes, many filmmakers cite her as a director of tremendous skill and influence in technical terms who happened to push an abhorrent ideology. Same thing happened with D. W. Griffith whose Birth of Nation was apparently a wonderfully made film while also being irredeemably racist.
It's been some time since I last read Ficciones, but if I remember correctly, Berkeley's Idealism plays a large role in these stories, especially in Uqbar/Tlon. I think I came to the conclusion that in the universe in which Uqbar exists, one can create a world like Tlon simply by imagining it and then putting your imaginings down in writing. That's the book the narrator is reading -- Tlo story of Tlon creagtes Tlon -- IIRC. My two cents -- which has been battered by inflation -- so take it for what that's worth. It helps to read Ficciones more than once and in a group. I've read it twice with other people and still wonder if I understand what Borges is trying to do or am I just letting my imagination run wild. I enjoy your channel.
I agree, that story (and it seems most from Borges) benefits from multiple re-reads. And yes, I think Berkeley is specifically mentioned in that story if I remember correctly - I'll have to revisit it in the future. And thank you :)
If I'm reading a sht story collection, I've taken two approaches: 1. I add it as currently reading and i update/review/rate each sht story and it will just stay as currently reading until i finish. Or 2. I use small sticky notes to rate each story either on the table of contents or at the beginning of each story and note the "start date" of the first story in the collection. I think i prefer #1 since i don't care how long it takes me, I'll eventually finish it.
I liked this vlog style. What's your favorite coffee?
That sounds like a wise and practical approach! And I like to brew single origin coffees from a variety of different roasters around the country
@@TheActiveMind1I've been doing similar with my coffee lately. I need to keep better track on which i like best tho.😅
What do you do for work?
Primarily video editing for real estate, but I do a few other things in the content realm as well