I've already commented on your recent video, in parallel with me studying this 10/11 list of yours. All of this really got me thinking about my own books still to read, but I'm on a bit of a different tangent than you. It's not that I don't like your list or writings, no, not at all. It is just that I'm an ex technologist, now reborn as a prospective writer against the Machine, aka technology. Yes, it's kind of radical. Yip, there's quite a few of us, eg Paul Kingsnorth whom I'm sure you've heard of, Peco and his wife Ruth, many others in this genre. So yes the academic, not sure if that's the right term, literature you push does stir me. I really loved the Russian authors, just like you do, still do. But there's a certain angle about this techno stuff that hits the road.
Ok thanks, here below is a note I wrote to Ted Gioio, after you started all this reader list thing. You may or may not find that interesting, be my guest...
QUOTE
Wow, it's quite ironic you wrote this now, or recently. I've been studying the unscrupulous roll out of AI and trying to make out head or tail about the PR, the hype, etc. Before reading this I came to the conclusion that this whole polemic is actually not about technology per se. This belongs in the philosophical and spiritual arenas, where things like our origin, morality, ethics and so forth are really the subject matter to unravel. The bots and the phones are just the physical / digital manifestation of the hidden, deeper side of this, IMHO.
Furthermore your list came across my desk while another writer Liza Lives, of pens and poison fame, posted a video that made fun of Ben Shapiro wrt their respective reading lists. As a aspiring writer I'm caught between this not sure what to call it, academic literature vs. the list you have kindly opened now for us writers that unfortunately just can't afford all these subscriptions to our favourite writers. If I was earning well from my writing, which I pray I can do someday, then I will certainly be doing just that. I'm doing this, learning to be an authentic, organic, warm blooded writer vs. the wannabe pseudo writers that I note, even here on this platform. They are chasing the wind in their ambitious journey of gluttony, using whatever to get famous and rich, including the unscrupulous use of AI. The latter is of course the biggest crime of undercover plagiarism that's been committed, in broad daylight. It really makes me sick.
OK Ted, I'm a fan. Thank you again for kindly sharing your wisdom RE these books. I respect your choices, many resonate with me. However, as a Christian, with respect, I think you've not given credit to some legendary Christian writers, like C. S. Lewis. For example "The Abolition of Man" I would have expected to see in your list, even if you are more of a humanist than I am. He didn't write that with any overly Bible punching, judgemental words. I think his level headed, critical analysis, now more than 80 years ago, is highly relevant wrt what is currently happening RE the rapid, or should I say rabid, adoption of AI. The suffering this is already causing, completely unjustified in most instances, to experienced creators that I personally know, oh many people. It is truly approaching the abolution of humanity IMHO.
It goes without saying that this is what is moving me, even enraging me because you see, I'm old school. The pen, authentic human writing, has and will always be mightier than the sword, even if the latter is of a fancy, crafty, even perhaps devious digital kind.
END OF QUOTE
Love never fails 🌾
PS: I'm a former addict, and that life motto comes from those days. I'm here, but for the grace of God.
So this just came up in my suggested articles feed (or whatever it's called). I'm exceedingly under read by comparison to you, but I've read a couple of these, "White Noise" and "The Brothers Karamazov" and have recently purchased the Kundera novel for a dollar. I agree the Brothers K was profound and I intend to read all of Dostoevsky's major works starting next with Demons(The Possessed)
I also own Anna Karenina but have never gotten around to reading it. I've always wanted to read Faulkner but never have, so I'll make a point of getting that one. Finally, thank you for including the Bulgakov novel. I was not familiar with it but I have developed an interest in Communism and totalitarianism more generally and it's effects on people, so I will have to get it and read it.
Good list. I have read four of them (Middlemarch, The Sun Also Rises, Lolita, and Brideshead Revisited). All are brilliant. Brideshead is a particular favorite. The others are all on my radar.
Cool probably will first finish Lolita which has been on back burner for a year and then start on The Master and Margarita because it's so different from anything Ive heard of. The Brothers has always plagued me as something I should have read long ago when I was younger and more energy to burn but always put off after starting and finding it abit intimidating like programming on Linux.
Master & Margareta is one of my all time faves. Glad it makes another person’s top 10 too.
Great choices!
Hey Liza, I'm a fan...
I've already commented on your recent video, in parallel with me studying this 10/11 list of yours. All of this really got me thinking about my own books still to read, but I'm on a bit of a different tangent than you. It's not that I don't like your list or writings, no, not at all. It is just that I'm an ex technologist, now reborn as a prospective writer against the Machine, aka technology. Yes, it's kind of radical. Yip, there's quite a few of us, eg Paul Kingsnorth whom I'm sure you've heard of, Peco and his wife Ruth, many others in this genre. So yes the academic, not sure if that's the right term, literature you push does stir me. I really loved the Russian authors, just like you do, still do. But there's a certain angle about this techno stuff that hits the road.
Ok thanks, here below is a note I wrote to Ted Gioio, after you started all this reader list thing. You may or may not find that interesting, be my guest...
QUOTE
Wow, it's quite ironic you wrote this now, or recently. I've been studying the unscrupulous roll out of AI and trying to make out head or tail about the PR, the hype, etc. Before reading this I came to the conclusion that this whole polemic is actually not about technology per se. This belongs in the philosophical and spiritual arenas, where things like our origin, morality, ethics and so forth are really the subject matter to unravel. The bots and the phones are just the physical / digital manifestation of the hidden, deeper side of this, IMHO.
Furthermore your list came across my desk while another writer Liza Lives, of pens and poison fame, posted a video that made fun of Ben Shapiro wrt their respective reading lists. As a aspiring writer I'm caught between this not sure what to call it, academic literature vs. the list you have kindly opened now for us writers that unfortunately just can't afford all these subscriptions to our favourite writers. If I was earning well from my writing, which I pray I can do someday, then I will certainly be doing just that. I'm doing this, learning to be an authentic, organic, warm blooded writer vs. the wannabe pseudo writers that I note, even here on this platform. They are chasing the wind in their ambitious journey of gluttony, using whatever to get famous and rich, including the unscrupulous use of AI. The latter is of course the biggest crime of undercover plagiarism that's been committed, in broad daylight. It really makes me sick.
OK Ted, I'm a fan. Thank you again for kindly sharing your wisdom RE these books. I respect your choices, many resonate with me. However, as a Christian, with respect, I think you've not given credit to some legendary Christian writers, like C. S. Lewis. For example "The Abolition of Man" I would have expected to see in your list, even if you are more of a humanist than I am. He didn't write that with any overly Bible punching, judgemental words. I think his level headed, critical analysis, now more than 80 years ago, is highly relevant wrt what is currently happening RE the rapid, or should I say rabid, adoption of AI. The suffering this is already causing, completely unjustified in most instances, to experienced creators that I personally know, oh many people. It is truly approaching the abolution of humanity IMHO.
It goes without saying that this is what is moving me, even enraging me because you see, I'm old school. The pen, authentic human writing, has and will always be mightier than the sword, even if the latter is of a fancy, crafty, even perhaps devious digital kind.
END OF QUOTE
Love never fails 🌾
PS: I'm a former addict, and that life motto comes from those days. I'm here, but for the grace of God.
Another sophomore English major
So this just came up in my suggested articles feed (or whatever it's called). I'm exceedingly under read by comparison to you, but I've read a couple of these, "White Noise" and "The Brothers Karamazov" and have recently purchased the Kundera novel for a dollar. I agree the Brothers K was profound and I intend to read all of Dostoevsky's major works starting next with Demons(The Possessed)
I also own Anna Karenina but have never gotten around to reading it. I've always wanted to read Faulkner but never have, so I'll make a point of getting that one. Finally, thank you for including the Bulgakov novel. I was not familiar with it but I have developed an interest in Communism and totalitarianism more generally and it's effects on people, so I will have to get it and read it.
Good list. I have read four of them (Middlemarch, The Sun Also Rises, Lolita, and Brideshead Revisited). All are brilliant. Brideshead is a particular favorite. The others are all on my radar.
Thank you for the list, will check out White Noise as haven't heard of it.
Have strong feelings for Bulgakov, happy to see him on here! "Heart of a Dog" is a love of mine.
Good list. I like how you threw in the bonus number 0 at the end. Nice touch.
Cool probably will first finish Lolita which has been on back burner for a year and then start on The Master and Margarita because it's so different from anything Ive heard of. The Brothers has always plagued me as something I should have read long ago when I was younger and more energy to burn but always put off after starting and finding it abit intimidating like programming on Linux.