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Online Great Books Podcast

Mar 27, 2020

This week, Scott and Karl read The Sound of Waves, a 1954 novel by the Japanese author Yukio Mishima.

The novel follows Shinji and his romance with Hatsue, the beautiful daughter of the wealthy shipowner, on the island of Uta-Jima (Song Island). It’s a charming coming-of-age story, but as Scott points out,...


Mar 21, 2020

Welcome, dear listeners, to a show that explores what it means to be human. Sound intriguing?

This week, Scott and Karl read Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune which is a book thought to be The Lord of the Rings equivalent in the science fiction genre. 

Scott expands, "In The Lord of the Rings, there’s something...


Mar 12, 2020

This week, Scott and Karl read and discuss the 63 clauses of the Magna Carta. 

In 1215, Bad King John pledged, under duress, to his barons that he would obey “the law of the land” when he affixed his seal to a charter that came to be called Magna Carta. 

Few men have been less mourned, few legal documents more...


Mar 5, 2020

This week, Scott and Karl read the Articles of Confederation. This "firm league of friendship" was written in 1777, stemming from wartime urgency. However, it was not actually ratified until 1781.

It now lays on the ash heap of history, formally replaced by the present United States Constitution on March...