The Case for Reading in an Age of Noise w/ John Clarke

What this episode covers

What does it actually mean to be literate, and do men in the trenches of daily life actually have time for it? Jason Craig sits down with John Clarke of Cluny Media to make the case that reading is less a cultural pastime and more a spiritual necessity, as essential to a man's formation as physical training is to his body.In This Episode, We Cover:Why literacy is like athleticism: a trainable capacity, not an elite clubWhether men today genuinely need to wrestle with ideas on the pageHow books and screens form the mind and imagination in fundamentally different waysWhy you need a guide, not just a book listPractical advice for literary nerds on how to share ideas without alienating everyone around themChapters:00:00: The Bridge a Literary Publisher Builds04:34: Defining Literacy—The Athleticism Analogy14:26: Christianity's Relationship with the Written Word18:13: How We Are Formed (Whether We Choose It or Not)22:45: Books as a Lifelong Habit, Not a Checklist29:13: Why You Need a Guide, Not Just a Book List31:30: What Books Do That Screens Can't37:07: Screen Recommendations for Young Kids50:48: Advice for Literary Nerds: Integrate and Trust54:20: Don't Read Alone. Ideas Belong in ConversationResources Mentioned:Cluny MediaThe Holy Spirit by Luis MartinezThis Dear-Bought Land by Jean Lee Latham"Sunday" by Father Frederick William FaberJOIN 2500+ MEN READING SERIOUS, YET ACCESSIBLE ESSAYS ON VIRTUE, CULTURE, AND LIVING WELLProduced by Saint Kolbe Studios

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This episode is 1 hour and 1 minute long.

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This episode was published on March 12, 2026.

What is this episode about?

What does it actually mean to be literate, and do men in the trenches of daily life actually have time for it? Jason Craig sits down with John Clarke of Cluny Media to make the case that reading is less a cultural pastime and more a spiritual...

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