PODCAST · arts
Required Reading
by Required Reading, Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Michael Carroll and Mike Burns.
Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Mike Burns and Mike Carroll are teachers at the Marist School. In an attempt to update our curriculum, we have been reassessing the books we assign, we were assigned in high school and college, and the books we wish we assigned. Do people even read anymore? I mean, we do, but how do we keep the student engaged with the Required Reading.
Episodes
-
On Writing by Stephen King
On Writing isn’t a horror novel—but it is one of the most honest books ever written about the act of writing. In this episode of Required Reading, we dive into Stephen King’s hybrid memoir-and-manual to explore what it really means to become a writer. King strips away the mystique surrounding...
-
The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
In this episode of Required Reading, we dive into Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting short story, The Tell-Tale Heart. Through the fevered confession of an unreliable narrator, Poe explores the thin line between sanity and madness, guilt and obsession. We discuss how Poe uses rhythm, repetition, and...
-
The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe
In this episode of Required Reading, we explore Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling masterpiece, The Cask of Amontillado. Set in the eerie catacombs beneath an Italian palazzo, the story follows Montresor’s calculated revenge against Fortunato—an act cloaked in deception, wine, and madness. The episode...
-
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
This week on Required Reading, we dust off our middle school readers and learn about high schoolers in love. We read Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the passionate and mature love of a 13 and 15 year old. It's basically Elizabethan Degrassi. Co-Hosts: Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Mike Burns, Mike...
-
Candide by Voltaire
This week we are reminding you that this is the best of all possible podcasts. We talk Candide by Voltaire! Keep on reviewing and subscribing so we can continue doing this! or perhaps, this is our last episode and we will go to tend our gardens. Host: Dr. Nic Hoffmann Panel: Mike Burns and Mike...
-
Grendel by John Gardner
This week we get the energy up by having Mike Carroll talk about Beowulf again! We plan on coming out with an episode every first and third Friday of the Month for the rest of the school year and hopefully you come along for the ride with us! We are starting out with Grendel by John Gardner a...
-
Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar, Dave Johnson, and Killian Plunkett.
We are back, baby! This week we are joined by graphic novelist Rebecca Michaud as we talk about the DC Elseworld comic, Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar, Dave Johnson, and Killian Plunkett; Superman the pinko, classic! Host: Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Mike Burns, and Mike Carroll. Guest: Rebecca Michaud...
-
Green Day - Dookie
With Required Reading, we’re launching something new! As we hinted at the end of last term, we’re exploring a broader American Studies approach, tentatively called Zeit Guys. After covering a book last week (and with another on the way), we’ll be diving into Green Day’s Dookie album in the same...
-
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
This week on Required Reading, we talk Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and hidden in here is an easter egg that will unlock Hoffmann's Gold. WE ARE BACK, BABY!!!! Host: Nic Panel: Mike and Mike. From the Random House book cover: "In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade…
more -
Against Heaven's Matchless King by Michael Carroll
Hello! We are starting to dust off the cobwebs of summer break. As we do, we return to one of Mike Carroll's short stories. Please enjoy! We will be back with the new format soon, so keep following us here! Thanks, Nic
-
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
This week we dive into the Culinary Underbelly with Anthony Bourdain as we talk about his masterpiece Kitchen Confidential. Host: Dr. Nic Hoffmann Co-host: Mike Burns and Mike Carroll From the Ecco back cover: "An updated and revised edition of Anthony Bourdain's mega-bestselling Kitchen...
-
A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean
This week on Required Reading, we all called our brothers and fathers. We read A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean, one of the greatest American parables ever written. Make your brothers, fathers, husbands, etc read it, also while you are at it, whoever you are, READ IT. Host: Dr. Nic...
-
Redwall by Brian Jacques
This week, Mike Carroll raps poetic about the role a mouse book played in his literary life. We talked about Redwall by Brian Jacques, volume 1 of 22; them mice sure get up to mischief! How does Redwall by Brian Jacques hold up? Co-hosted: Nic Hoffmann and Mike Carroll "One of TIME Magazine’s 100...
-
Tintin and the Blue Lotus by Hergé
We are back, baby! Sorry about the delay, life got in the way, but we are back with a graphic novel, this time the Franco-Belgian super star Tintin with Tintin and the Blue Lotus by Hergé. The world's most famous boy(?) detective helps predict World War II and is highly critical of the Europeans…
more -
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien.
This week we complete the saga and talk The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien. Since the first season, we have had a guest episode with the great Robert von Hagen, but now, in season four we have completed the Tolkien series. "What about the Silmarillion?" You may…
more -
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
This week on Required Reading, we talk race, mental illness, and the Incredible Hulk. We read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, but just want to talk about the rabbits. Host: Dr. Nic Hoffmann Co-hosts: Mike Burns and Mike Carroll From the Penguin Classics back cover: "They are an unlikely pair:...
-
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
This week we return to the universe of the Hitchhiker’s Guide as we discuss the sequel The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams. Host: Dr. Nic Hoffmann Panel: Mike Burns and Mike Carroll "Now celebrating the 42nd anniversary of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy," “Douglas…
more -
Just Kids by Patti Smith
This week, for our 50th episode, we talk memoirs, the art scene of the 1970s, the late Robert Mapplethorpe, and the incomparable Patti Smith. We talked Just Kids by Patti Smith. "WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD “Reading rocker Smith’s account of her relationship with photographer Robert...
-
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
This week we deal with an airborne plague that kills everyone to get our mind off of current events. We read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Back of the book from Vintage: "NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • A PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FINALIST • Set in the eerie days of...
-
World War Z by Max Brooks
This week we get alllll spooky and cinematic! We talk Zombie apocalypse with World War Z by Max Brooks (also, this one has an incredible audiobook)! Thanks for reading along with us! Our next book will be Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, because we just can't get optimistic. Host: Nic...
-
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
We start this season in earnest with a classic Cold War espionage thriller, but I can't remember which one. We read The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. From the Bantam summary: "His memory is a blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Mediterranean Sea. His face has been altered by...
-
A Wrong Cruelly Done by Michael Carroll
Hey readers! This summer has been a mess and I promise we will soon return with a regular episode. In the meantime, here is a short story, soon to be published, by panelist Mike Carroll. A Wrong Cruelly Done. Enjoy, Nic
-
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
This month in Required Reading we talk about Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. The book that coined the term 'snowflake,' gave us the rules, and made you question fancy soap. From a philosophical work that came out before 9/11, clearly, join us as we meet Tyler Durden. Host: Dr. Nic Hoffmann...
-
The Plague by Albert Camus
This week we revisit 2020, I mean the Vichy/Nazi occupation of the south of France. We were infected with The Plague, Camus' longer, somehow, more depressing work. Host: Dr. Nic Hoffmann Panel: Mike Burns and Mike Carroll "The townspeople of Oran are in the grip of a deadly plague, which condemns...
-
Billy Budd by Herman Melville
This month we start with Mike Burns' choice for the high school book he hated, the not subtly homoerotic Billy Budd by Herman Melville. "Billy Budd, Sailor has been called the best short novel ever written. In his brilliantly condensed prose, Herman Melville fashions a legal parable in which…
more -
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
This week we revisit the Gothic Horror, Bildungsroman, potential black comedy, Victorian Middle Class novel that is Jane Eyre. This was Nic's selection for the book he read in high school and hated, but will a reread make it better? It certainly won't make it shorter! From the back of the Penguin...
-
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
This week on Required Reading we revisit dental trauma as we talk Smile by Raina Telgemeier. From the jacket: "Raina Telgemeier's #1 New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir based on her childhood! Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl…
more -
Beloved by Toni Morrison
This episode of Required Reading, we dive into the haunting masterpiece Beloved by Toni Morrison. This complex narrative is an incredible piece of American Fiction, African American literature, and magical realism; truly a remarkable novel. Host: Nic Hoffmann Co-host: Mike Burns Panel: Chase...
-
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
This episode of Required Reading we talk about the western classic, Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather. This classic of the 1920s is an American novel highlighting the creation of a southwestern diocese, involving interesting characters, good discussions and a crisis of faith. Also, a...
-
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
This week on Required Reading we talk about A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, so gird your valves and stay out of the French Quarter! Thanks for indulging in our little Holiday Break! We are back with two episodes a month for the foreseeable future! Thanks for all you do to make us…
more -
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
This week we read the Christmas Classic that you have been expecting since the beginning, we talk A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The traditional Christmas tale made famous by the likes of Michael Caine, Bill Murray, Patrick Stewart, Alistair Slim, and Mr. Magoo. We talk the ins and outs of...
-
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
This episode we talk The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien. We battle, we make friends, and talk orcs, rings, and talking trees. Robert von Hagen returns to help me in this complex world. Can we get to the bottom of the towers? Gollum? In honor of the 20th anniversary of the...
-
All Quiet on the Western Front by Enrich Maria Remarque
In honor of Veterans Day and the end of World War I, this episode we get depressed and read All Quiet on the Western Front by Enrich Maria Remarque, the only book I know of titled after the final line of the novel. The book is a classic of war literature set in World War I and narrated by a…
more -
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
This week we follow up Frankenstein: the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley with a Modern retelling! In honor of the abysmal end to a franchise that was Jurassic World Dominion, we talk about the book that started it all Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton; the reason I know anything about Cray...
-
Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
This week on Required Reading we delve into Gothic Horror and read Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley (possibly revised by Percy Shelley). Not only does this fill our horror quota for October, but allows us to segue into a modern retelling as next week we discuss the highly...
-
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
This week, we visit the stars above! We read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell this episode of Required Reading. In a remarkable piece of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Anthropology and Catholicism, the Sparrow is a story of triumphs and trials and it is all the more incredible for doing so. As we have done…
more -
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Foer
This week we read the most recent piece of fiction yet! With the plot hinging on 9/11, we read Jonathan Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. We cover this non-traditional narrative and get to the bottom of a key in a vase. We thank you for following us! In an effort to keep you reading…
more -
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
This week on Required Reading, we learn the answer to life, the universe, and everything. We read The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Join us, won't you? And don't forget to bring a towel. If you want to read along with us, consider purchasing the book through our link The...
-
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
As we return, in triumph, to season three, we begin with an American Classic, and my vote for the greatest American Novel. We talk To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and shoot all the bluejays we want. Something new this year! First, we will be telling you about the books in advance, so you can...
-
My Friend Dahmer
Hello! Time for something a bit more unsettling. Every term three, we cover a graphic novel where students in group pick and discuss. For the past two years, one of our most popular is My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf, a cartoonist who went to school with Jeffery Dahmer. Since the students chose...
-
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring: Book 2
After promising months ago, issues with hackers, and AP Exams, I have returned, battered, but not beaten with The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring: Book 2. Mike, Mike, and Robert are back with me as Gandalf and Boromir die and a Hobbit shows incredible bravery. I read a selection…
more -
The Things They Carried
This week, we follow Tim O'Brien into the dark of Vietnam. I have included a reading from the chapter "How to Tell a War Story," and hope you appreciate the first guest spot filled by David Negus, the person who taught me parts of the book as a student. Enjoy. Also, I apologize for the lateness…
more -
The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
This week we get mildly depressed talking about The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. A book about having all the wrong dreams, insurance, and how to handle produce. Panel: Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Mike Burns, and Principal Kevin Mullaly. If you want to hear Nic talk about this on another excellent...
-
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
This week on Required Reading, we encounter pure evil and fix-to-make a stupid decision. We talk No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy with Matt Romano. Since it is Academy Awards Month, we beg the question, is there a hero here and is this one of the best book adaptation ever?
-
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (Sample)
This week on Required Reading, in honor of the upcoming Academy Awards, we are covering another book! Well, this one was adapted into a movie that won Best Picture and was a fairly accurate version of the text, so there! The full episode will drop on the 15th, but to get you in the mood,Read More
-
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
This week, we attempt to grasp The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien, but spend so much time with book 1, we decide to come back next week for book 2! So, come with us as we extol the virtues of scaring your relatives, going to taverns, andRead More
-
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (sample)
k, in order to prepare for the The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Lucas Farach will read a section of Book 1, Chapter 2, for you. Please enjoy and join us next week for The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.
-
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
This month we complete the book exchange with my selection for Mike Burns, the classic of Gonzo journalism Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and we learn seven things: “1) Never trust a cop in a raincoat.2) Beware of enthusiasm and of love, both are temporary and quick to sway.3) If asked if you...
-
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (audio sample)
In honor of the upcoming episode on Fear in Loathing in Las Vegas, we have a selection from chapter one being read by our very own Olivia Kincaid. The music is “Actionable” by Bensound used under the creative commons license. Find all his music on https://www.bensound.com/
-
Clip from the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare
To get everyone in the mood for the episode on the play and the new Coen movie, the Tragedy of Macbeth, we have Denzel Washington performing the “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” soliloquy. Enjoy, Nic
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Mike Burns and Mike Carroll are teachers at the Marist School. In an attempt to update our curriculum, we have been reassessing the books we assign, we were assigned in high school and college, and the books we wish we assigned. Do people even read anymore? I mean, we do, but how do we keep the student engaged with the Required Reading.
HOSTED BY
Required Reading, Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Michael Carroll and Mike Burns.
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Required Reading have?
Required Reading currently has 71 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Required Reading about?
Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Mike Burns and Mike Carroll are teachers at the Marist School. In an attempt to update our curriculum, we have been reassessing the books we assign, we were assigned in high school and college, and the books we wish we assigned. Do people even read anymore? I mean, we do, but how...
How often does Required Reading release new episodes?
Required Reading has 71 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Required Reading?
You can listen to Required Reading on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Required Reading?
Required Reading is created and hosted by Required Reading, Dr. Nic Hoffmann, Michael Carroll and Mike Burns..
URL copied to clipboard!