PODCAST · society
The Problem with Reading
by The Problem with Reading
A book appreciation club hosted by one catholic, one anglican, and one orthodox nerd. We talk about book chapters, special topics, and what we're drinking. Currently: Michael Polanyi's Personal Knowledge (511-Present)Previously:-James Scott's Seeing Like a State (502-510)-Jacques Ellul's Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (421-427, 429)-Carl Trueman's Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self (407-410, 412-413, 415-416)-Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death (402 and 405)-Richard Weaver's Ideas Have Consequences (314-318) -Iain McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary (213-310)-Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue (101-114,116-119)You can find this podcast on most podcast applications, Itunes, Spotify, and Soundcloud.
Episodes
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520 The Problem with..."PDFs, Stoop Sales, and Personal Knowledge, Part 8"
Michael Polanyi finally reveals his hand: "Commitment." Join the crew to pull together the threads of all the previous chapters and finally see how the monsters of skepticism and objectivism can be beaten by caring just a little bit more. Also, Stephen can't upload documents, Brevin likes spiced...
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519 The Problem with "Bioethics, Again" ft. Alison
The Bioethics Just Keep Happening, and so we bring out Resident Bioethicist Alison back to talk through a selection of our group chat rantings over the past few years. AI, MAID, Leo's Encyclical, Freebirthing Movements, the metaphysics of dependence and care, and oh so much more. Have a listen!
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518 The Problem with..."Doubt and Personal Knowledge, Part 7"
The Problem With Reading tackles doubt, Resident Evil 9, and Shakespeare in the Park. Have a listen!
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517 The Problem with..."Turing Tests, ESP, and Personal Knowledge, Part 6"
The Problem With Reading proceeds apace through Polanyi Chapter 8, finally getting to his positive project, and the core of knowledge he feels is safe to build from. Also, many shots at Mr. Alan Turing, his Test, and the fallacy of AI knowledge. For rants we have LASIK, shoe selection, and...
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516 The Problem with... "Return of the Strong Gods" ft. Mojo
Special and longtime-coming Guest Mojo joins to discuss R. R. Reno's 2019 book "Return of the Strong Gods." In it, Reno argues that the Postwar Consensus after World War 2 substituted weak gods of openness in reaction to the ideological horrors that caused the conflict. But what happens when weak...
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515 The Problem with..."Convivial Marxists and Personal Knowledge, Part 5"
Marxists, friendship, and how to fully commit while possibly being wrong! Polanyi keeps digging the hole deeper, but also starts to hint at his answer. Sam has a love-hate relationship with Ikea, Brevin is suffering seasonal heating mismatches, and everyone is having a good time. Have a listen!
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514 The Problem with..."Ice, Windows 11, and Personal Knowledge, Part 4"
The gents investigate their scientific passions and perils in this episode. Can we trust the beauty of reality to out, or will personal attacks prevail? Polanyi argues that intellectual passion is essential to the progress of science; but Sam just wants to talk about the Seahawks, and Stephen's...
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513 The Problem with..."Language Skills and Personal Knowledge, Part 3"
“Personal Knowledge” by Michael Polanyi continues with questions of skills and language. In their real lives, the co-hosts might be lacking some skill. Stephen might have a DUI, Sam is fighting Big Insurance, and Brevin is switching his Internet Provider. Have a listen!
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512 The Problem with..."Resident Evil and Personal Knowledge, Part 2"
“Personal Knowledge” by Michael Polanyi continues with questions of probability, information, randomness, and interpretation. While the search for the resolution to the seemingly intractable problem of subjective vs objective knowledge is important, everyone is keeping busy on the side: Stephen…
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511 The Problem with..."Personal Knowledge, Part 1"
Our next book is “Personal Knowledge” by Michael Polanyi. Polymath, chemist, philosophy of science and politics, Polanyi has the ambitious goal to rescue knowledge itself from the subjective/objective gulf. We’re going to have tacit knowledge, violins, the speed of light, and much, much more.…
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510 The Problem with..."Seeing Like a Citizen, and Seeing Like a State, Part 7"
We conclude our journey through the eyes of state. Sam prepares for a harrowing experience, Stephen breaks his back (again) and Brevin welcomes Fall with the traditional liturgy. Have a listen!
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509 The Problem with..."Polycropping, Death Cab, and Seeing Like a State, Part 6"
Polycropping, practical knowledge, and National Park Shenanigans; Have a listen!
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508 The Problem with..."Communes, Spinal Tap, and Seeing Like a State, Part 5"
Back in the day, all the cool kids were collectivizing farms, by force if necessary (it generally was). Did you know they were all High Modernists? James Scott tells the stories of Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Russia and their violent agricultural revolutions. The unfortunate meeting of capitalist and...
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507 The Problem with..."Metaphysics" ft. Dr. Mike
Dr. Mike joins the podcast to teach Metaphysics 101 and put Dr. Stephen in his place. We discuss the inescapability of metaphysics, the ontological argument (for perfect unicorns), and more. Plus, a game to decide the ultimate meta-metaphysician, and Mike hates basketball. Have a listen!
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506 The Problem with..."Lenin, R&D, and Seeing Like a State, Part 4"
We turn to Mother Russia, the Revolution, and a certain Mr. Lenin for another view into High Modernism. Weightlifting Socialists, vanguards, and alternative Marxisms are all on the table. Separately, Stephen is a Doctor, ideas are special things, and we play out the episode with a special song....
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505 The Problem with..."Architectural Despots, Jane Jacobs, and Seeing Like a State, Part 3"
The hands of High Modernism have left their mark on world, nowhere more dramatically than on the form of the City. Le Corbusier, architect and supervillain, contends with Jane Jacobs, New York Lover and sidewalk-er. How many cubic meters of air does a person needs? How much empty pavement can put...
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504 The Problem with…"Tau, France, and Seeing Like a State, Part 2”
Is your Last Name a government conspiracy? Is 2xPi overrated? Is illegibility of local conditions and terrain a protection against state control? The answer to all these questions is “Yes.”
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503 The Problem with…“Forstwissenschaftlers and Seeing Like a State, Part 1”
German Scientific Forestry goes horribly wrong! Cadastral mapping allow for state exploitation of otherwise illegible localities! Appearance of order does not imply efficiency! Also, Sam breaks his toe, Brevin enjoys Shamrock Shakes, and Stephen is an Engineer™.
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502 The Problem with..."Seeing Like a State"
In which we begin our new book: "Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed" by James C. Scott. High Modernism, maps, peasant anthropology, utopian schemes, evil architects...this book has it all, and we're excited for the journey.
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501 The Problem with..."2024"
As we delve deeper into winter, it’s worth one last quick look back at the year past. For your consideration, The Problem with Reading presents the eight best articles of 2024 as chosen by elite and erudite past podcast guests. From Monks to Mathematically-Challenged Medicalists, from Gym Rats to...
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429 The Problem with..."Final Thoughts, the Unabomber, and Propaganda, Part 7"
**Dear Listener, if you listened to our Propagandistic escapades, or even just one or two episodes, we'd love to hear your questions, hot takes, and objections. Submit questions, written or audio, to "The Problem with Reading Podcast" Facebook page, and we'll endeavor to answer them in a future...
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428 The Problem with..."Booktok and Publishing" ft. Ellen
The quest for peasant illiteracy has finally led to the belly of the beast: the Publishing Industry. And literary agent Ellen is the perfect intrepid insider to explain its nuances and absurdities, explicate Booktok, and also talk down the boys from getting book burnings going again. At the end,...
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427 The Problem with..."Democracy, Televised Mass, and Propaganda, Part 6"
We finally reach the fifth and final chapter of Jacques Ellul's Propaganda: The Socio-Political Effects. In a world where ideology itself is subject to propagandistic forces, do ideas like democracy and freedom mean anything? Can religion use propagandistic techniques and escape unscathed? The...
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426 The Problem with..."Earthquakes, Eclipses, and Propaganda, Part 5"
Propaganda does psychological damage, no matter what side it comes from. In Chapter 4: "Psychological Effects of Propaganda" Jacques Ellul lays out the alienation, crystallization, and ambiguous demoralization of propaganda. The hosts wrestle with the seeming similarities between religion and...
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425 The Problem with..."Street Tacos and Propaganda, Part 4"
Propaganda is necessary for governments, and you crave it. So says Jacques Ellul in chapter 3 of "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes." Aside from the objective necessity of Propaganda to the modern state, Ellul's hatred of the psychology of cities, and some struggle sessioning as to the...
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424 The Problem with..."Souped Art and Propaganda, Part 3" (fixed)
The propaganda extravaganza continues with chapter 2 of "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by Jacques Ellul! In this episode we get into the conditions necessary for propaganda--the double sided coin of individualism and mass society, mass media, and information deluge. Also--health...
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423 The Problem with..."Advertising and Propaganda, Part 2"
We finish the first chapter of "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by Jacques Ellul. There's a bit of heat over the propaganda of advertising, some reflections on libertarian summer camp and homeschool propaganda, and the question of public school as horizontal propaganda. Rants are...
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422 The Problem with..."Bripes and Propaganda, Part 1"
We dive deep into the first chapter of "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by Jacques Ellul, and only brush the surface. Total propaganda, technique, the 1619 project, school board meetings, and Arianism all make an appearance. Have a listen! Bripes: youtube.com/watch?v=tltBHjmIUJ0…
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421 The Problem with... "Propaganda by Jacques Ellul"
In which we begin our next book journey and introduce "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by the philosopher/sociologist/theologian Jacques Ellul. There's numerous reasons to read this book: the year, our technological stage, our memetic ecology. But also, it sounds fun. Pick up a copy...
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420 The Problem with..."Shame Shelves and Shortlists"
A relaxed meta week of book shelves, book lists (short, long, and frantic), and big plans for the year. Should we read more? Yes. Will we? Unclear. Have a listen!
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419 The Problem with..."Transhumanism and Warhammer 40K LARPers" ft. Alison
Our Resident Consulting Bioethicist Alison returns for Bioethics round two and a host of sticky topics—from surrogacy and embryo rescue to “Pronatalist” Warhammer 40k tax evaders, from Canada’s continued spiral of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) to the OG transhumanism text. Also, there is a...
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A Fish Named Titan Invictus (419 Teaser)
Would you take a person named Titan Invictus seriously?
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418 The Problem with..."2023"
To ring in the New Year and close out 2023, The Problem with Reading presents eight quality, or at least amusing, articles for your perusal and consideration as chosen by elite and erudite past podcast guests. From Paganism, to Furry Hackers, to Pro-Natalist Silicon Valley Freaks, to AirBnB...
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417 The Problem with…“David Foster Wallace” ft. Liv
The day has finally come to give DFW the treatment he deserves, and Stephen couldn’t be happier. We’ve brought on Liv as backup to explore the heavily foot- and endnoted fiction and non-fiction projects of David Foster Wallace. We discuss the importance of paying attention, the danger of...
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416 The Problem with..."The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Part 7"
We conclude our journey through expressive individualism and the modern self with the final two chapters of Carl Trueman's "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self." Also, Stephen watches the Exorcist (maybe a few of them) and Brevin and Sam have stressful family admin meetings.
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415 The Problem with... "Paganism, Playboy, and the Modern Self, Part 6"
We continue the journey through "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self" by Carl Trueman in this penultimate episode covering chapters 8 and 9 documenting the twin triumphs of the erotic and the therapeutic. But also, Paganism! Have a listen...
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414 The Problem with…“Barbenheimer and Wes Anderson” ft. Jensen
It's summer at the movies as Jensen joins us to review the top three movies of the summer (by our count, at least): Oppenheimer, Barbie and Wes Anderson's Asteroid City. Plus, we pitch our own films to ruthless Hollywood execs. Have a listen!
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413 The Problem with... "Owl City and the Modern Self, Part 5"
Freud and the various species of 20th century thinkers downstream of him take center stage in chapters 6 and 7 of "Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self." How many double entendres can you spot? Also, Stephen waxes poetic about the edgy music of his youth, Brevin reveals the Age of Average, and Sam...
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412 The Problem with… “Cursed Boomers and the Modern Self, Part 4”
We dive into Chapter 5 "Plastic People" and blaze through everyone's favorite band of misfits: Marx, Darwin, and Nietzsche! Also, Stephen is sure the Boomers have cursed us all, Sam hates buying guitars, and Brevin wants to practice his new tourniquet skills in real life.
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411 The Problem with..."ChatGPT and Ham Sandwiches" ft. Chase
Chase joins Brevin and Stephen to discuss the looming AI threat. Robots can chat, paint, seduce lonely (mystic) programmers, and write their own code. So will civilization be ended by Terminators or overly friendly Chatbots? The answer will surprise you. Also--reminiscences about beating kids in...
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Chase Makes a 7 Year Old Cry in a Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament (TPWR 411 Teaser)
Chase Makes a 7 Year Old Cry in a Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament (TPWR 411 Teaser) by The Problem with Reading
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410 The Problem with… “Hotel Waffles and the Modern Self, Part 3”
For the first podcast of the new year, we continue reading “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self” covering the Romantic Poets of Wordsworth, Shelley, and Blake. Also: gravity holes, American religious revival, and a snowless New York.
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409 The Problem with... "Open Theism and the Modern Self, Part 2"
Part of our series of the Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, covering Rousseau's thought and the seeds it planted. Also, MacIntyre as anti-political historian, candles for Advent, and more!
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408 The Problem with..."Walker Percy Interludes"
A brief intermission featuring of a few of our favorite Walker Percy readings from "Lost in the Cosmos" and "Signposts in a Strange Land."
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407 The Problem with... "The Parking Gestapo, and The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Part 1"
Join the Problem with Reading crew on this first episode reading through "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self" by Carl Trueman, covering Part 1. Is sarcasm a Deathwork? Can Stephen avoid bringing up David Foster Wallace? What revenge has Summer wrought? All this and more.
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406 The Problem with… “Bioethics and Dueling” ft. Alison
Alison comes aboard to share her expertise in Bioethics. Whither Bioethics? Whomst Bioethics? You might be wondering these things, and we have answers. Well, our expert guest, Alison, does. What good is autonomy? Why is Canada (even more) evil (than we already thought)? Plus, an Ethics Bowl to…
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405 The Problem with..."New York Hobos and Amusing Ourselves to Death, Part 2"
Second of two episodes on the ever-relevant "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman. Hear the problem with televangelists, politics by TV, and Sesame Street--and why we're all agitated amnesiacs. Also, Sam finally experiences the joys of NYC's famously mentally stable population, Stephen...
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404 The Problem with…“Nirvana Batman”
After the first attempt was lost to the computer gods, the boys convene to give a second run at their review of The Batman, the latest iteration of the Caped Crusader. Brevin hates it, Stephen’s indifferent, and Sam’s in love, so get ready to choose the hero you deserve. Also included: a gritty...
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403 The Problem with... "Grad School and Mystery Egg Shots"
In a belated episode back, a reduced crew ponders their escape from graduate school...at least for now.
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402 The Problem with... "Wheels, Nukes, and Amusing Ourselves to Death, Part 1"
First of two episodes on the ever-relevant "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman, as well as some meditations on our reemergent nuclear moment. Also--Stephen has new appreciation for water torture, Sam's mind is collapsing attempting to answer the question "Are there more doors or…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A book appreciation club hosted by one catholic, one anglican, and one orthodox nerd. We talk about book chapters, special topics, and what we're drinking. Currently: Michael Polanyi's Personal Knowledge (511-Present)Previously:-James Scott's Seeing Like a State (502-510)-Jacques Ellul's Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (421-427, 429)-Carl Trueman's Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self (407-410, 412-413, 415-416)-Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death (402 and 405)-Richard Weaver's Ideas Have Consequences (314-318) -Iain McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary (213-310)-Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue (101-114,116-119)You can find this podcast on most podcast applications, Itunes, Spotify, and Soundcloud.
HOSTED BY
The Problem with Reading
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Problem with Reading have?
The Problem with Reading currently has 129 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Problem with Reading about?
A book appreciation club hosted by one catholic, one anglican, and one orthodox nerd. We talk about book chapters, special topics, and what we're drinking. Currently: Michael Polanyi's Personal Knowledge (511-Present)Previously:-James Scott's Seeing Like a State (502-510)-Jacques Ellul's...
How often does The Problem with Reading release new episodes?
The Problem with Reading publishes regularly with 129 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Problem with Reading?
You can listen to The Problem with 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 The Problem with Reading?
The Problem with Reading is created and hosted by The Problem with Reading.
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