Unravel the complex web of fate, passion, and divine vengeance in our in-depth exploration of Euripides' searing tragedy, Hippolytus. Journey to ancient Athens as we analyze this masterpiece of psychological drama, where the wrath of Aphrodite ignites a forbidden love, leading to a devastating clash between rigid piety and uncontrollable desire. We'll unpack the play's haunting themes of justice, reputation, and the crushing power of the gods, revealing Euripides' revolutionary insights into the human heart. Essential listening for students of Greek tragedy, enthusiasts of mythology, or anyone seeking to understand the timeless struggles within the human psyche.
Works Cited
Step into the zany world of ancient Athens with a deep dive into Aristophanes' uproarious comedy, Clouds. Join us as we dissect this foundational work of satire, exploring its hilarious jabs at Socrates, the "new education," and the generational divides of 5th-century BCE Athens. Discover the genius of Old Comedy, unpack the play's enduring themes of intellectual hubris and societal change, and understand why its sharp wit and timeless commentary on "making the worse appear the better reason" still resonate with surprising relevance today. Perfect for students of Greek drama, lovers of satire, or anyone curious about the comedic origins of Western thought.
Works Cited:
Embark on an epic adventure through time with a captivating audio overview of Hendrik Willem Van Loon's groundbreaking book, The Story of Mankind. Discover why this Pulitzer Prize-winning classic redefined popular history, weaving a vibrant, narrative tapestry of human civilization from prehistoric times to the modern age. We'll explore Van Loon's unique storytelling approach, his insightful (and sometimes provocative) interpretations of major historical figures and movements, and how his engaging style made history accessible to generations. Uncover the enduring charm and significance of a book that inspired countless readers to see the grand sweep of our collective past. Ideal for history enthusiasts, aspiring scholars, or anyone who loves a good story about humanity's incredible journey.
Works Cited
Uncover the life and thought of Søren Kierkegaard, a pivotal figure often called the "father of existentialism". This episode delves into Kierkegaard's unique "Indirect Communication", where he used pseudonyms like Victor Eremita for works such as Either/Or (1843), exploring the tension between aesthetic and ethical modes of life. We'll trace his journey from his early prolific output, including Fear and Trembling (1843) and The Concept of Anxiety (1844), to his later, signed religious works and his "Attack upon Official Christianity" (1854-1855), particularly against Bishop Martensen. Discover his profound insights into subjectivity, faith, and despair, concepts that underpin his challenge to societal conformity and his pursuit of the "single individual". Learn how Kierkegaard became a laughingstock during "The Corsair Affair" (beginning December 1845) yet continued to write, shaping existentialist thought and influencing figures like Sartre and Heidegger.
Works Cited
Delve into the mind of Arthur Schopenhauer, the "philosopher of pessimism". This episode explores his influential thought, which challenged the value of existence and greatly impacted figures like Nietzsche and Wittgenstein. Discover his uniquely clear and elegant prose, a stark contrast to his German idealist contemporaries like Fichte and Hegel, whom he often accused of deliberate obfuscation. Learn about his foundational work, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason, which simplified Kant's cognitive framework, and his magnum opus, The World as Will and Representation, which he meticulously refined throughout his life. We'll also examine his profound engagement with Eastern thought, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism, which he considered the most truthful religions for acknowledging suffering and the vanity of earthly existence. Despite his philosophical outlook, Schopenhauer also explored practical wisdom, offering a "eudaimonology" on living a good life.
Works Cited
App, Urs. "Schopenhauer's Initial Encounter with Indian Thought."Baptista, Trino. "Psychotherapists: Should we meet Arthur Schopenhauer?" Redalyc.Collinson, Diané. "Book Reviews." Rev. of The Philosophy of Schopenhauer, by Bryan Magee. The Philosophical Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 137, Oct. 1984, p. 510. Oxford Academic. Oxford University Press.Cross, Stephen. Schopenhauer's Encounter with Indian Thought (Representation and Will and Their Indian Parallels). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 2014.Dhoot, Randeep. "Hegelian Idealism: An Overview." International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations, vol. 6, no. 4, Oct.-Dec. 2018, pp. 596-99. Research Publish Journals.Foa Dienstag, Joshua. "Schopenhauer and Hegel's feud was metaphysical: a pessimist who recognised the unchangeable essence of the world and an optimist who saw human history as perpetual growth could never get along." Reddit, 2023.Hutton, Kenneth. "Ethics in Schopenhauer and Buddhism." PhD thesis, University of Glasgow, 30 Sep. 2008. Enlighten Theses.Inductivo, Ivan Brian L. "Schopenhauer's Ethics: A Metaphysics in Action." Scientia - The International Journal on the Liberal Arts.James, Peter. "Schopenhauer’s Nagging Mother." Diary Of A Failed Comedian, 30 Apr. 2024.Janaway, Christopher. "Introduction." The Cambridge Companion to Schopenhauer, edited by Christopher Janaway, Cambridge University Press, 28 May 2006, pp. 1-17.Ketcham, Christopher. "Schopenhauer and Buddhism: Soulless Continuity." Journal of Animal Ethics, vol. 8, no. 1, 1 Apr. 2018, pp. 12-25.Koßler, Matthias, and Arati Barua, editors. Understanding Schopenhauer through the Prism of Indian Culture: Philosophy, Religion and Sanskrit Literature. De Gruyter, 2013."'Life Without Pain Has No Meaning': Arthur Schopenhauer." Yale Books Blog. Yale University Press London, 10 Apr. 2025.Mammadova, Chinara. "Arthur Schopenhauer and East: Compassion as the Basis of Ethics." The Asian Conference on Ethics, Religion and Philosophy 2015 Official Conference Proceedings. Baku State University, Azerbaijan."Nietzsche and Eastern Philosophy (Buddhism)." Eternalised. Eternalised - Philosophy."On the Buddha Posture in Heart of Darkness." Atlantis Press."Schopenhauer's Concept of Suffering and Aesthetics." Talisik, vol. 4, no. 1.Singer, Adam. "Exploring Schopenhauer's contempt for Hegel." Hot Takes. 2025.Stangroom, Jeremy. "The Genesis of a Philosophical Myth." Heristical, 2025.Troxell, Mary. "Arthur Schopenhauer (1788—1860)." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy."Understanding Schopenhauer through the Prism of Indian Culture." University of Hawaiʻi Press.Woods, David Bather. "The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer." Interview by Nigel Warburton. Five Books, 17 July 2020.Wicks, Robert. "Arthur Schopenhauer." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2015."'When relationships tire you out, try Schopenhauer.'" The Korea Herald.Young, Julian. Schopenhauer. Routledge, 2005.
This episode delves into G.W.F. Hegel's monumental Elements of the Philosophy of Right, exploring his distinct and often challenging conception of freedom. We examine how Hegel’s communitarian perspective, which emphasizes the state over the individual, contrasts sharply with the classic social contract theories of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Discover how Hegel’s philosophy shapes understanding of persons, property, punishment, civil society, and the state.
Works Cited
Ameriks, Karl, editor. The Cambridge Companion to German Idealism. Cambridge University Press, 2000.Azike, Gerald Chibueze. "BETWEEN CLASSIC SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY AND HEGELIAN STATE: A CASE FOR FREEDOM’S BROADER CONCEPTION." University of Memphis Digital Commons, 2025, digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3805.Beiser, Frederick C., editor. The Cambridge Companion to Hegel and Nineteenth-Century Philosophy. Cambridge University Press, 2008.Beiser, Frederick C. Hegel. Routledge, 2005."Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right." Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critique_of_Hegel%27s_Philosophy_of_Right.Dudley, Will. Understanding German Idealism. Acumen, 2007."Epistemic difference between Kant and Hegel." Reddit, reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1dl5671/epistemic_difference_between_kant_and_hegel/.Fox-Williams, Jack. "Hegel’s Understanding of History." Philosophy Now, no. 140, 2020.Fulford, Robert. "Robert Fulford's review of Hegel: A Biography, by Terry Pinkard." robertfulford.com, robertfulford.com/PinkardHegel.html.Gelžinytė, Brigita. "Fichte’s Critique in Early Schelling and Hegel, or a Moment of Dead and Lost God that has to Remain but a Moment." Lo Sguardo - rivista di filosofia, no. 30, 2020."German idealism." Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_idealism.Gordon, David. "Hegel’s Very Odd Definition of Freedom." Mises Wire, 24 Jan. 2020, mises.org/wire/hegels-very-odd-definition-freedom.Gros, Simon. "Between Kant & Hegel: Texts in the Development of Post-Kantian Idealism." 29 Mar. 2025, simongros.wordpress.com/2025/03/29/between-kant-hegel-texts-in-the-development-of-post-kantian-idealism/.Harris, H.S. "Hegel's intellectual development to 1807." The Cambridge Companion to Hegel, edited by Frederick C. Beiser, Cambridge University Press, 1993, pp. 25-51."Hegel's Fact of Reason: Life and Death in the Experience of Freedom [Special Issue]." Argumenta, argumenta.arg.unito.it/issue/2/.Hegel, G.W.F. Elements of the Philosophy of Right. Edited by Allen W. Wood, Translated by H. B. Nisbet, Cambridge University Press, 1991.---. Philosophy of Right. Translated by S.W. Dyde, Queen’s University, 1896."Hegel's Life and Historical Context." By Outis. LICENTIA POETICA, 24 Nov. 2024, medium.com/@licentiapoetica/hegels-life-and-historical-context-21e1a53c613e."Hegel's Philosophy of Right." Reddit, reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1dl70p3/hegels_philosophy_of_right/."Hegel: Social and Political Thought." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, iep.utm.edu/hegel-pol/.Knowles, Dudley. Hegel and the Philosophy of Right. Routledge, 2002.O'Connor, Patricia, and Jonathan Mohr. German Idealism: An Anthology and Guide. University of Chicago Press, 2007.Pinkard, Terry. Hegel: A Biography. Cambridge University Press, 2000.Ritter, Joachim. "Person and Property in Hegel's Philosophy of Right (§§34–81)." Hegel on Ethics and Politics, edited by Robert B. Pippin and Otfried Höffe, translated by Nicholas Walker, Cambridge University Press, 2004, pp. 101-123.Siep, Ludwig. "The contemporary relevance of Hegel's practical philosophy." Hegel, edited by Katerina Deligiorgi, Cambridge University Press, 2013."The Impact of Idealism." University of Cambridge, 6 Sep. 2012, cam.ac.uk/stories/the-impact-of-idealism.Vieweg, Klaus. "Hegel’s Sicilian Defence: Beyond Realism and Constructivism." The Idealism of Freedom. Brill, pp. 13–22.reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1dli5i2/why_did_19th_century_germans_read_hegel_what_were/.
Dive into the profound world of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, a pivotal figure in German Idealism whose philosophy continues to illuminate modern dilemmas. Explore his ambitious goal to comprehend all reality philosophically, investigating areas like art, religion, history, morality, politics, and science. Discover Hegel's core method: the dialectic, a dynamic process of thought and development involving the interplay of opposing ideas leading to a richer understanding.
Works Cited
"Analysis of Hegel's Philosophy in the Light of German Idealism." International Journal of Research in Academic World.Ameriks, Karl, editor. The Cambridge Companion to German Idealism. Cambridge University Press, 2000.Barlas, Baran. "Hegel’s Master-Slave Dialectic Explained." TheCollector, 20 June 2025.———. "What Is Dialectic? From Heraclitus to Marx." TheCollector.Brandstetter, Sophia. "How Dialectical Thinking Can Enhance Your Perspective?" Growth thru Change, 15 Apr. 2025."Can Someone Explain Hegel's Dialectics, Like I Am 5-Years-Old?" Reddit, u/foranoldbitchgone, c. 2022.Christensen, Chris. "The Trouble with Hegel." Philosophy Now, no. 129, 2018."Chronology of Hegel’s Life." The Oxford Handbook of Hegel, edited by Dean Moyar, Oxford University Press, 2017. Oxford Academic, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199355228.002.0008."Critical Perspectives on the Dialectical Method." Philosophy Institute, 28 Sept. 2023."Dialectic." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation."Dialectical Materialism." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation.Duquette, David A. "Hegel: Social and Political Thought." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.Dudley, Will. Understanding German Idealism. Acumen, 2007."ELI5: What Is the Difference between the Socratic and the Hegelian Dialectic?" Reddit, u/[deleted], c. 2022."Explain Germán Idealism to Me, Please." Reddit, u/RaritySparkle, c. 2019.Fox-Williams, Jack. "Hegel’s Understanding of History." Philosophy Now, no. 140, 2020."Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831)." Philosophy Now, no. 159.Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich. The Phenomenology of Mind. Translated by J. B. Baillie.———. Phenomenology of Spirit. Translated by A. V. Miller, with analysis of the text and foreword by J. N. Findlay, Oxford University Press, 1977.———. The Phenomenology of Spirit. Translated and edited by Terry Pinkard, Cambridge University Press, 2018.Henrich, Dieter. Between Kant and Hegel: Lectures on German Idealism. Edited by David S. Pacini, Harvard University Press, 2008.Lee, Sarah. "The Art of Dialectics: A Guide to Informal Logic." Number Analytics, 15 June 2025. Accessed 7 July 2025.Miller, Mitchell H., Jr. "The Attainment of the Absolute Standpoint in Hegel's Phenomenology." Graduate Philosophy Journal, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 427-49."Moral Philosophy as an Object of Hegel's Debate with Kant in The Phenomenology of Spirit." SHS Web of Conferences,.u/godloves-saggytits. "Can Anyone Give Me a Summary in Simple Language That What Hegel's Philosophy Are Actually About?" Reddit, c. 2023.Outis. "Hegel’s Life and Historical Context." LICENTIA POETICA, Medium, 24 Nov. 2024. Accessed 7 July 2025.———. "Kant’s Influence on Later Philosophical Movements." LICENTIA POETICA, Medium, 5 Oct. 2024.Redding, Paul. "Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Winter 2020 ed., Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University.Stern, Robert. Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Hegel and the Phenomenology of Spirit. Routledge, 2001."Socratic Dialogue." MSP Guide, 18 Mar. 2022.Stewart, Jon. "Hegel’s Long Shadow in the History of Nineteenth-Century Philosophy." Hegel's Century: Alienation and Recognition in a Time of Revolution, Cambridge University Press, 2021, doi:10.1017/9781009019828.013.Taylor, Charles. "VI. The Opening Arguments of The Phenomenology.".u/Educational-Show-113. "What Makes Schelling the Connecting Link between Hegel and Fichte?" Reddit, c. 2023.
Join us for an exploration of Søren Kierkegaard’s profound work, Fear and Trembling. Penned under the pseudonym Johannes de Silentio, this "dialectical lyric" delves into Abraham's terrifying trial of faith—the Akedah, or Binding of Isaac. We examine how Kierkegaard, often considered a father of existentialism, used pseudonyms as a method of indirect communication to help readers grapple with complex truths, rather than merely presenting facts. The text challenges conventional ethical understanding, exploring the anguish and incomprehensibility of Abraham's absolute duty to God. Discover why Silentio's struggle to "understand Abraham" beyond human reason leads to the concept of the absurd. This episode unpacks the intense, personal journey Kierkegaard designed to inspire faith by making us appreciate the radical nature of Abraham's achievement.
Works Cited
"Abraham as Ritual Model in Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling." Imitating Abraham, by George Pattison, Brill, 2021.
"Akedah: How Jews and Christians Explained Abraham’s Faith." By Devorah Schoenfeld, TheTorah.com, 30 Oct. 2017, thetorah.com/article/akedah-how-jews-and-christians-explained-abrahams-faith. Accessed 18 June 2024.
"Binding of Isaac." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 June 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binding_of_Isaac. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Existentialism. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 June 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Kierkegaard, Søren. Fear and Trembling: Dialectical Lyric. Translated by Alastair Hannay, Penguin Books, 2006.
---. Fear and Trembling / Repetition. Translated and edited by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong, Princeton UP, 1983.
Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling: A Critical Guide. Edited by Daniel Conway, Cambridge UP, 2015.
Pulliam, David. "Søren Kierkegaard’s View of Faith Found in Fear and Trembling and Practice in Christianity." MA thesis, Indiana U, 2016.
"Sören Kierkegaard and Existentialism." [No publication details provided in the source excerpt].
"Søren Kierkegaard." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 June 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Join us for an insightful episode as we dive deep into the evolving world of coffee with renowned expert Scott Rao.
Works Cited
"2021: A Rough Year For Coffee? - Reddit." Reddit, u/sterpie, 2021."286: Coffee Roasting Best Practices w/ Scott Rao." Keys To The Shop, Audible, n.d."About." Scott Rao, n.d., www.scottrao.com/about."About Rate of Rise (RoR)." Cropster Helpdesk, 2025, help.cropster.com/en/article/about-rate-of-rise-ror-117282p/."A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Coffee Roasting Profiles." Kraffe Technics, 21 Aug. 2023, kraffetechnics.com/blogs/news/a-comprehensive-guide-to-creating-coffee-roasting-profiles."ARTISAN® 5 TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS." AWS, n.d., forever.com/cms/artisan5-troubleshooting."Coffee & Technology Podcast - Episode 24: Scott Rao." YouTube, uploaded by Cropster, n.d., www.youtube.com/watch?v=F01L8wL4Q3c."Coffee books & resources to improve brewing." Reddit, u/Faustian-BargainBin, 3 May 2023."Coffee Defects Guide: Identify & Prevent Bean Imperfections." GEVI, 9 May 2025, www.gevi.com/blogs/coffee/coffee-defects-guide."Common Coffee Roasting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them." The Coffee Bean Matrix, 28 Feb. 2024, thecoffeebeanmatrix.com/common-coffee-roasting-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/.Course Catalog: Specialty Coffee Association. SCA, Aug. 2021, www.scribd.com/document/522501066/Course-Catalog-Specialty-Coffee-Association."How to Avoid Roasting Defects." Loring Smart Roast, 2020, loring.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Loring-How-to-Avoid-Roasting-Defects.pdf."How do you read your BT and ET ROR? : r/roasting." Reddit, u/KingJoe710, n.d."Interview: Scott Rao." The Coffee Compass, by Darren, 27 Jan. 2014, www.thecoffeecompass.com/interview-scott-rao/."Loma La Gloria Black Honey, Presta’s sweet deal." Coffee Ken, by Ken Feighner, 31 Dec. 2018, coffeeken.com/loma-la-gloria-black-honey-prestas-sweet-deal/."Modulating Perception - 25 Magazine: Issue 5." Specialty Coffee Association, 13 June 2018, sca.coffee/sca-news/detail/25-magazine/modulating-perception.Rao, Scott. Coffee Roasting Best Practices. Scott Rao, 2021. The Coffee Roaster's Companion. Scott Rao, 2014. Everything but Espresso. Scott Rao, 2010. The Professional Barista's Handbook. Scott Rao, 2008."Q&A COFFEE PODCAST WITH SCOTT RAO." Scott Rao, 14 July 2019, www.scottrao.com/blogs/news/q-a-coffee-podcast-with-scott-rao."Roasting Coffee with Artisan Data Logging Software." YouTube, uploaded by Virtual Coffee Lab - Home Coffee Roaster, n.d., www.youtube.com/watch?v=k42B28K2mN4."Roasting workshop with the inimitable: Mr Scott Rao." World Class Coffee, by Jeremy, 7 Aug. 2017, worldclass.coffee/blog/roasting-workshop-with-the-inimitable-mr-scott-rao-long-short/."SCA Coffee Skills Program | Build Your Coffee Expertise." SCA Education, n.d., education.sca.coffee/coffee-skills-program."SCA Intermediate Roasting Course." Coffee Training Academy, n.d., coffeetrainingacadem.com/sca-intermediate-roasting-course."SCA ROASTING COURSE 烘焙课程." Discover Coffee, n.d., discovercoffee.co/products/sca-roasting-course."Scott Rao on Quality, Q Ratings, & Coffee (Ep.54)." Blister Review, by Jonathan Ellsworth, 11 Dec. 2024, blisterreview.com/podcasts/crafted/scott-rao-on-quality-q-ratings-coffee-ep-54."scott rao's Zoom Meeting." YouTube, uploaded by Scott Rao, n.d., www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTzB_z1c0Wc."The man that wrote the book on Coffee Roasting." YouTube, uploaded by Golden Brown Coffee, n.d., www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F2b9M12j0E."Understanding RoR in Coffee Roasting." Firescope, by Jason Jin, 26 Sept. 2022, blog.firescope.io/knowledge/what-is-ror."Understanding roast curves on modern coffee roasters." Perfect Daily Grind, 19 Sept. 2022, perfectdailygrind.com/2022/09/understanding-roast-curves-on-modern-coffee-roasters/."Websites for coffee roasters... Any recommendations?" Barista Exchange, by Ryan Calderon, 3 Jan. 2010.
Works Cited
Armstrong, Charles K. The North Korean Revolution, 1945-1950. Cornell University Press, 2002.
Cold War International History Project. Cold War International History Project Bulletin, no. 6-7, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1996.
Cumings, Bruce. The Origins of the Korean War, Volume 1: Liberation and the Emergence of Separate Regimes, 1945-1947. Princeton University Press, 1981.
---. The Origins of the Korean War, Volume II: The Roaring of the Cataract, 1947-1950. Princeton University Press, 1990.
The Journal of Asian Studies. Duke University Press.
The Journal of Korean Studies. GW Institute for Korean Studies.
Lee, Ki-Baik. A New History of Korea. Ilchokak Publishers, 1984.
Oberdorfer, Don. The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History. Basic Books, 2001.
Pacific Affairs. University of British Columbia.
Shen, Zhihua. Mao, Stalin and the Korean War: Trilateral Communist Relations in the 1950s. Translated by Neil Silver, Routledge, 2012.
Villegas-Cruz, Angel M. "Male, U.S. Full History Professor, and China scholar: The recipe to get published in The Journal of Asian Studies, 2000-2020." Critical Asian Studies Commentary Board, 15 Nov. 2022, doi:10.52698/KSEJ3511.
How did a peninsula, often overshadowed by powerful neighbors, forge its own distinct identity and emerge as a vibrant modern nation? This episode invites you on an immersive journey through "Korea Old and New: A History," the definitive academic guide to Korea's rich and complex past. We'll chronologically unravel millennia of Korean history – from ancient kingdoms and unified dynasties to periods of profound change, foreign influence, and the dramatic division of the peninsula. Discover the pivotal events, key figures, and enduring cultural forces that shaped Korea into the nation it is today, offering unparalleled insight into its resilience and dynamism.
Works Cited
"Maman died today. Or yesterday, I don't know." With these chilling words, Albert Camus's The Stranger plunges us into the disquieting world of Meursault, a man profoundly indifferent to societal norms. This episode meticulously unpacks the novel's stark narrative, from a mother's funeral to a senseless murder on a sun-drenched beach, and into a courtroom where Meursault's greatest crime seems to be his refusal to conform. Join us as we dissect Camus's exploration of absurdism, alienation, and the perplexing honesty of a man who simply won't play the part society demands, ultimately revealing a profound, unsettling truth about the human condition.
Works Cited
Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. Translated by Justin O'Brien, Alfred A. Knopf, 1955.
---. The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt. Alfred A. Knopf, 1954.
---. The Stranger. Translated by Stuart Gilbert, Vintage, 1988.
Hughes, Edward J., editor. The Cambridge Companion to Camus. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
"Jean-Paul Sartre." Wikipedia, 28 May 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jean-Paul_Sartre&oldid=1294335697.
Johnson, Sarah M. "A Comparative Analysis of Human Nature in the Existentialism of Sartre and Camus." European International Journal of Philological Sciences, vol. 05, no. 05, 2025, pp. 1-6.
Manly, William M. "Journey to Consciousness: The Symbolic Pattern of Camus's L'Etranger." PMLA / Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, vol. 79, no. 3, June 1964, pp. 321-328, doi:10.2307/461033.
Penichet-Paul, Christian. "From Resistance to Revolution: Albert Camus and the Clandestine Press in the French Resistance." Honors Thesis, Texas State University-San Marcos, 2013.
Rajendran, M., et al. "A Psychological Analysis of Albert Camus the Stranger – A Study." International Journal of Research in Engineering and Science (IJRES), vol. 11, no. 1, Jan. 2023, pp. 516-519.
Rodriguez-Apple, Ramani. "Simone De Beauvoir: An Ethics of Ambiguity." Honors Thesis, Florida Atlantic University, 2018.
"Simone de Beauvoir." Wikipedia, 19 June 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simone_de_Beauvoir&oldid=1298045650.
"Albert Camus." Wikipedia, 19 June 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albert_Camus&oldid=1297955020.
"Maman died today. Or yesterday, I don't know." With these chilling words, Albert Camus's The Stranger plunges us into the disquieting world of Meursault, a man profoundly indifferent to societal norms. This episode meticulously unpacks the novel's stark narrative, from a mother's funeral to a senseless murder on a sun-drenched beach, and into a courtroom where Meursault's greatest crime seems to be his refusal to conform. Join us as we dissect Camus's exploration of absurdism, alienation, and the perplexing honesty of a man who simply won't play the part society demands, ultimately revealing a profound, unsettling truth about the human condition.
Works Cited
Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. Translated by Justin O'Brien, Alfred A. Knopf, 1955.
---. The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt. Alfred A. Knopf, 1954.
---. The Stranger. Translated by Stuart Gilbert, Vintage, 1988.
Hughes, Edward J., editor. The Cambridge Companion to Camus. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
"Jean-Paul Sartre." Wikipedia, 28 May 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jean-Paul_Sartre&oldid=1294335697.
Johnson, Sarah M. "A Comparative Analysis of Human Nature in the Existentialism of Sartre and Camus." European International Journal of Philological Sciences, vol. 05, no. 05, 2025, pp. 1-6.
Manly, William M. "Journey to Consciousness: The Symbolic Pattern of Camus's L'Etranger." PMLA / Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, vol. 79, no. 3, June 1964, pp. 321-328, doi:10.2307/461033.
Penichet-Paul, Christian. "From Resistance to Revolution: Albert Camus and the Clandestine Press in the French Resistance." Honors Thesis, Texas State University-San Marcos, 2013.
Rajendran, M., et al. "A Psychological Analysis of Albert Camus the Stranger – A Study." International Journal of Research in Engineering and Science (IJRES), vol. 11, no. 1, Jan. 2023, pp. 516-519.
Rodriguez-Apple, Ramani. "Simone De Beauvoir: An Ethics of Ambiguity." Honors Thesis, Florida Atlantic University, 2018.
"Simone de Beauvoir." Wikipedia, 19 June 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simone_de_Beauvoir&oldid=1298045650.
"Albert Camus." Wikipedia, 19 June 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albert_Camus&oldid=1297955020.
A world in flux, a nation under siege, and the intimate journeys of unforgettable characters – Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace is more than a novel; it's an entire universe. This episode embarks on an ambitious exploration of Tolstoy's monumental masterpiece, guiding you through the sprawling battlefields of Napoleonic Europe and into the glittering ballrooms of Russian aristocracy. We'll trace the intertwined destinies of Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, and Natasha Rostova, dissecting their profound searches for meaning, love, and purpose amidst chaos. Discover Tolstoy's revolutionary ideas on history, free will, and the very essence of human experience, revealing why this epic continues to resonate with timeless power.
Works Cited
Andrew, Joe. "Introduction Under Western Eyes: Tolstoi in English-Language Criticism." Tolstoi and the Evolution of His Artistic World, Brill, 2021, pp. 1–32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004465633_002.
"Appendix; A Few Words Apropos of the Book War and Peace." r/ayearofwarandpeace, Reddit, 2019.
Bartlett, Rosamund. Tolstoy: A Russian Life. Profile Books, 2010.
Berlin, Isaiah. The Hedgehog and the Fox: An Essay on Tolstoy's View of History. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1953.
"Books about War - T." BiblioVault, UChicago Accessibility Resources / The University of Chicago Press, 2001–2025.
Cabal, Daniel Joseph. "A Neo-Tolstoyan Response to Kitsch." Diss., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2018.
"Campaigns of Napoleon PDF." Bookey.
Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Translated by Jessie Coulson, edited by Richard Peace, Oxford University Press, 1998.
Hagan, John. "Patterns of Character Development in Tolstoy's War and Peace: Nicholas, Natasha, and Mary." PMLA, vol. 84, no. 2, Mar. 1969, pp. 235–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1261280.
Kumar T, Raghu. "WAR AND PEACE: HISTORICAL REALISM AND EPIC NARRATIVE IN TOLSTOY'S WORK." IJRAR.org.
"Looking for additional reading (analysis, criticism, companion pieces, etc) after Anna Karenina." r/RussianLiterature, Reddit.
"Napoleon's Fatal March on Moscow by Adam Zamoyski." Reddit.
"Napoleonic tactics." Wikipedia.
Nozima, Baxtiyorova, and Karimov Ulugbek Nusratovich. "WAR AND PEACE BY LEO TOLSTOY: AN EPIC OF RUSSIAN LIFE." International Multidisciplinary Journal for Research & Development, vol. 11, no. 09, 2024, pp. 147–51. https://www.ijmrd.in/index.php/imjrd/article/view/1901.
Peace, Richard. "Explanatory Notes." Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Jessie Coulson, edited by Richard Peace, Oxford University Press, 1998.
Peace, Richard. "Introduction." Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Jessie Coulson, edited by Richard Peace, Oxford University Press, 1998.
Rayfield, Donald. "Operation Duffel Bag." Literary Review, Nov. 2010.
"Tolstoy: A Russian Life by Rosamund Bartlett." Goodreads, Goodreads, Inc., 2025.
Tolstoy, Leo. "A Few Words Apropos of the Book War and Peace." Russian Archive, 1868. "Appendix; A Few Words Apropos of the Book War and Peace," r/ayearofwarandpeace, Reddit, 2019.
Tolstoy, Leo. War and Peace. Translated by Louise Maude and Aylmer Maude, revised and edited by Amy Mandelker, Oxford University Press, 2010.
"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." So begins Leo Tolstoy's magnificent Anna Karenina, a novel that plunges into the heart of human passion and societal hypocrisy. This episode meticulously unpacks the intertwined destinies of the captivating Anna and her intense, forbidden love for Vronsky, juxtaposed against Levin's profound search for meaning in family and faith. Discover how Tolstoy dissects the complexities of love, marriage, morality, and the relentless pressures of 19th-century Russian society, revealing a timeless drama that continues to resonate with powerful insights into the human condition.
Works Cited
"Anna Karenina - whats up with Levin?" Reddit, r/books."Anna Karenina has confounded me." Reddit, r/books.Bartlett, Rosamund. Tolstoy: A Russian Life. Profile Books Ltd, 2010."Confession (Leo Tolstoy)." Wikipedia.Gurina, Ekaterina. "Translating Anna Karenina - to the Question About the Pragmatics of Translation." Journal of Education Culture and Society, 2016, pp. 307-315, doi:10.15503/jecs20162.307.315."Is Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' taken seriously by historians?" Reddit, r/AskHistorians.Kremer, Mark. "Marriage and Modernity in Anna Karenina." VoegelinView."The Limits of Rationalism: The Existential Journey of Levin in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina." David Charles."Leo Tolstoy." Wikipedia.Mandelker, Amy. "Feminist Criticism and Anna Karenina. A Review Article." Pages 82-99.Nowalk, Nick. "Tolstoy's Familiar Crisis of Faith." Christian Union.Piketty, Thomas. "The Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire.""Reading Anna's Instability and Fear of Abandonment in Anna Karenina." Lakon: Jurnal Kajian Sastra dan Budaya, vol. 11, no. 2, Nov. 2022, pp. 144-150."Resist Not Evil." Stanford Electrical Engineering."Russian nobility." Wikipedia."Slavophilia." Wikipedia."TO THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF LEO TOLSTOY."Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude, with an Introduction and Notes by W. Gareth Jones, Oxford University Press, 1998.---. Anna Karenina. Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, Penguin Books, 2002.---. "What I Believe." Nemo's Library."Tolstoyan movement." Wikipedia."Tone in Tolstoy." Scholastic.Walters, John. "Book Review: Tolstoy by A. N. Wilson; Part One: The Writer." John Walters: The Perennial Nomad.Wilson, A. N. Tolstoy. Norton, 1988.Yadukrishnan. "The Allure of French: Language of Aristocracy and Cultural Influence in 19th Century Russia." Machanvstheworld.
"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." So begins Leo Tolstoy's magnificent Anna Karenina, a novel that plunges into the heart of human passion and societal hypocrisy. This episode meticulously unpacks the intertwined destinies of the captivating Anna and her intense, forbidden love for Vronsky, juxtaposed against Levin's profound search for meaning in family and faith. Discover how Tolstoy dissects the complexities of love, marriage, morality, and the relentless pressures of 19th-century Russian society, revealing a timeless drama that continues to resonate with powerful insights into the human condition.
Works Cited
"Anna Karenina - whats up with Levin?" Reddit, r/books."Anna Karenina has confounded me." Reddit, r/books.Bartlett, Rosamund. Tolstoy: A Russian Life. Profile Books Ltd, 2010."Confession (Leo Tolstoy)." Wikipedia.Gurina, Ekaterina. "Translating Anna Karenina - to the Question About the Pragmatics of Translation." Journal of Education Culture and Society, 2016, pp. 307-315, doi:10.15503/jecs20162.307.315."Is Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' taken seriously by historians?" Reddit, r/AskHistorians.Kremer, Mark. "Marriage and Modernity in Anna Karenina." VoegelinView."The Limits of Rationalism: The Existential Journey of Levin in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina." David Charles."Leo Tolstoy." Wikipedia.Mandelker, Amy. "Feminist Criticism and Anna Karenina. A Review Article." Pages 82-99.Nowalk, Nick. "Tolstoy's Familiar Crisis of Faith." Christian Union.Piketty, Thomas. "The Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire.""Reading Anna's Instability and Fear of Abandonment in Anna Karenina." Lakon: Jurnal Kajian Sastra dan Budaya, vol. 11, no. 2, Nov. 2022, pp. 144-150."Resist Not Evil." Stanford Electrical Engineering."Russian nobility." Wikipedia."Slavophilia." Wikipedia."TO THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF LEO TOLSTOY."Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude, with an Introduction and Notes by W. Gareth Jones, Oxford University Press, 1998.---. Anna Karenina. Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, Penguin Books, 2002.---. "What I Believe." Nemo's Library."Tolstoyan movement." Wikipedia."Tone in Tolstoy." Scholastic.Walters, John. "Book Review: Tolstoy by A. N. Wilson; Part One: The Writer." John Walters: The Perennial Nomad.Wilson, A. N. Tolstoy. Norton, 1988.Yadukrishnan. "The Allure of French: Language of Aristocracy and Cultural Influence in 19th Century Russia." Machanvstheworld.
A world in flux, a nation under siege, and the intimate journeys of unforgettable characters – Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace is more than a novel; it's an entire universe. This episode embarks on an ambitious exploration of Tolstoy's monumental masterpiece, guiding you through the sprawling battlefields of Napoleonic Europe and into the glittering ballrooms of Russian aristocracy. We'll trace the intertwined destinies of Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, and Natasha Rostova, dissecting their profound searches for meaning, love, and purpose amidst chaos. Discover Tolstoy's revolutionary ideas on history, free will, and the very essence of human experience, revealing why this epic continues to resonate with timeless power.
Works Cited
Andrew, Joe. "Introduction Under Western Eyes: Tolstoi in English-Language Criticism." Tolstoi and the Evolution of His Artistic World, Brill, 2021, pp. 1–32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004465633_002.
"Appendix; A Few Words Apropos of the Book War and Peace." r/ayearofwarandpeace, Reddit, 2019.
Bartlett, Rosamund. Tolstoy: A Russian Life. Profile Books, 2010.
Berlin, Isaiah. The Hedgehog and the Fox: An Essay on Tolstoy's View of History. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1953.
"Books about War - T." BiblioVault, UChicago Accessibility Resources / The University of Chicago Press, 2001–2025.
Cabal, Daniel Joseph. "A Neo-Tolstoyan Response to Kitsch." Diss., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2018.
"Campaigns of Napoleon PDF." Bookey.
Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Translated by Jessie Coulson, edited by Richard Peace, Oxford University Press, 1998.
Hagan, John. "Patterns of Character Development in Tolstoy's War and Peace: Nicholas, Natasha, and Mary." PMLA, vol. 84, no. 2, Mar. 1969, pp. 235–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1261280.
Kumar T, Raghu. "WAR AND PEACE: HISTORICAL REALISM AND EPIC NARRATIVE IN TOLSTOY'S WORK." IJRAR.org.
"Looking for additional reading (analysis, criticism, companion pieces, etc) after Anna Karenina." r/RussianLiterature, Reddit.
"Napoleon's Fatal March on Moscow by Adam Zamoyski." Reddit.
"Napoleonic tactics." Wikipedia.
Nozima, Baxtiyorova, and Karimov Ulugbek Nusratovich. "WAR AND PEACE BY LEO TOLSTOY: AN EPIC OF RUSSIAN LIFE." International Multidisciplinary Journal for Research & Development, vol. 11, no. 09, 2024, pp. 147–51. https://www.ijmrd.in/index.php/imjrd/article/view/1901.
Peace, Richard. "Explanatory Notes." Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Jessie Coulson, edited by Richard Peace, Oxford University Press, 1998.
Peace, Richard. "Introduction." Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Jessie Coulson, edited by Richard Peace, Oxford University Press, 1998.
Rayfield, Donald. "Operation Duffel Bag." Literary Review, Nov. 2010.
"Tolstoy: A Russian Life by Rosamund Bartlett." Goodreads, Goodreads, Inc., 2025.
Tolstoy, Leo. "A Few Words Apropos of the Book War and Peace." Russian Archive, 1868. "Appendix; A Few Words Apropos of the Book War and Peace," r/ayearofwarandpeace, Reddit, 2019.
Tolstoy, Leo. War and Peace. Translated by Louise Maude and Aylmer Maude, revised and edited by Amy Mandelker, Oxford University Press, 2010.
A family torn apart by patricide becomes the stage for humanity's greatest spiritual debates. This episode unpacks Fyodor Dostoevsky's monumental The Brothers Karamazov, exploring the distinct paths of the three brothers—the passionate, the intellectual, the spiritual—as they grapple with faith, doubt, free will, and the very existence of God in a world shadowed by violence and profound philosophical questions.
Works Cited
Ziegler, Blake, & Sam Kennedy. "Dostoyevsky’s ‘Rebellion’: Reject God." Notre Dame Philosophy Commons, 2022.
Witness the transformation of Prince Hal into the inspiring warrior king, Henry V. This stirring history play culminates in the epic Battle of Agincourt, exploring leadership, the brutal realities of war, and the profound sacrifices made for national identity and glory.
Here is a works cited page in MLA format, drawing on the provided sources:
Works Cited
A poverty-stricken student commits murder, believing himself above the law. But what if the greatest punishment is not from without, but from within? This episode unravels Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, delving into Raskolnikov's tormented mind, the psychological cat-and-mouse games, and the profound journey from intellectual hubris to the desperate search for redemption.
Works Cited
Antoniacci, Aliandra. "The Crisis of the Russian Family in the Works of Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov." 2015. University of Canterbury, PhD diss.Cicovacki, Predrag. Review of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment: Philosophical Perspectives, edited by Robert Guay. Slavic Review, vol. 80, no. 1, Spring 2021, pp. 177-79. DOI:10.1017/slr.2021.57.Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Translated by Jessie Coulson, introduction and notes by Richard Peace, Oxford University Press, 1998.---. Crime and Punishment. Translated by Constance Garnett, E-BooksDirectory.com, 1993.---. Crime and Punishment. Translated by Constance Garnett, introduction by Priscilla Meyer, Barnes & Noble Books, 2007.Evans, Robert C., editor. Critical Insights: Crime and Punishment. Salem Press, 2024."Fyodor Dostoevsky." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Dostoevsky."Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevsky (1821-1881)." Literature Resource Center, Brandeis U, n.d.Frank, Joseph. Lectures on Dostoevsky. Princeton University Press, 2022.Jones, Madeleine Rose. "The Genius Of Crime And Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky." Snowy Fictions, n.d.Leatherbarrow, William J., editor. The Cambridge Companion to Dostoevskii. Cambridge University Press, 2002.Martinsen, Deborah A., and Olga Maiorova, editors. Dostoevsky in Context. Cambridge University Press, 2015.Peace, Richard, editor. Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment: A Casebook. Oxford University Press, 2006.Skalińska, E. "Polyphony in Dostoevsky’s Novels and the Multiplicity of Voices in Norwid’s." Colloquia Litteraria, n.d., pp. 197-228.Uwasomba, Chijioke. "A socio-psychological exploration of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s crime and punishment." Educational Research and Reviews, 30 Jan. 2009, pp. 60-65. Academic Journals, www.academicjournals.org/ERR.Vishruti. "Exploring the Psychological Depths: Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Impact on Contemporary Psychology and Philosophy." International Journal of Indian Psychology, vol. 12, no. 1, Jan.-Mar. 2024, pp. 1197-1204. DOI:10.25215/1201.112.Weidner, Clark. "Beauty in Tragedy: The Idiot, Dostoevsky, and Eucatastrophe." An Unexpected Journal, n.d.Whitney, Paris. "An Analysis of Crime and Punishment." The Classic Journal, University of Georgia, n.d.