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Artwork for Crack The Book: A Beginner's Guide to Reading the Great Books

Crack The Book: A Beginner's Guide to Reading the Great Books

Cheryl Drury
Sailing
The Odyssey
The Egyptian Book Of the Dead
Aristotle
Confucius
Plato
Dante
Herodotus
The Weighing Of the Heart
Judgment Day
Humanities
Love
War
The Epic Of Gilgamesh
Ancient Egypt
Afterlife
The Bible
Homer
Adventure
Culinary Experiences On Yachts

Confused by Confucius? Daunted by Dante? Shook by Shakespeare? I get it! I'm Cheryl, a reader exploring the world's most influential books one episode at a time. I don't do lectures, and I can't do jargon. But we do have friendly conversations about why (and whether) these books still matter. Each episode, we tackle a great book or two—The Divine Comedy, The Canterbury Tales, The Odyssey, The Prin... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes88Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksEducationSelf-ImprovementArts

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Artwork for Crack The Book: A Beginner's Guide to Reading the Great Books

Latest Episodes

After a year of reading through Ted Gioia’s Immersive Humanities list, I’ve finally reached the end. How surprising that it doesn’t feel like an ending at all! This final episode is less about individual books and more about what the project revealed... more

***Please fill out my podcast questionnaire!! Thank You!!***

Week 52 and, somehow, the end of Ted Gioia’s Immersive Humanities project. We've got time to process all the emotions next week. For now, on to the readings!

This final week brings togeth... more

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We have a treat this week: My husband Bill read Brave New World shortly after I did, so today we discuss it together!

BNW presents a dystopian world that feels less like oppression and more like a perfectly e... more

Week 50 of Ted Gioia’s Immersive Humanities List brings us to three mid-20th-century thinkers wrestling with art, media, and the modern world: Susan Sontag, Walter Benjamin, and José Ortega y Gasset.

I begin with Susan Sontag’s famous essay “In Plat... more

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Recent Guests

Lisa Beerman
A friend of the host, loves Dante's Purgatorio
Episode: Learning to Fly. Week 25 (1): Dante's Divine Comedy, Purgatorio
Jack Drury
Cheryl's son and a student with insight into Boethius
Episode: Don't Dream It's Over. Week 15: Boethius and The Consolation of Philosophy
Vanessa Verster
Chef on private yachts and wife of Roland.
Episode: The Secrets of Cooking on a Private Yacht with Vanessa Verster [REPLAY]

Host

Cheryl
Cheryl is a passionate reader and host, exploring classic literature in an accessible and engaging manner. She shares personal insights, struggles, and triumphs in her reading journey, emphasizing the relevance of classic works to contemporary life.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • Adventure Ahoy!

    I can’t wait to go on this adventure with you! I know first hand I will be in good hands with Captain Roland and the amazing crew!! It will be like getting to sail Abide with you all, which I find so fascinating!! I have my sea legs ready, let’s set sail!!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PTCgirlcrew
    United States2 years ago

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The personal anecdotes shared by the host resonate well and enhance the overall experience.
Many note that the discussions help demystify challenging texts and encourage them to read more.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and welcoming approach to classic literature.

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Talking Points

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Is it all in your head? Week 46: Sigmund Freud
Q: Who should read this?
It's kind of cool to know, much like Darwin, that you can read it. Freud is annoying, right? He's so confident of things that aren't provable.
Everything's going to be okay. Week 25 (2): Dante's Divine Comedy, Paradiso
Q: Why should somebody read Dante?
Reading Dante offers a reassuring view on life, emphasizing hope and the ultimate goodness at the end of life, which is inspired by the way he addresses profound theological themes.
Bizarre Love Triangle. Week 34: Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther
Q: Who should read this?
Anyone interested in hyper-emotional literature or wanting to explore 18th-century novels will find this book rewarding and accessible.
How To Buy A Boat (And Why You Need A Broker) [REPLAY]
Q: What was your background before you became a broker?
Michael Bach shared that he had a background in sailing since his teens and had experience working on various sailing boats, eventually leading to a professional sailing career and then transitioning to yacht brokering.

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Exploring the world's most influential literature, this show is designed for readers who might feel intimidated by classic texts. Each episode features accessible discussions that break down significant works, ranging from major figures like Shakespeare and Dante to foundational texts such as the U.S. Constitution and The Communist Manifesto. The host emphasizes the relevance of these classics, connecting their themes and ideas to contemporary life and struggles. With a friendly and inviting tone, the discussions aim to dismantle the barriers that often deter readers from engaging with great literature, making it a suitable choice for anyone looking to rekindle or ignite their passion for reading significant works.

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2. The Briefing with Albert Mohler

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this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 88 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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