The Problem with Reading

Friedrich Nietzsche stars in the classic Christmas story of "It's a Wonderful Life" and discovers the world without his contribution to philosophy would be a very different place. Our thanks to the anonymous (sorry) Facebook poster whose comment inspired (and wrote half of) this audio drama.

The gentlemen wrap up "Ideas have Consequences" with their takeaways and leave-behinds, and afterwards Stephen and Sam review the venerable MacIntyre's speech at the 2021 Notre Dame Ethics conference. Also, Brevin hates single people, Sam muses, and everyone has a good time.

The boys finish off the final chapters of Ideas have Consequences to mixed reviews. Stephen avoids getting cancelled again, while Sam and Brevin fall on different sides of a latter day Chinese Alexis de Tocqueville who's disappearing celebrities and banning video games. Also, Stephen complains about word limits, Sam avoids actually ranting in favor of inconclusive musing yet again, and Brevin poss...

Ideas Have Consequences continues with chapters 6 and 7, and Richard Weaver is one cranky fella! Also, Stephen discovers the horrors of navigating insurance labyrinths, Brevin learns family weddings aren't important, and everyone tries to work out whether God is our "Mother." Also, see the podcast feed for the outtakes that didn't make it into the episode--have a listen!

There's a new Batman movie, and it's edgy. Also 4:33 is not a thing. Stop it.

The boys discuss Christianity Today's excellent podcast, "The Fall of Mars Hill"

Ideas have Consequences Chapters 4 and 5 brings some folksy wisdom, but also some very bad opinions about Jazz, which Sam takes to task. In other news, Stephen shows off his brewing and poetry skills, Brevin endorses apartment gardening, and ebooks are an abomination. Have a listen!

The podcast kicks off a new reading series with Chapters 1-3 of Richard Weaver's "Ideas Have Consequences"! Listen to hear Sam talk about how marriage forces generality over overspecialization, Brevin declare the death of the Summer, and Stephen butcher a YA fantasy novel's name. Also, Anberlin's reunion tour, the pressure of being a sound technician, and all three chaps are drinking Evan Williams...

Kellen and Chris return and join Stephen and Brevin for a discussion of Space Future! Is space optimism justified or pure Cold War propaganda? Is our future to colonize the solar system and beyond, or to remain trapped on earth in a cloud of our own debris? And are we alone? Are there aliens, and if so, what does it matter? Will it wreck religion or geopolitics first? These questions, and more? Ar...

The rest of the superlatives that went unasked.

In this shorter special episode, Stephen, Brevin, and Sam discuss Facebook's recent attempts to collaborate with and parasitize churches for their secret nefarious purposes. Also, Stephen despises The Green Knight movie and Sam endorses road rage. Have a listen!

It's Star Wars Special Time, now with twice as many special guests! Kellen and Jensen join Brevin and Stephen to trench run through the recent past, present, and future of Star Wars in its many media forms. Kellen doesn't buy ReyLo, Jensen hates EA's dominance of SW games, Stephen thinks Chewie is overrated, and Brevin wants a return to the wild space west of early novelization. Also, games! Star...

Kellen describes why Chopper would rule the Galaxy atop a mountain of bodies.

It's finally the end of the Master and His Emissary. As they finish up the final chapter, the boys reflect on a long journey well spent, as well as critique a few gaps in the book's conclusion. Also, firebombing freemasons, sinophillic sociologists, Covid nonsense, and comic sans psychopathy. Have a listen!

It's the homestretch as the Master and His Emissary stares at modernism and postmodernism. There's plenty more about why modern art is bad--what's not to like!? Also, Brevin brings an article about kickstarter board game bloat, Sam laments self-inviting relatives, and Stephen goes on an expectative-laced rant against innocent car enthusiasts. Have a listen!

While this podcast is supposed to be about the industrial revolution's creation of a dystopian hellscape, the Master and His Emissary sort of breezes by the topic, and the boys do too. Instead they talk about who to vote for in 2020, how many whole fried chickens one can stuff into a Bloody Mary, and even a mask/vaccine politics. Have a listen!

We're back at it with the Master and His Emissary Chapter 10, and we've brought a special guest to throw water on our enthusiasm! Nik has some choice words to say about McGilchrist's analysis of the Enlightenment (and everything else), Brevin is ready to go to war with birds, and Stephen takes the controversial position of disliking group projects. Have a listen!

Special Guest Ben arrives on the program to give a succinct summary of Charles Taylor's "Secular Age" and saves the boys several months of reading. Stephen's main man David Foster Wallace makes an angst-filled return. Sam steals several of Brevin's transitions, and everyone successfully passes the All Souls College Entrance Exam. Have a Listen!

It Loops Back Around to Being Stupid (TPWR 306 Teaser) by The Problem with Reading

The Worst Kind Of Doctor (TPWR 306 Teaser) by The Problem with Reading

It’s a special, content-lite episode for the Problem with Reading crew. Tune in for highlights from inside the Trump Hotel, Stephen's Pokémon or Heretic Quiz in which Brevin embarrasses himself, and rants that span the spectrum from bitter to confused to almost entirely wholesome. Also, Sam knows the secret of rightwing jellybeans. Have a listen!

It is time to fix the Renaissance and the Reformation, and the boys manage to do so in just under an hour. Brevin tries to convince everyone the Martin Luther was the biggest mistake in history, spies don’t care about you, and Covid is changing how we do friendships. Also, Stephen hates physicists approximating equations badly, Sam welcomed the Superbowl’s uncontroversial commercials, and Brevin p...

The Tea Farm.

The fellas tackle another full chapter of the Master and His Emissary, grapple with our helplessness in the face of our idiot ruling class, and invent Gerbil Theory (NSA grant pending). Also, Sam stages a coup against Stephen, Brevin reads a poem, and Christianity may have killed the Roman Empire. Have a listen!

Metamorphoses (TPWR 303 Teaser) by The Problem with Reading