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Welcome to the Books of Titans Podcast where I (Erik Rostad) seek truth in the world’s great books. My goal is to read 200 of The Great Books over the next 10 years and share what I’m learning. I’ll talk a bit about each book, tie ideas together from a variety of genres, and share the one thing I always hope to remember from each of the Great Books. www.booksoftitans.com
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I’m the business manager at Landmark Booksellers in Franklin, TN. Our owner recently purchased this book for all staff members so that we could read and discuss it. I’m so glad he did. I loved this book and it reignited a deep love and passion for bookstores. It also provided a number of ideas that I highlight in this episode. I share three things …
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Babrius and Phaedrus Fables (Aesop's Fables)
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I read an illustrated edition of Aesop’s Fables earlier this year and came away quite disappointed. I knew Aesop lived in the 7th century BC, but the book of fables contained elements from much later during the Roman period. I came away confused and wanting to know more. Someone suggested I pick up the Loeb Classical Library version of Babrius and …
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This is my favorite tragedy play by Sophocles. It’s absolutely stunning and shows the brilliance of the playwright in ways his other tragedies don’t. This is a story about means vs ends. Odysseus believes the adage “by any means necessary.” Deception is a legitimate means to reach a desired end. However, deception is not in the nature of Neoptolemu…
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This tragedy covers themes like justice, freedom, and fate. The play culminates in the question of “whose justice?” Who has the right to exact justice? And who is in the right in exacting justice? Does justice exist beyond one’s individual conception or is there a higher law? Get full access to Books of Titans at www.booksoftitans.com/subscribe…
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Sophocles may have written 130 plays during his lifetime. Only seven survive. This podcast episode covers a book a fragments of the 100+ other tragedy and satyr plays of Sophocles. Fragments are phrases, sentences, or even paragraphs of content that were mostly referenced by other writers like Aristotle, Athenaeus, and Plutarch. They were aware of …
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This tragedy concludes with a question - what law do you obey? Do you obey a father asking you to do terrible things from his deathbed? Or is there a higher law? Further, where does law come from? Is it divine? Is it dictated by those closest to you? The Women of Trachis follows a set of characters as “Fate is on the march.” It’s a fascinating case…
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In this podcast episode, I cover a pair of memoirs - one with a focus on a mother and the other with a focus on a father. Rick Bragg tells of his childhood in Alabama with an alcoholic father and a self-sacrificing mother, his pathway in journalism, and his attempt to pay back his mother. Debra King tells of her childhood in Wisconsin with an entre…
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In this episode, I'm diving into Jonathan Haidt's new book, The Anxious Generation, to explore three startling facts about its damaging effects. I then highlight what I consider to be the most manipulative tactic hidden within new algorithms – one that targets our subconscious. Get full access to Books of Titans at www.booksoftitans.com/subscribe…
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It’s been an incredible year of reading so far. I’ve been utterly shocked at the beauty and relevancy of Greek Literature. In this episode, I share what I’ve read so far for 2024, what I have coming up during my Summer Break, and the most important thing I’ve learned in Greek Literature. Get full access to Books of Titans at www.booksoftitans.com/s…
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In the introduction to Ajax by Peter Meineck & Paul Woodruff, they highlight the main idea of the tragedy play: Ajax shows the aftermath of an altercation over the honors that warriors feel are due to them after battle. I love that this is a theme that shows up strongly in the Iliad as well. In fact, Ajax has so many connection point to the Iliad t…
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In his introduction to The Theban Plays, Charles Segal highlights the question Sophocles asks in his plays: “Why should a man or woman of noble character and good intentions have to bear a life of suffering?” If Antigone is the woman of nobel character and Creon the man of, arguably, good intentions, why must they suffer? Why must bad things happen…
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Sophocles was a friend of Herodotus and a contemporary of the other Greek tragedy playwrights Aeschylus and Euripides. He wrote over 120 plays and seven of those survive. The Theban Plays (Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone) cover major events in the life of the mythical king Oedipus of Thebes and of his children. In this podcast ep…
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Seven plays survive out of more than 70 written by Aeschylus during his lifetime. Last week, I covered The Oresteia, his famous trilogy, and this week I cover his four other surviving tragedy plays. I highlight the following three contrasts I’ve found throughout Greek Literature and share what we learn within these Aeschylean plays: * Fate vs The W…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 13 from his 2024 Reading List - The Oresteia by Aeschylus. Show Notes * Aeschylus * Purchase The Oresteia * Support the Podcast - Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting * The Books of Titans Book Subscription with Landmark Booksellers * The Great Books Reading List * 2024 Reading List * Reading Resource…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 11 from his 2024 Reading List – Fables by Aesop. Show Notes Aesop Purchase Aesop’s Fables Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Books of Titans Book Subscription with Landmark Booksellers The Great Books Reading List 2024 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans... The p…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 9 from his 2024 Reading List – The Odes by Pindar. Show Notes Pindar Purchase The Odes by Pindar / Translation by C.M. Bowra Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Books of Titans Book Subscription with Landmark Booksellers The Great Books Reading List 2024 Reading... The post …
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In this episode, Erik Rostad talks about the cataclysmic will of Zeus. The Cypria, a lost work with stories predating the Iliad, provides a clear-cut purpose for the will of Zeus. Is it true? Why did Homer ignore it in the Iliad? How does it change the reading of the “will of Zeus being fulfilled” in... The post The Cataclysmic Will of Zeus appeare…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 5 from his list of 200 Great Books – The Atrahasis: The Babylonian Flood Myth. Show Notes Purchase Enuma Elish / Translation by Timothy Stephany Purchase Myths from Mesopotamia / Translation by Stephanie Dalley Enuma Elish Podcast Episode Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting... T…
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It’s Homer vs Hollywood. How does the 2004 film Troy stand up to its inspiration, The Iliad? What did Hollywood get right, what did they butcher, and should you watch the film? The post Homer’s Iliad vs Hollywood’s Troy appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at www.booksoftitans.com/subscribe…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Iliad by Homer, book 5 for his 2024 reading list. This is his second reading of the epic. Show Notes First Podcast – Nov 2023 Author: Homer Robert Fitzgerald Ransom by David Malouf My Thoughts about The Iliad The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources... The post The Iliad by Homer (2…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 5 from his list of 200 Great Books – Enuma Elish: The Babylonian Creation Epic. Show Notes Purchase Enuma Elish / Translation by Timothy Stephany Purchase Myths from Mesopotamia / Translation by Stephanie Dalley Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Books of Titans... The post…
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In this episode, Jason A. Staples, Ph.D., a historian of early Judaism and Christianity, answers 4 questions Erik poses about the Bible. Additionally, Dr. Staples answers some questions about his latest book Paul and the Resurrection of Israel. Here are a few of the questions addressed in this episode: The land of Israel is promised... The post Q&A…
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The New Testament (David Bentley Hart Translation)
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The New Testament (translated by David Bentley Hart), book 4 for his 2024 reading list. Show Notes David Bentley Hart Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Books of Titans Book Subscription with Landmark Booksellers The Great Books Reading List 2024 Reading List Reading Resources..…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Writings of the Hebrew Bible, book 3 for his 2024 reading list. Show Notes Robert Alter The Writings – Psalms, Proverbs, Job, The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Qohelet (Ecclesiastes), Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles The Hebrew Bible: A Translation & Commentary by Robert Alter Support the Pod…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Prophets of the Hebrew Bible, book 2 for his 2024 reading list. Quick note: I made a major flub in the original recording of this episode. It has since been updated, but in segment 2, I made the statement that Rehoboam was a good king. That is not... The post The Prophets (Hebrew Bible Book 2) appeared fir…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad shares how he takes notes in books and how it has helped him to remember what he reads. Show Notes Muji 0.38 Pens Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Great Books Reading List 2024 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post On Taking Notes in Books appeared first on Boo…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Five Books of Moses of the Hebrew Bible, book 1 for his 2024 reading list. Show Notes Robert Alter The Hebrew Bible: A Translation & Commentary by Robert Alter Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting My Thoughts about The Five Books of Moses The... The post The Five Books of Moses ap…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses each of the books on his 2024 reading list, one that largely focuses on the Ancient Greek writers. This is year two of The Great Books+ Project. Show Notes Erik’s 2024 Reading List The Great Books Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting Reading Resources Books... The post 2024: My Big Fa…
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Paul and the Resurrection of Israel by Jason A. Staples
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites by Dr. Jason A. Staples, book 53 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Dr. Jason A. Staples Purchase a Signed Copy Paul and the Resurrection of Israel Podcast Episode / Jason’s First Book: The Idea of Israel... The post Paul and the…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad stacks each of the 50+ books from his 2023 reading list on his desk, picks them up, and shares the key remembrances from each book. Show Notes Erik’s 2023 Reading List The Great Books Project Bibliotheca Bible Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting Email me with... The post 2023: Reading Year in …
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses the Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, book 49 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Elon Musk Author: Walter Isaacson Podcast Suggestion: On Musk with Walter Isaacson Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting Purchase this book from Landmark Booksellers My Thoughts about Elon Musk The... The p…
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On Greek Literature by St. Basil the Great
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses the Address to Young Men on Reading Greek Literature on how they might derive profit from pagan literature, book 43 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: St. Basil the Great Version: Loeb Classical Library Read for Free Online My Thoughts about On Greek Literature The Great Books... The post On Greek L…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Homeric Hymns, book 42 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Homer Version: Oxford World’s Classics / Translation by Michael Crudden My Thoughts about The Homeric Hymns The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post The Homeric Hymns appeared first…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Odyssey by Homer, book 41 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Homer Emily Wilson Translation Purchase The Odyssey from Landmark Booksellers My Thoughts about The Odyssey The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post The Odyssey by Homer appeared…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Iliad by Homer, book 38 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Homer Emily Wilson Translation Purchase The Iliad from Landmark Booksellers My Thoughts about The Iliad The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post The Iliad by Homer appeared first o…
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Three Powerful Ideas from Books for our Time
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19:40
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In this episode, Erik Rostad explores three pressing concerns of our modern era: depression, division, and distraction. He then draws on timeless lessons from books to offer insights and solutions. Show Notes Man’s Search for Meaning Podcast Episode The Gulag Archipelago Podcast Episode Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Podcast Episode Fr…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton, book 37 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Edith Hamilton (1867 – 1963) Podcast Episode about Mythology by Edith Hamilton My Thoughts about The Greek Way The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post The Greek Way b…
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CORRECTION: I made a pretty silly statement in this episode that literature doesn’t deal with the issue of guilt. What I meant to say is that the solution to guilt is not provided in literature, something I heard and am now paying attention to. I then use as evidenced by the stories of Hercules where... The post Mythology by Edith Hamilton appeared…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Histories by Herodotus, book 31 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Herodotus Landmark Edition of The Histories My Thoughts about The Histories The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post The Histories by Herodotus appeared first on Books of T…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses Persians: The Age of the Great Kings by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, book 20 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones Assyria Episode Babylon Episode The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post Persians by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones appeared…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses the poetry of Sappho through the translations of Aaron Poochigian in Sappho: Stung with Love Poems and Fragments and Anne Carson in Sappho: If Not, Winter, Fragments of Sappho. This is Great Book #10 and books #33 & #34 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Sappho Translators:... The post Sappho appear…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses Theogony & Works and Days by Hesiod, book 32 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Hesiod Translator: M.L. West The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post Theogony & Works and Days by Hesiod appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Boo…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses Babylon: Mesopotamia and The Birth of Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek, book 19 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Paul Kriwaczek Assyria Episode The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post Babylon by Paul Kriwaczek appeared first on Books of Titan…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad looks back at 2023 so far and shares the ideas that have stuck out with the start of the Great Books+ Project. The post 2023: Mid-Year Checkup appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at www.booksoftitans.com/subscribeBy Erik Rostad
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Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri, book 28 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Daniel Nayeri Everything Sad is Untrue Review The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien (Story vs Happening Truth) The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of... The post E…
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Book Pairing: In Praise of Good Bookstores (Jeff Deutsch) and On Writing (C.S. Lewis)
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In this episode, Erik Rostad pairs two books together: In Praise of Good Bookstores by Jeff Deutsch and On Writing (and Writers): A miscellany of Advice and Opinions of C.S. Lewis, books 24 & 25 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Purchase In Praise of Good Bookstores Purchase On Writing (and Writers): A Miscellany... The post Book Pairing: In Pr…
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Gilead by Marilynne Robinson & Reimagining Apologetics by Justin Ariel Bailey
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40:59
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In this episode, Erik Rostad pairs two books together: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson & Reimagining Apologetics by Justin Ariel Bailey, books 22 & 23 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Some additional thoughts by Erik Rostad about the connection between Gilead and apologetics. Why am I connecting these two? Gilead Reimagining Apologetics The Great…
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A special episode where Erik Rostad recounts bookish adventures through Scotland and England, including the infamous Guacamole Incident. Show Notes: My Wife’s Music – Stephanie Staples Scotland Bookstores Armchair Books Edinburgh Books Blackwells Waterstones Oxford Bookstore St. Philips Books London Bookstores John Sandoe Books Jarndyce Hatchards (…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World’s First Empire by Eckart Frahm, book 18 for his 2023 reading list. Show Notes Author: Eckart Frahm The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans Website The post Assyria by Eckart Frahm appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access…
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In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses Moses Among the Idols: Mediators of the Divine in the Ancient Near East by Amy Balogh, the book paired with Great Book #5, the Enuma Elish. Show Notes OnScript Podcast Episode: Amy Balogh – Moses among the Idols Purchase Moses Among the Idols Author: Amy Balogh The Great Books... The post Moses Among the Idols…
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