Brooke’s Books

Great episode. Loved the part about Divorce Court -- who knew? -- and of course, the mentions of my friend/former professor Leo Damrosch. He also wrote a book on Tocqueville, by the way, and one on Casanova, so very eclectic choices. He says he just writes about writers who interest him.

WilliamWarford (View Comment):

Great episode. Loved the part about Divorce Court — who knew? — and of course, the mentions of my friend/former professor Leo Damrosch. He also wrote a book on Tocqueville, by the way, and one on Casanova, so very eclectic choices. He says he just writes about writers who interest him.

Agree. This was a great episode. Ms. Allen really does need to write about Divorce Court - what writers, stories worked best, etc. I am not the most intellectual reader (lots of mysteries) but it is sad that so few tackle any books at all.

WilliamWarford (View Comment):

Great episode. Loved the part about Divorce Court — who knew? — and of course, the mentions of my friend/former professor Leo Damrosch. He also wrote a book on Tocqueville, by the way, and one on Casanova, so very eclectic choices. He says he just writes about writers who interest him.

colleenb (View Comment):

Agree. This was a great episode. Ms. Allen really does need to write about Divorce Court – what writers, stories worked best, etc. I am not the most intellectual reader (lots of mysteries) but it is sad that so few tackle any books at all.

It really is. Can't imagine not reading books. I am halfway through my first year in the University of Chicago Graham School's Basic Program, a four-year Great Books program. Every Monday night on Zoom, our small group gets together with our tutors to discuss great works. Just finished Herodotus and moving on to Aeschylus with one tutor, while with the other tutor we're doing all 10 weeks on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Great discussions! For breaks from the "heavy lifting," I like mysteries/thrillers, too. And of course right now reading James Rosen's second volume of his three-volume biography of Chris's dad.

I admire you taking that course. At this point in my life, I'm listening to old episodes of the late, lamented National Review Great Books podcast for my Great Books 'course.' I'm reading the Confession of St. Augustine for Lent. My 'classics' reading seems to dovetail with spiritual reading. I do enjoy/get a lot more out of reading these heavier books by listening to a podcast or some other type of discussion. I want to tackle The Illiad with a course offered by The Institute of Catholic Culture with Anthony Esolen next.

colleenb (View Comment):

I admire you taking that course. At this point in my life, I’m listening to old episodes of the late, lamented National Review Great Books podcast for my Great Books ‘course.’ I’m reading the Confession of St. Augustine for Lent. My ‘classics’ reading seems to dovetail with spiritual reading. I do enjoy/get a lot more out of reading these heavier books by listening to a podcast or some other type of discussion. I want to tackle The Illiad with a course offered by The Institute of Catholic Culture with Anthony Esolen next.

Oh, Prof. Esolen is fabulous! You will love that. Yes, I miss John J. Miller and the NR Great Books.