#3681
Mentioned in 13 episodes

Invisible Cities

Book • 1972
Invisible Cities is a novel by Italo Calvino that defies traditional narrative structures.

The book revolves around the conversations between Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, where Polo describes 55 imaginary cities he encountered during his travels.

These cities are not just physical places but also metaphors for human experiences, desires, and the passage of time.

The novel explores themes of memory, place, and the subjective nature of experience, highlighting how our perceptions of cities and the world are shaped by our personal histories and biases.

The cities described by Polo are often reflections of his home city, Venice, and serve as vehicles for Calvino's commentary on human nature, culture, and the limits of communication.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 13 episodes

Mentioned by
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Sam Schillace
as a beautiful meditation on cities and Venice.
220 snips
How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)
Recommended by
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David Eagleman
as a favorite book of fiction.
45 snips
#119 – David Eagleman: Neuroplasticity and the Livewired Brain
Mentioned by
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Jamie Metzl
in the context of alternate lives and choices.
34 snips
#247 – Jamie Metzl: Lab Leak Theory
Mentioned by
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Tamler Sommers
when discussing books for a future podcast episode.
30 snips
Episode 298: Pass the Peace Pipe
Suggested by Tamler as a novel he'd love the hosts to cover in the listener-selected episode.
17 snips
Episode 328: Weapons Free
Mentioned by
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David Damrosch
as a luminous book by Italo Calvino, transformed the real-life travel account of Marco Polo.
14 snips
Why Bookstores Still Matter
Suggested by listeners for discussion on the podcast.
13 snips
Episode 311: The Way to Dusty Death (Shakespeare's "Macbeth")
Mentioned as the next book Greg plans to read.
12 snips
Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes
Mentioned by
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Marina Warner
and
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Anna Della Subin
as a slim novella containing riches and multitudes, focusing on its unique structure and fantastical cities.
Fiction and the Fantastic: ‘Invisible Cities’ by Italo Calvino

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