Honestly with Bari Weiss Can Reading Fix Men?
Shilo Brooks, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, advocates for deep reading as a solution to the crisis young men face today. He argues that reading great literature cultivates wisdom and interest, urging a revival in classroom dynamics. Addressing the alarming decline of male readership, he links it to tech distractions and absent role models. Cornel West joins the conversation, exploring the relevance of Plato's Republic for modern justice and the importance of philosophical dialogue over social media noise. Together, they emphasize the transformative power of classical texts.
01:04:54
Make Yourself Interesting With Ideas
- Become interesting by exposing yourself to enduring ideas that are not your own.
- Read widely to acquire arguments you can defend and make you stand out.
Why Men Read Less Fiction
- Men read fiction far less than women and often consume ephemeral online content.
- Shilo links declining male fiction reading to lack of male reading role models and techno-addictive media.
False Nobility Vs. True Sacrifice
- Young men chase a false vision of nobility that celebrates indulgence and status.
- Genuine nobility requires sacrifice for something deeper, which literature can model.
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Intro
00:00 • 6min
Teaching Students How to Read Deeply
06:01 • 5min
Designing The Art of Statesmanship Course
10:57 • 3min
Reading as Revival in the Classroom
14:22 • 2min
Reading to Become Interesting and Formed
16:04 • 2min
Shiloh's Background and Educational Opportunity
18:12 • 2min
A Blue-Collar Role Model Who Loved Books
20:12 • 3min
Why Men and Boys Read Less Today
22:43 • 2min
Education Patterns Favoring Women in Humanities
24:43 • 1min
Alternative Role Models to Online Influencers
25:57 • 4min
The Rise of Reactionary Influencers
30:03 • 1min
Reading as an Antidote to Campus Anti-Americanism
31:12 • 4min
Essential Books That Liberate the Mind
34:59 • 4min
Literacy, Self-Government, and Leadership
38:51 • 3min
Transition to Conversation with Cornel West
42:20 • 47sec
What Does the Republic Say About Justice?
43:07 • 1min
Plato's Desperation and Authoritarianism
44:22 • 3min
Socratic Irony Versus Platonic Construction
47:08 • 4min
Why the Republic Still Matters
50:41 • 3min
Dialectic and Listening as Lost Practices
53:50 • 2min
Philosophic Life Versus Political and Poetic Lives
55:29 • 3min
Classics' Relevance to Diverse Traditions
58:16 • 4min
Engaging the Best Traditions to Be Competent
01:02:29 • 1min
Outro
01:03:36 • 35sec
#13225
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
On the Jewish question
Karl Marx
Karl Marx's "On the Jewish Question" is an essay written in 1843 that explores the relationship between Judaism, religion, and the political economy of his time.
The essay is considered controversial due to its problematic and potentially antisemitic undertones.
Marx critiques the nature of religious belief and its role in perpetuating social inequalities.
He argues that the emancipation of Jews requires a broader social and political transformation.
However, his analysis has been criticized for its generalizations about Jewish people and its reliance on stereotypes.
The essay remains a subject of scholarly debate and continues to spark discussions about the complexities of religion, identity, and social justice.
Its problematic aspects highlight the need for careful consideration of historical texts and their potential for misinterpretation.
#43
• Mentioned in 263 episodes
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
Published in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a novel that revolves around the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth.
The story is set in the early 19th century and explores themes of love, societal expectations, and personal growth.
The novel centers on Elizabeth's tumultuous relationship with the wealthy and proud Mr. Darcy, whose initial arrogance and reserve gradually give way to a deeper understanding and mutual respect.
Through their interactions, both characters learn to overcome their prejudices and flaws, leading to a transformative journey of self-discovery and redemption.
The novel also delves into the societal pressures on women to secure marriages, the importance of family, and the nuances of social hierarchy during the British Regency period.
#575
• Mentioned in 55 episodes
Beyond Good and Evil
Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future
Friedrich Nietzsche
In 'Beyond Good and Evil', Nietzsche challenges the traditional morality and philosophical thought of his time.
He argues that the Christian world is steeped in a 'slave morality' that demonizes strength and domination, and instead proposes a philosophy that celebrates the present and the individual's 'will to power'.
The book is known for its aphoristic style and its critique of past philosophers for their dogmatic premises.
Nietzsche advocates for a new kind of philosopher who values imagination, self-assertion, and the creation of values, and he introduces the concept of 'perspective of life' which denies a universal morality for all human beings.
#447
• Mentioned in 66 episodes
Plato's Republic
Plato
#356
• Mentioned in 78 episodes
Middlemarch
George Eliot
Middlemarch, written by George Eliot, is a novel that delves into the complexities of provincial life in 19th-century England.
The story revolves around the intersecting lives of its characters, particularly Dorothea Brooke and Dr. Tertius Lydgate, as they navigate marriage, vocation, and social class.
Eliot critiques the conventional romance narratives of her time by portraying marriage as a complex and often problematic institution.
The novel also explores themes of idealism, self-interest, hypocrisy, and the constraints on women's lives.
Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch between 1829 and 1832, the novel incorporates historical events such as the Great Reform Act of 1832 and early developments in medicine.
Eliot's realistic portrayal of ordinary human life, with its quiet tragedies and small triumphs, has made 'Middlemarch' a masterpiece of English literature.
#572
• Mentioned in 55 episodes
Emma
Jane Austen
juan perez
The novel follows Emma Woodhouse, a beautiful, clever, and rich young woman who has lived nearly twenty-one years with very little distress.
Emma decides to take up matchmaking, despite the advice of her friend Mr. Knightley.
Her attempts to match her new friend Harriet Smith with various men lead to complications and ultimately test her own detachment from the world of romance.
The novel explores themes of education, courtship, and social class in Georgian-Regency England, highlighting Emma's journey of self-discovery and learning from her mistakes.
#3698
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
The Taming of the Shrew
William Shakespeare
The play is presented as a play within a play, with an initial 'induction' where a lord tricks a drunken tinker, Christopher Sly, into believing he is a nobleman.
The main story revolves around the courtship of Katharina, the shrewish older sister, and Petruchio, who uses various tactics to tame her.
Meanwhile, several eligible bachelors vie for the hand of Bianca, Katharina's younger sister.
The play culminates in a wager where Petruchio proves Katharina to be the most obedient wife, and she delivers a sermon on wifely obedience.
#491
• Mentioned in 61 episodes
Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play that tells the story of two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who fall in love despite the long-standing feud between their families.
The play explores themes of love, hate, fate, and the destructive nature of the families' vendetta.
After secretly marrying, the lovers face numerous challenges, including the death of Romeo's friend Mercutio and his subsequent banishment.
A failed plan to reunite the lovers leads to their tragic deaths, ultimately bringing peace between their families.
The play is renowned for its poetic language, passionate romance, and violent conflict, making it one of the world's most beloved and enduring stories.
#3551
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
Plato's Symposium
Benjamin 1817-1893 Jowett
Plato
In this dialogue, Plato presents a discussion on the concept of love (eros) among a group of Athenian intellectuals, including Socrates, Phaedrus, Aristophanes, and Alcibiades.
The dialogue delves into various dimensions of love, such as its relationship to beauty, virtue, and wisdom.
It challenges conventional views on love and presents a philosophical exploration of its role in achieving a good and virtuous life.
The work is set at the house of Agathon, a tragic poet, and features a series of praise speeches that reflect different viewpoints on love.
#181
• Mentioned in 122 episodes
The Prince
Niccolo Machiavelli
Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers.
Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals.
The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess.
Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points.
The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues.
'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.
#68
• Mentioned in 226 episodes
The great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan.
The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.
#8469
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
The adventures of Pinocchio
Carlo Collodi
Set in 19th-century Tuscany, Italy, 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' follows the misadventures of Pinocchio, a wooden marionette created by the poor woodcarver Geppetto.
Pinocchio's journey is marked by his propensity for lying, which causes his nose to grow, and his encounters with various characters, including the benevolent Blue Fairy.
Through his experiences, Pinocchio learns valuable lessons about honesty, hard work, and the importance of making the right choices.
The novel is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers of all ages.
#1217
• Mentioned in 32 episodes
Night
Elie Wiesel
In 'Night', Elie Wiesel narrates his harrowing experiences as a Jewish teenager during the Holocaust.
The book follows Eliezer, a slightly fictionalized version of Wiesel, from his hometown of Sighet in Hungarian Transylvania to various concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Buna, Gleiwitz, and Buchenwald.
It chronicles his struggles with faith, the inhuman conditions of the camps, and the tragic events that unfolded, including the death of his father.
The memoir is a poignant and personal account of the Holocaust, highlighting themes of faith, silence, inhumanity, and the importance of human bonds.
It’s no secret that young men are sort of unwell.
They are four times more likely to kill themselves, three times more likely to struggle with addiction, and 12 times more likely to be incarcerated than women. If that weren’t enough, record numbers of men are not getting married, not dating, not enrolling in school or working, and struggling with serious mental health issues.
In response, a cottage industry has emerged—full of influencers and paid courses claiming to teach young men how to become “high value.”
But there seems to be a deeper intractable challenge: Young people lack meaning. Fifty-eight percent of young adults say they’ve experienced little or no sense of purpose in their lives over the past month.
Shilo Brooks has a simple idea for all of it. He’s telling young men—and really, all young people—to read. Yes, read. The idea is simple: Reading great books can make stronger and better men.
He knows he’s facing an uphill battle: Reading for pleasure among American adults has dropped 40 percent in the past 20 years. In 2022, only 28 percent of men read a fiction book, compared to 47 percent of women—a 19-point gap.
Shilo doesn’t have the stereotypical profile for a “lit boy,” as Gen Z might describe him. He’s from a small town in Texas and has a thick Southern drawl. When he was a baby, his stepfather stole his mother’s savings, leaving them with nothing. And he almost didn’t go to college because he couldn’t afford it.
But today, Shilo is president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center and Professor of Practice in the Department of Political Science at Southern Methodist University. He has also taught at Princeton, the University of Virginia, the University of Colorado, and Bowdoin College.
His prescription is simple. Shilo says: “Great works of literature are entertaining, but they are not mere entertainment. A great book induces self-examination and spiritual expansion. When a man is starved for love, work, purpose, money, or vitality, a novel wrestling with these themes can be metabolized as energy for the heart. When a man suffers from addiction, divorce, self-loathing, or vanity, his local bookstore can become his pharmacy.”
This is the driving vision of the new podcast he just launched with The Free Press, called Old School, where he talks to guests about the books that shaped their lives: Fareed Zakaria on The Great Gatsby, Nick Cave on The Adventures of Pinocchio, Richard Dawkins on P.G. Wodehouse novels. Then there’s Coleman Hughes, Ryan Holiday, Rob Henderson, and so much more. Think of it like a boy’s book club that anyone can enjoy.
So, here’s what you’ll hear today: a conversation between Bari and Shilo about this project, and how it fulfills the desperate needs of a lost generation.
Subscribe to Old School with Shilo Brooks.
The Free Press earns a commission from any purchases made through all book links in this article.
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