The Hope Axis by Anna Gát Dylan O'Sullivan - The Classics Are Never Getting Old
Dylan O'Sullivan, an internet literary commentator who curates classics and reading recommendations, joins to discuss the second life of old books online. He talks about rereading, whether teens should tackle difficult texts, cultural stagnation, how to find trustworthy book picks, and why long walks and silence help thinking. The conversation focuses on classics, attention in the TikTok age, and enduring authors like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.
58:19
Kick Teens Into The Deep End With Hard Books
- Do expose young readers to difficult books early to build comfort with being out of their depth.
- Dylan says being comfortable with not understanding everything trains a muscle that helps adults handle complex texts later in life.
New Books Often Have Short Cultural Half Lives
- Insight: Contemporary publishing has a short half-life so many new books vanish quickly after launch.
- Dylan links this to broken traditional publishing, more titles competing for attention, and trends that give bestsellers only a brief cultural window.
Follow A Few Trusted Recommenders Not Institutions
- Do follow a small number of trusted readers with proven hit rates rather than institutions.
- Dylan recommends using one reliable person's single recommendation as a filter and switching sources if their hit rate drops.
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Intro
00:00 • 1min
What Dylan Is Reading Now
01:03 • 2min
Should Teens Be Kicked Into the Classics?
02:34 • 4min
How Often Should You Reread Classics?
06:18 • 2min
Is Culture Stagnating?
07:48 • 5min
Who Should You Trust for Book Picks?
12:53 • 3min
How Early Influences Shape Taste
16:12 • 7min
Shared Culture vs. Individual Taste
23:36 • 47sec
Walking as a Thinking Practice
24:23 • 4min
Finding Your Best Thinking Space
28:45 • 3min
Why Reread C.S. Lewis Today?
31:18 • 3min
Fiction vs Nonfiction Freedom
34:01 • 3min
Substack, Serialization, and Publishing
37:07 • 4min
Journalism's Role in Shaping Novels
40:54 • 4min
Live First, Then Write
44:31 • 4min
What's Up With Dostoevsky?
48:10 • 3min
Tolstoy or Dostoevsky: Which to Pick?
50:54 • 5min
Why Dylan Hasn't Read Ulysses
56:15 • 2min
Outro
58:12 • 7sec
#72206
The Crimson Petal and the White
Michel Faber
Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White is a lengthy Victorian-era novel that follows Sugar, a prostitute who seeks social advancement through a complex relationship with a wealthy man, while exposing class, gender, and sexual politics.
The novel is notable for its meticulous period detail, layered psychological portraits, and unflinching depictions of bodily and social realities, which some readers find shocking.
Faber alternates narrative perspectives and uses period voice to evoke the era while probing modern concerns about desire, power, and identity.
Its scope and uncompromising content made it both acclaimed and controversial, attracting readers drawn to immersive historical fiction that challenges conventions.
The book's realism and moral ambiguity reward readers willing to engage with its darker aspects.
#14931
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Quincunx
Charled Palliser
#96
• Mentioned in 182 episodes
The Brothers Karamazov
Larissa Volokhonsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Richard Pevear
Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov.
The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason.
It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty.
The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason.
#8688
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
White Nights
Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский
The story, set in St. Petersburg, follows a young, unnamed narrator who lives a solitary life.
He encounters Nastenka, a young woman crying on a bridge, and saves her from a potential harasser.
Over four nights and a morning, they share their stories and hopes.
Nastenka is bound to her blind grandmother and is waiting for her lover to return from Moscow.
Despite the narrator's growing feelings for her, he helps her draft a letter to her lover.
However, when the lover returns unexpectedly, Nastenka leaves the narrator heartbroken.
The story concludes with the narrator receiving a letter from Nastenka announcing her upcoming marriage and expressing her gratitude for their brief friendship.
#244
• Mentioned in 99 episodes
The abolition of man
C.S. Lewis
In 'The Abolition of Man', C.S.
Lewis delivers a defense of objective value and natural law, originating from his Riddell Memorial Lectures at the University of Durham in 1943.
Lewis argues that education should be conducted within the context of moral law and objective values, which he terms the 'Tao'.
He criticizes modern attempts to debunk these values, warning that such actions could lead to a dehumanization of society, resulting in what he calls 'Men without Chests' – individuals whose emotions have not been trained to conform to reason.
The book emphasizes the universal nature of traditional moralities across different cultures and warns against the dangers of moral relativism and the reduction of human beings to mere objects of scientific analysis.
#36
• Mentioned in 284 episodes
Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis
In 'Mere Christianity', C.S.
Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology.
The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity.
Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage.
The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style.
#5027
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
The Act of Creation
Arthur Koestler
In 'The Act of Creation', Arthur Koestler explores the processes of discovery, invention, and creativity across various fields, including humor, science, and the arts.
He introduces the concept of 'bisociation', which involves the blending of two previously unrelated matrices of thought to create new insights.
The book is divided into two parts, examining both the creative process and its biological and psychological foundations.
#71
• Mentioned in 218 episodes
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys.
The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis.
It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth.
The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.
#554
• Mentioned in 57 episodes
Notes from Underground
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground" is a novella that delves into the mind of an unnamed narrator, a bitter and alienated individual who rails against reason and societal norms.
The work is considered a precursor to existentialist literature, exploring themes of isolation, nihilism, and the human condition.
Dostoevsky's masterful use of first-person narration allows readers to experience the narrator's turbulent thoughts and emotions.
The novella's exploration of free will and the complexities of human psychology continues to resonate with readers today.
Its influence on literature and philosophy is undeniable, shaping the works of later writers and thinkers.
#1983
• Mentioned in 22 episodes
Darkness at Noon
Arthur Koestler
Published in 1940, 'Darkness at Noon' is a haunting portrait of life under totalitarian rule.
The novel revolves around Nicholas Rubashov, a former high-ranking official in a communist regime, who is arrested and subjected to intense interrogation and psychological manipulation.
The story explores the moral crises and existential dilemmas faced by Rubashov as he grapples with the consequences of his past actions and the ideologies he once fervently believed in.
The book is a powerful critique of Stalinist totalitarianism and the corrosive effects of political corruption, making it a seminal work of 20th-century literature.
#115
• Mentioned in 160 episodes
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century.
The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg.
The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate.
Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life.
The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.
#181
• Mentioned in 122 episodes
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
This week on The Hope Axis, Dylan O’Sullivan joins to talk about the classics and their second life online.
We get into reading in the age of TikTok and AI, and whether people today can still take on long, difficult books, along with the experience of going back to books and seeing them differently over time. Hope you enjoy.
For the full transcript of our conversation, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fGdRmgt7ZO6MKGzd6sHUX15n3q5QBINl/view?usp=sharing
Important Links:
X (Twitter) – https://x.com/DylanoA4?lang=en
Essayful - https://substack.com/@essayful
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanoa4/
The Spectator - https://spectator.com/writer/dylan-osullivan/
Show Notes:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:33) The Right Age to Start Reading The Classics
(07:53) The Feeling of Cultural Stagnation
(12:22) How to Find Good Books
(21:53) Finding What to Read and Where to Think
(31:09) Dylan's Most Quoted Authors
(39:03) Modern World of Self-publishing
(41:38) What Do You Write About If You Don't Live First
(48:19) What's up with Dostoevsky
(56:14) Ulysses and End Notes
Books, Essays & References Mentioned:
C.S. Lewis — The Abolition of Man
C.S. Lewis — Mere Christianity
Arthur Koestler — Darkness at Noon
Arthur Koestler — The Act of Creation
Leo Tolstoy — War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy — Anna Karenina
Fyodor Dostoevsky — The Brothers Karamazov
Fyodor Dostoevsky — Notes from Underground
Fyodor Dostoevsky — White Nights
James Joyce — Ulysses