The books that made me who I am

Summary

In this reflective video, the speaker takes us through the 290 books they've read since 2018, highlighting how these readings have shaped their intellectual and personal journey. From the philosophical depth of Ursula K. Le Guin and Dostoevsky to the modern narrative of Murakami, each book serves as a milestone. The video touches on the speaker's transition from academia, their exploration of religious texts, and how literature has influenced their personal life, including travel and career shifts. This engaging reflection invites viewers to consider their own transformative reading experiences.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has read 290 books since January 2018, averaging about one book per week.
• 😀 The notebook mentioned isn't about numbers but serves as a personal story of the speaker's literary journey.
• 😀 Ursula K. Le Guin's *The Dispossessed* greatly influenced the speaker, blending philosophical depth with science fiction, and sparked an interest in political philosophy.
• 😀 Fyodor Dostoyevsky's *Crime and Punishment* is considered by the speaker as one of the perfect novels, deeply resonating with themes of anxiety, guilt, and redemption.
• 😀 Haruki Murakami's *1Q84* became special to the speaker during a trip to Japan, inspiring an interest in contemporary literature.
• 😀 *Cersei* by Madeleine Miller challenged the speaker's view on modern retellings of Greek mythology, showing their literary value and relevance.
• 😀 Lawrence Wright's *God Save Texas* offered the speaker insights into Texas' complicated history, which helped contextualize their move to the state.
• 😀 *After Virtue* by Alasdair MacIntyre rekindled the speaker's passion for philosophy after leaving academia, offering a rigorous, non-partisan exploration of morality and tradition.
• 😀 In 2020, the speaker's most productive reading year, *The Confessions* by Saint Augustine and *Anathem* by Neal Stephenson had significant personal and intellectual impacts.
• 😀 The speaker finds inspiration in writing from Neil Stephenson, particularly *Anathem*, which ignited their passion for writing fiction.
• 😀 The *Wheel of Time* series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the speaker's favorite fantasy series, with its complex world-building and political dynamics being a major source of inspiration for their own writing.
• 😀 *The Orthodox Way* by Callistos Ware and *The Intellectual Life* by A.G. Sertillanges were deeply influential in the speaker's intellectual and spiritual journey.
• 😀 Yevgeny Zamyatin's *We* was discovered through YouTube recommendations and has inspired the speaker to create a video discussing its relevance to dystopian literature.

Q & A

What makes the notebook the speaker refers to special to them?

The speaker values the notebook not for the number of books listed, but because it tells a personal story, reflecting their journey and evolution in reading over time.

How did Ursula K. Le Guin's *The Dispossessed* influence the speaker?

The book changed the speaker's perspective on both science fiction and political philosophy. Le Guin's ambiguity and philosophical depth made the speaker more interested in literature and philosophical exploration.

Why does the speaker describe *Crime and Punishment* as the perfect novel?

The speaker finds *Crime and Punishment* haunting and life-altering, citing its exploration of anxiety, guilt, and redemption as deeply relatable to modern readers.

What personal connection does the speaker have with *1Q84* by Haruki Murakami?

The speaker read *1Q84* while in Tokyo on a trip with their girlfriend, which helped them feel a connection to the place and furthered their interest in contemporary literature.

What shift in reading preferences did the speaker experience after reading *Cersei* by Madeleine Miller?

After reading *Cersei*, the speaker gained an appreciation for modern retellings of Greek mythology, realizing that such stories can still be meaningful and literary.

How did *God Save Texas* by Lawrence Wright impact the speaker's understanding of the state?

The book deepened the speaker's understanding of Texas, shedding light on its complicated past and uncertain present, while expressing Wright's love for the state despite its flaws.

What was the significance of *After Virtue* by Alasdair MacIntyre for the speaker?

This book rekindled the speaker's love for philosophy after leaving academia, offering a critical yet compelling discussion of morality, tradition, and virtue.

How did the pandemic influence the speaker's reading habits in 2020?

The pandemic created a lot of downtime, allowing the speaker to read extensively, making 2020 their most productive year in terms of reading.

Why is *The Confessions* by Saint Augustine important to the speaker?

This book was personally significant as it provided the speaker with both philosophical insights and the opportunity to practice podcasting, while also addressing existential themes that resonated with their own search for meaning.

What role did Neil Stevenson's *Anathem* play in the speaker's life?

The speaker was deeply captivated by *Anathem*, which not only became a favorite book but also inspired the speaker to pursue writing, blending philosophy and literature in a way that felt engaging and motivating.

How did the speaker's reading of *Piranesi* by Susanna Clarke stand out?

The speaker was so engrossed in *Piranesi* that they read it in a single day. The novel’s evocative style and the lasting impression it left on the speaker demonstrated Clarke’s strong impact on their imagination.

What did the speaker gain from reading *The Wheel of Time* series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson?

The speaker admired the series' world-building, especially how it portrayed the complexity of different factions, nations, and organizations, which inspired their own writing and deepened their love for fantasy.

How did the book *The Orthodox Way* by Kallistos Ware impact the speaker?

Though not focused on religious conversion, the book intrigued the speaker with its fusion of spirituality and intellectual thought, offering a compelling vision of Eastern Orthodoxy and organic human life.

Why does the speaker recommend *The Intellectual Life* by A.G. Sertillanges?

The speaker finds it to be an invaluable guide for students and scholars, offering practical advice on reading, writing, and approaching the intellectual life, while also addressing its deeper purpose.

What prompted the speaker to read *We* by Yevgeny Zamyatin, and what was its impact?

The speaker read *We* after receiving multiple recommendations from viewers, and found it a powerful and thought-provoking work, which led to a planned video discussing its philosophical themes and dystopian legacy.