history of literature – Page 41

February 1, 2016

History of Literature Episode 29: Conspiracy!

Who runs things? Well, okay, sure…but who really runs things? Conspiracy theories fascinate us with their possibilities, thrill us with their sense of unveiling secrets, and tap into some of our deepest anxieties and psychological needs. And sometimes, they turn out to be true. Jacke Wilson takes a break from the history of literature to… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, history of literature, Podcast

big auto, big tobacco, catholic church, cia, conspiracy theories, iran contra, kennedy, nixon, nsa, reagan, scientology, stevie wonder, the titanic

January 25, 2016

History of Literature Episode 28 – The Ramayana

It’s been called “the greatest of all Indian epics – and one of the world’s supreme masterpieces of storytelling.” Nobody can deny the power of this ancient tale of Rama, a warrior king in exile, and his beloved wife Sita. Combining intense action scenes with keen insights into spiritual and psychological motivations, the Ramayana continues to… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

epic poem, hanuman, indian, narayan, pankaj mishra, rama, ramayana, ramesh menon, sita, twinsters

January 24, 2016

A Thank You from Jacke…

…to the wonderful listener G, who left me this message: “…I loved how you managed to make a link between ancient greek authors and a modern philosopher. That’s why I enjoy your podcast so much: you never know which way the episode will go. There’s something about the way you talk about books that I really… Continue reading

Arts, history of literature, Podcast, Uncategorized

aeschylus, euripedes, feedback, greek tragedy, nietzsche, reviews, sophocles

January 22, 2016

Coming Soon: The Ramayana!

I’m really enjoying the research on our next History of Literature episode… “There is really no Western counterpart in the Hellenic or Hebraic tradition to the influence that this originally secular story, transmitted orally through many centuries, has exerted over millions of people. The Iliad and The Odyssey are, primarily, literary texts, but not even… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, history of literature, Writing

epic poetry, iliad and odyssey, indian literature, pankaj mishra, ramayana

January 18, 2016

History of Literature Episode 27: The Upanishads (Part Two)

How did the Universe begin? What is the nature of individual consciousness? How do these relate to one another? Host Jacke Wilson continues his look at the set of ancient Indian mystic writings known as the Upanishads (ca. 700 B.C.) and rediscovers the impact they once had on his own spiritual journey. Podcast: Play… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

ancient mystic writings, atman, brahman, epiphany, hindu, india, Literature, philosophy, Religion, self, upanishads, yajnavalkya

January 11, 2016

Episode 11 – The Upanishads (Part One)

Thousands of years ago, using techniques of deep meditation, Indian mystics conducted investigations into the powers of the universe and the nature of human consciousness, developing ideas about a single supreme god, the eternal soul, and the relationship of individuals to the spiritual cosmos. Their flashes of insight were passed along orally for hundreds of years before being recorded in written form sometime around 900 B.C. The best… Continue reading

Arts, books, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

ancient literature, Descartes, gandhi, hinduism, india, ishapanishad, religious seekers, sacred texts, upanishads, vedas, wisdom

January 7, 2016

Indian Literature – A Cosmic Feast (History of Literature Episode 10)

Recalling his own long-ago transition from China to India, our host previews our journey’s next stop, where we will immerse ourselves in the literature of a spectacular culture. Marked by classics like the Rig Veda (1500 – 1200 B.C.) and the Upanishads (ca. 900 B.C.), the Ramayana (ca. 550 B.C.), and the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

bhagavad gita, india, julie sahni, mahabharata, nepal, ramayana, rig veda, sanskrit, tibet, vedas

January 4, 2016

Confucius (HoL Episode 9)

Perhaps the most influential teacher in the history of the world, Confucius (551-479 B.C.) left a literary legacy that continues to inspire and provoke. Jacke Wilson takes a look at the historical Confucius, the impact that the five works known as the “Confucian canon” has had on China, and the collection of sayings and anecdotes known as the Analects. You can… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, history of literature, Podcast

analects, China, confucius, Poetry

January 2, 2016

Here We Go! Top Podcast Episodes of 2015!

Happy New Year! On New Year’s Eve I expressed some gratitude and kicked off our countdown of 2015’s top podcast episodes. Today, I can reveal the Top History of Literature Episodes of 2015 as selected by you, the listeners. For those of you new to the History of Literature, this might be the best place… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, history of literature, Podcast, restless mind show, Uncategorized

history of literature, Homer, Jacke Wilson

December 31, 2015

New Year’s Thank You: The Top Podcast Episodes of the Year

Dear Readers and Listeners: It’s time for another humble thank you from your old friend Jacke. This year was another good one in Jackeland. No new books (alas), but a newly launched podcast, plenty of blogging inspiration – and most importantly, the community of readers and listeners who make everything worthwhile. I owe you more… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

Arts, History, Literature, new year, top episodes of 2015