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Patreon Q&A Show - Ask Me Anything (Episode I) (Patreon)

Published:
2021-03-05 16:12:32
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Thank you all so much for your great questions and comments, and for reading along.

I sat down with a coffee to do our first Patreon-exclusive Q&A ask-me-anything show, and we got through some really interesting topics. Everything from learning a language from reading literature (like Anna Karenina) to Tolstoy's spiritual crisis and reading fiction like non-fiction.

  • 0:00 Thank you for reading with Hardcore Literature 
  • 1:43 Can you talk about the Live Reading Group? 
  • 10:48 How do you better your life with fiction like Anna Karenina? 
  • 22:40 Could you recommend a biography of Tolstoy? 
  • 25:30 Can you talk about Tolstoy’s spiritual crisis? 
  • 27:45 Showing you my recommended biographies 
  • 29:16 Can you talk about supplements for studying? 
  • 31:55 How do you portion out your pages when reading big books? 
  • 33:33 How are you going to teach yourself Russian from reading Anna Karenina? 
  • 42:15 reading some of your great comments

The first live reading book club is coming up very soon (logistical information to follow), so if you're interested in jumping up to the Shakespeare tier we'd be so happy to have you involved. 

Happy reading!

Files

Previews only

Patreon Q&A Show - Ask Me Anything (Episode I)

0:00 Thank you for reading with Hardcore Literature 1:43 Can you talk about the Live Reading Group? 10:48 How do you better your life with fiction like Anna Karenina? 22:40 Could you recommend a biography of Tolstoy? 25:30 Can you talk about Tolstoy’s spiritual crisis? 27:45 Showing you my recommended biographies 29:16 Can you talk about supplements for studying? 31:55 How do you portion out your pages when reading big books? 33:33 How are you going to teach yourself Russian from reading Anna Karenina? 42:15 reading some of your great comments

Comments

Stephanie Jeannette

I don't know if I'm writing to an audience of zero but here goes. This was an amazing video. There is so much to comment on but at one point I was on the verge of tears. When Ben spoke about history repeating itself and people not thinking things could happen again I choaked up. Three years after this video, everywhere we are facing elections that could change the world. I too cannot understand how people who understand history or even know a little history not realize what is going on today. I am grateful for Ben and the group. Even after a short while as a member I feel a deep connection. It's a life raft.

p.j.
>>140386903

I am new to the group. I hear you, and feel much as you do. And here it is months later. I come now to this group, and back to literature, to focus on what i love: good stories.

Bill Freeman

This was AWESOME! Ben, your authenticity makes you a natural teacher I am so honored to be part of this group at this time in my life.

Ena Rusnjak Markovic

Great video, Ben! Thanks for addressing my question about teaching yourself Russian. I have an advantage because my native tongue is Serbo-Croatian, which is very similar to Russian. However, I’m no longer anywhere near as fluent in my native tongue as I am in English, having grown up in Australia from when I was about 8 years old. Russian and Serbo-Croatian grammar is very similar and we have a huge shared vocabulary that is modified with different pronunciation and stress, as well as the addition or subtraction of a syllable or two. From comparing the languages so far, I have noticed Serbo-Croatian is more abrupt and truncated. So I think learning Russian will involve a lot of lengthening and modification of words I already know. I can also read Cyrillic but I’m quite rusty and there are a couple of characters that differ between Russian Cyrillic and Serbian Cyrillic. Also, my first name is pronounced “Eh-na” not “Ee-na”, I actually went by “Anna” during school years because I was so sick of everyone calling me “Eena”! I hate the way it sounds and my ear is very sensitive, haha! Don’t feel bad though, most people assume it is pronounced the same way you pronounced it. Please do keep me updated on how you go with learning Russian. Let me know if you want a buddy with which to have conversations!

Len Larsson
>>55001165

Ena ... there is an APP called Speakly and they have a discount promotion on at the moment - it is made in Estonia and Russian is one of the languages. It includes reading texts with accompanying translation - it goes a paragraph at a time and you can play it as many times as you like, and shadow as Ben was talking about. Highly recommended. There is also a free trial.

Halcyon Distilled

Sounds like I missed a great chat. Maybe next time if there is one. Ben, this was such a great video. You are an old soul, there's so much wisdom in it. And Pellegrino water is necessary while drinking espresso.

Fiona Wang

Ben, thanks so much for the detailed and insightful answers! I'm quite blown away at this point as you have just offered a great deal to reflect upon, particularly your comments regarding how to live the great books. Will be thinking about it more and re-watching!

hardcoreliterature
>>55023306

Thank you very much! Absolutely, will be making this a regular thing :) I really enjoyed it. My doctor friend says that sparkling water makes caffeine more potent. Something about the bubbles? That's why we get drunker on champagne quicker apparently.. :)

Ena Rusnjak Markovic
>>55030331

Have either of you read “How Proust Can Change Your Life” by Alain de Botton? I love it and think it’s a great example of taking great books and using them for self-help. Fiona, I especially recommend it to you, as it’s very relevant to your question.

Fiona Wang
>>55030331

I really appreciate the recommendation, Ena! I have not read it - do you think it's best to read some of Proust's writing before starting this book? I'm thinking that this would be a great companion book for when we read Proust in June.

hardcoreliterature
>>55030331

I've read the opening few chapters of Alain de Botton's book and look forward to reading more :) Great recommendation, Ena. It's actually not too spoiler-heavy, Fiona, but I would totally understand wanting to read some Proust first. I try not too talk to deeply or read commentaries about books I haven't started yet - after having the endings of a few books ruined, I'm quite wary!

Buddhamma

This was an amazing episode. I've been wrestling with question number 3 for years myself. Somehow the things you said where in my head somewhere, but it was incoherent and now I've been able to see clearly how all this reading has been helping me. I love these kind of episodes. Also reading deeper which I have never done before, by searching up art and other things mentioned in novels is so exciting, you've really convinced me it is such an enrichening experience. Before I was in a mindset to read many books in quick succession. Now, I am in a mindset to read them deeply and take my time with them, it is truly a better experience!