0:00 If you had to distill down every book you've read meaningful bits into a proverb 0:21 Intro / Music / Infos 1:38 Where do you get your literary t-shirts ? 2:06 What is your reading speed ? 2:50 What other books have you read that deal with terrorism ? 3:47 Will you be reviewing soon another obscure tome ? 5:04 What big books are you planning to read and talk about ? 5:23 Do you find yourself thirsting for a smaller novel ? 7:32 How do you find so much time to read ? 9:05 What recurring themes are you drawn to ? 10:00 What YA fiction have you considered picking up ? 10:45 Have you ever read works by Joseph McElroy ? 11:41 What are the 5 desirable qualities or habits for a modern day (distracted) reader ? 12:30 Which books did you read to your child ? 13:29 Do you plan to return to the western classics (Homer, Shakespeare, etc.) 13:41 how many Shakespeare plays have you read ? 15:21 How do you typically develop your reading list/plan ? 15:49 Is there any author whose oeuvre you plan on reading entirely ? 17:05 Which literary character would you most like to meet, and why ? 17:28 How do you feel about big youtubers promoting great literature ? 17:54 Have you seen Oppenheimer, what did you think of it ? 18:33 Do you think that one day you could say that "the best book I have ever read was written by AI" ? 19:36 What 5 books would you recommend a high school AP language student to read ? 21:47 Do you think being an author is something you can achieve if you try ? 23:26 Advice on making literary online content ? 26:36 What role does religion play in your life ? Have your beliefs changed throughout your life ? Has reading literature/philosophy challenged your beliefs ? 27:54 How has becoming a father affected your reading habits ? 29:10 Are you familiar australian author with Gerald Murnane ? 29:59 How do you choose the books you want to read ? 2024 reading plan ? 30:48 Tips to improve reading retention ? 32:32 Which books would you recommend for a long time reader who wants to start writing ? 33:26 Do you plan on covering Faulkner, Kesey, Steinbeck, Conrad ? (see Q&A #4) Favorite short stories ? 34:48 Artists you currently like 34:54 Contemporary artist you like 35:06 What websites/magazines do you read/follow ? 36:04 Monthly budget for books ? 36:20 What percentage of your personal library have you read ? 36:50 Thoughts on commonplace books ? 37:05 Mindset while reading a book (immerse youserlf or stay objective) 38:54 How to recommend books that are objectively interesting 39:00 How you research/find new books ? 40:17 Reading advice for your 21 year old self 40:34 Opinion on the Shakespeare authorship question 42:43 library books VS owned books, paperback VS hardback, e-book VS printed book, light VS heavy, reading environment 45:00 most difficult fiction book you've ever read 45:29 Which book has affected you the most emotionally ? 45:53 Likes and dislikes about american literature, where do you see it going ? 47:48 Have you considered leading a reading group ? 49:00 Plans on doing Biblical content ? 49:43 Interests in North Carolina 49:52 Would you ever consider starting your own literary conference, what would it be about ? 50:22 Ratio of read/unread books in your library 50:31 Would you ever consider annotating a copy of a favourite book and make a giveaway/auction for it. 51:05 Favourite book of yours no one seems to talk about 51:15 Have you ever read Hunger's Brides by Paul Anderson ? 51:22 Link between reading, memory and context 53:33 How to enjoy Infinite Jest 57:12 Thoughts on Bob Dylan as a Nobel Prize laureate for literature, novel VS lyric poetry 58:46 Thoughts on Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) by José Rizal, plans on covering Les Rougon-Macquart by Zola 59:30 Favourite genre fiction, comfort reads ? 1:00:05 Plan on doing 10 hours videos on Against day, Mason & Dixon, other Pynchon works 1:00:31 Plan on reading asian themed books, eastern canon 1:01:04 Filipino literature 1:01:18 Book requests BLITZ QUESTIONS: 1:02:19 First memory of being blown away by words 1:02:55 Thoughts on covert art 1:04:01 Thoughts on Stefan Zweig, Joan Didion, Shirley Jackson, Louis Ferdinand Céline, John Kennedy Toole Tony Morrison, JD Salinger, James Baldwin, J K Huysmans, Henri Michaux, Richard Powers, Phillip K Dick, Don Delillo, George Perec, Witold Gombrowicz 1:05:27 Have you read Mars by Fritz Zorn 1:05:31 If you could only ask 1 question to a deceased author 1:05:41 Disappointing reads 1:05:46 Do you buy more than you read ? 1:06:19 Have you ever read the complete works of an author in chronological order ? 1:06:29 Favourite artists aside from writers 1:06:50 Have you ever considered launching your own literary review ? 1:06:55 Advice for someone who a non-reader to keep them hooked 1:08:29 Have you ever read Flatland 1:08:53 Do you have a secret stash of old books 1:09:18 Which original manuscript would you like to own (?) 1:09:24 Favourite African authors 1:09:32 Bad book you still love 1:09:38 Good book you dislike 1:09:44 Weirdest book you own 1:09:54 Favourite publisher 1:09:59 Things that rub you the wrong way when reading fiction 1:10:02 Books you own that you can't read a word of 1:10:12 Authors who deserve the Nobel Prize, but will likely never get it 1:10:20 Will you ever answer Marcel Proust's questionnaire in a video ? 1:10:26 Have you ever met one of your favourite authors 1:12:04 Outro

You're making it harder for me to go to work on Fridays...

Im not sure what it is, but a simple humble guy just talking about books for an hour or more always does it for me.

Regarding the question at around 54 minutes, everyone is entitled to their opinion etc etc, but it blows my mind that anyone can think Infinite Jest is boring, pretentious nonsense. I don't care much for anything else Wallace wrote, but Infinite Jest stands out as simultaneously one of the most compelling, entertaining reads of the 20th Century, a beautifully written and constructed encyclopedic novel in which every detail matters to the plot, and a devastating indictment of both postmodern irony and the poisonous notion that the self/ subjectivity is just an illusion. Also, just personally, Don Gately (AKA Sir Osis of Thulliver; AKA the Bimster) is one of my favourite characters in all of literature.

Your reasons for resisting becoming a content creator are precisely why your videos are the best on the Tube. You’re not here for the clicks, or the brand. You’re here for the BOOKS. Almost nothing ever remains sacred in this world, but your channel is a beacon. And I thank you for that, friend.

Like someone else said, what a treat! Now there is another Q&A that i can watch thirty times!

I am somehow glad to hear you’re a Christian . Us Christians are often considered very close minded and you’re a great example of a practicing Christian who is not afraid of exposing himself to a variety of philophies which question and often attack our faith. In my case, everything I’ve read, from Camus to Beckett, only managed to strengthen my faith without as much as a drop in my fondness for these writers who had strong arguments against religion. Keep up the good work and God bless you.

Spring '75, sitting in the Curry cafeteria in Yosemite Valley I looked over a few tables to see a woman wearing a Byron the Bulb tee-shirt. Had to compliment her on it.

My Carver phase during my late teens (late 2000s) will remain one of my favorite reading moments

I was just watching your past Q & A videos while at work from a few years ago and thinking to myself, I really wish he’d still make these. What a great surprise lol

The only book that has made this 40-year-old man cry like a baby (including rereadings) is Solenoid. For me it is the best novel ever written.

For African Literature I'd recommend Ayi Kwei Armah, Wole Soyinka, Amos Tutuola and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o - for some metaphysical delights

Really happy to hear your answer about reading speed. I thought you had some super speed reading ability given the sheer amount you've read, glad to hear that we read at the same speed!

Thank you. Your calm answers have brightened this difficult day for me

My Friday treat has arrived!

This was a wonderful Q&A. Thank you for posting this!

Love to see how your channel has grown. I stumbled upon it when you were just a young KZfaq pup. Keep up the good work

Thank you for your insight - I look forward to your videos on why you enjoy Infinite Jest, your end of year book awards, and your next Q&A. It was brutal hearing the importance of rereading while seeing both 'My Struggle' and 'In Search of Lost Time" on your shelves - Life is finite

Haven’t watched the whole Q&A yet, my observation of against the day has merit, I am so excited for what’s to come. Thanks for your content!

Your knowledge and your thoughts are outstanding, you are my favorite person on KZfaq, you are effortlessly make great and worth my time content, the best KZfaqr without being concern to the popularity, just outstanding!!!

Thanks for doing another Q&A, these are very enjoyable. I read Bubblegum on your recommendation this year and it’s definitely been my favorite book of 2023 (though White Noise is quite the contender).

my question got answered! your answers were very satisfying, especially the idea of moving to book criticism working for you. the second one was a long shot, and your answer is fair. who knows how the weird internet algorithms work? what you said helped though!

Thanks for picking my question. I will definitely follow that. Great video as always and I will wait for that Infinite Jest video as I plan to reread it.

I’ll be counting down the days til that DeLillo video. Great insights as always!

Against The Day?!?!? Dreams do come true!!!!

Just picked up a Byron the Bulb shirt, as well as The Pale King one :) thanks!

Highly suggest Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere - it's a profound look at what structured religion (notably, Catholicism) and all its politics can do to affect all stages of a developing and fractured society. I've heard that Rizal was inspired by Victor Hugo, which makes sense since Rizal went to study in Europe before coming back to the Philippines, and then getting martyred in the country's revolutions. I'm hoping Philippine literature finds a niche in popular culture; I'm currently on a journey to devour as much of my culture's writing (in English) as I can!

Excited for AtD. It's up there with my favourite Pynchons, and even in my favourite books of all time, rivaling GR itself.

You mentioned SE Hinton, and The Outsiders, but one book that Hinton wrote for young people that I think might deserve your take is Rumble Fish. The film adaptation of Rumble Fish by Coppola is lacking, but that’s because film cannot accomplish the interesting thing that Hinton does with POV. The entirety of Rumble Fish describes the mental breakdown and death of an older brother through the pov of his younger brother looking back, through miles of brain fog, and after years of head injuries and jail stints. The younger brother’s memory has faded but the entire story has a Greek tragedy element baked in by Hinton, who believes Rumble Fish to be her best book. Also, ofc, I’d love your take on Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events. But that’s just me :)

Thank you for this video! I really enjoyed it. I'm going on a trip to Ireland in about a month, and I want to familiarize myself with some of their literature before I go, so I am curious to hear about some Irish books that you think are essential to read? :)

After watching a good chunk of your videos, my gut says you'd like Céline's Death on Credit even better than Journey. I think there's something about it being pulled from earlier memories that gives his writing more of a transportive quality there. Dunno, it's been more than a decade, but when I see it on the shelf it feels more like a "portal" than Journey

Always enjoy these from you! I believe I see A Dance to the Music of Time behind you. Have you read those books or do they belong to the unread 5%? Would love to see you cover them someday.

Regarding Oppenheimer being like a novel- you have to see A Brighter Summer Day by Edward Yang. It is *the* novelistic movie for me. I won’t spoil the literary tie in, but it might surprise you.

Wonderful and inspiring. I’m curious to hear what’s your favorite novel or story by Hemingway?

Have you finished Pychon's oeuvre? I didn't hear it being mentioned on your list of writer's complete works

Q&A let's go!

I'm an attentive reader myself, currently immersed in 'The Recognitions.' It's been a year since I reignited my reading habit, and I quickly found myself drawn to so-called postmodernist works. It's a bit of a cruel irony that, despite being a slow reader, I'm drawn to these often massive novels. Anyway, this may seem like a superficial question, but how many hours do you spend reading each day? There are numerous hefty books I'd love to delve into, but I find it challenging to maintain a consistent reading momentum.

Have you considered reading This Census Taker by China Mieville? I think it would be right up your alley. Themes of memory, identity, and unreliable narrative. Very reminiscent of Krasznahorkai, Nadas, and Fosse! Strong recommend. Thanks for your channel!

As a fellow Moby-Dick obsessive PLEASE track down Zoellner’s ‘Salt-Sea Mastodon’. I’ve read Moby-Dick 9 times (I think?) and Zoellner’s close, close reading stunned me. (I also have found most of the secondary literature pretty underwhelming. It usually feels reductive to Melville’s scope.)

Have you ever tried to interview WTV? I’d love to hear that conversation. Did you get a copy of Shadows of Love, Shadows of Loneliness?

15:52 - list of authors

How many books have read in languages other than English? I remember that you’ve read L’Étranger, anything else?

33:00

Dostoevsky's 'Demons' is a great exploration of ideology/ cults/ terrorism

Have you read much of the apostolic fathers?

Hey Mate have you read anything from Nicolas Gomez Davila?

did you read something from emanuel carrere? V13?

Do you plan on talking about Dostoevsky?

Which bible translation do you prefer? Please forgive me if you’ve answered previously. 😺✌️

how I can bring my kid, 8 yrs, to read books?

gm sir

Nah mate, you’ve got to get over the Shakespeare thing. That’s a joy people have shared for generations and generations.

Wrong. I would say.....never lie