The hottest Classics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

The life of a common reader

The Common Reader • 1027 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Remember the importance of nurturing your inner self and being uniquely you instead of blindly imitating others.
  2. Biographies can reveal controversial and intimate details, sparking debates on how much should be shared, yet some believe in telling everything.
  3. Common readers play a vital role in keeping great works alive, shaping a legacy of love for reading that extends across generations.

Hektor's Body and the Burden

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 79 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Book 22 of the Iliad focuses on three main parts: suspense building up to the final confrontation between Achilles and Hector, the face-off itself and the mistreatment of Hector's body, and the initial reactions to Hector's death, especially Andromache's lament.
  2. The narrative in Book 22 sheds light on themes of heroism, the interaction between gods and humans, and the dynamics of friends and family relationships.
  3. Hector's behavior in Book 22 illustrates the complex internal struggles faced by individuals in times of crisis, highlighting the psychological and emotional toll of prolonged uncertainty and anticipation.
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"As If He Were Going to His Death"

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. The language in Priam's journey in Iliad 24 is filled with themes of burial and death, evoking a sense of a funerary procession and a heroic journey.
  2. Hermes' role in leading Priam to Achilles represents a transition between different realms, symbolizing a journey to the underworld and emphasizing the exceptional nature of the epic's scene.
  3. The movements and interactions in book 24 of the Iliad draw upon traditions of katabasis, the mythological motif of entering the underworld, and reflect on themes of death, burial practices, and honoring the dead, creating a rich interplay between narrative and ritual.

Zeus and 'Righting' the Divine Constitution

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 99 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Book 15 of the Iliad focuses on Zeus reestablishing his authority among the gods and reigniting his plan.
  2. The actions and conversations among the gods in Book 15 offer insights into divine politics and how they mirror human political dynamics.
  3. Zeus' leadership style in Book 15 contrasts with human governance, showcasing the implausibility of replicating divine autocracy on earth.

Achilles' Wicked Deeds

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Evaluation of epic actions requires understanding ancient cultural context and avoiding anachronism
  2. The sacrifice of the twelve Trojan youths by Achilles in the Iliad highlights extreme grief and excessiveness in the narrative
  3. The depiction of human sacrifice in the Iliad serves to characterize Achilles as an individual separate from traditional, civilized society

That Mare is Mine!

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Iliad 23 is dedicated to honoring Patroklos through burial and funeral games, reflecting themes of heroism, politics, and narrative traditions.
  2. Funeral games in Greek narratives serve as settings to explore shared elite culture and establish identities through non-destructive competition.
  3. The funeral games in Iliad 23 provide a ritualized space for re-imagining politics, resolving conflicts, and showcasing Achilles' character growth.

When Hell freezes over and Tolstoy learns to skate

The Lifeboat • 195 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
📚 Literature Classics
  1. The painting 'The Devil skating when Hell freezes over' has a confusing history, with two artists named John Collier possibly involved. It raises questions about the truth of art and how things can get mixed up over time.
  2. Leo Tolstoy enjoyed skating and even learned it in his 60s. He brought joy to children by teaching them how to skate, seeing it as a kind of spiritual enlightenment.
  3. The conversation about whether Tolstoy could be depicted as the Devil highlights the blend of reality and myth in Russian literature. It questions how society views good and evil and whether everyone has a bit of both within them.

Always Second Best (Or Worst)

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 79 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Book 17 of the Iliad focuses on the characterization of Hektor, revealing his shortcomings as a warrior despite his reputation.
  2. The primary Trojan fighters like Hektor, Aeneas, and Sarpedon in the Iliad do not always live up to expectations on the battlefield, showcasing the complexities of warfare and heroism.
  3. Hektor's actions and interactions in book 17 highlight the themes of divine intervention, personal agency, and the inevitability of failure in the epic narrative.

Laying My Burdens Down

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Hektor imagines disarming to meet Achilles and make a truce, emphasizing pity and shame as softer moral norms.
  2. Hektor's longing for an equal relationship with Achilles shows a desire for a peaceful resolution, although their fate is driven by duty and rage.
  3. The interactions between Hektor, Achilles, and Patroklos create a complex web of emotional intensity and tragedy in the _Iliad_.

Dead and Gentle Forever

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Briseis' lament in the Iliad provides insight into her character and serves as a foreshadowing of Achilles' fate.
  2. Briseis' evolving relationship with Achilles in the epic raises questions about the nature of their bond, revealing complexities and ambiguities.
  3. Briseis' character is instrumentalized in the Iliad to serve the narrative needs of Achilles, highlighting broader themes of women's agency and treatment in the story.

Stop and Hear the Stories!

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 79 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎙 Podcasts Classics
  1. The post discusses podcasts that delve into Homer, heroic patterns, and ancient literature, featuring engaging conversations and interpretations.
  2. There is a mention of various podcast appearances by the author, covering different aspects of Homer's works like the Iliad, Achilles, Paris, and their impact on modern culture.
  3. The author also references video content related to myths and explores the intersection of classic stories with contemporary media like movies.

HOISTED FROM A YEAR AGO: Why Is There No Gentry-Massacring Peasant Jacquerie in "Pride & Prejudice"?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 169 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Mr. Bennet from 'Pride and Prejudice' has a lot of income from his estate compared to typical workers, raising questions about his wealth. His lifestyle reflects a significant gap from the common folk who earn much less.
  2. Historically, landowners like Mr. Bennet didn't rely on battle skills for their wealth, unlike knights of the past. Their wealth comes from owning land and having no direct skills to justify their social standing.
  3. While France faced revolts that changed the system and broke down feudal privileges, England managed to avoid such upheaval. This difference shaped the future of the social classes in both countries.

CROSSPOST: BRET DEVEREAUX: Once You Imagine Aleksander the Great’s Victims as People…

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 7 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
💾 History Classics
  1. If you imagine Alexander’s victims as real people, it becomes much harder to call him 'great' because modern historians emphasize his unprovoked wars, massacres, and the human cost of conquest.
  2. There’s a heated debate about teaching 'Western civilization' today: some defend a traditional canon while others say the term is outdated and often used by white supremacists, so alternatives like the 'Dover Circle' are proposed.
  3. Praise for ancient conquerors has political consequences now, with some right-wing figures celebrating them and critics warning that such endorsements can feed neofascist or extremist appropriations of classical history.

Dante's Medieval Transhumanist Fantasy

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 16 Aug 23
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Dante's vision of heaven in 'Paradise' shares similarities with contemporary transhumanist ideas like digital immortality and superhuman knowledge.
  2. Both Dante's medieval perspective and modern transhumanist ideas emphasize the urgency of living to secure a better future, whether in heaven or in a digital afterlife.
  3. Dante and transhumanist engineers are committed rationalists but diverge in their approach to ideal futures, with bookish utopias focusing on intellectual bliss.

2025 Year in Books

From the Desk • 9 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Thirty-three books were read in 2025, more than in 2024 and 2023, and the year had the highest average rating so far.
  2. Libraries and Little Free Libraries were a big part of the reading life—twelve books came from the library and seven from Little Free Libraries—encouraging serendipity, saving money, and cutting down on shelf clutter.
  3. There was a clear reading strategy: abandon books that aren’t working, follow impulse picks when they catch interest, and curate favorites across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and a small did-not-finish list.

Late bloomers, Iliad, strategic romance, classic physics, Murdoch v Amis, Swift's grammar, opera boy, long sentences, Hayek/Mill/game theory

The Common Reader • 389 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Late bloomers can achieve great success, like the 43-year-old tennis champion Rohan Bopanna
  2. Different paths lead to success - Larry David's comedy career took off in his 20s and 30s
  3. The journey to success may involve struggles and challenges before finding one's true calling

The Last Day of a Condemned Man—Reflections on Capital Punishment through Hugo, Dostoevsky, Camus, and Boethius

Vremya • 119 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Victor Hugo's novel, _The Last Day of a Condemned Man_, explores the deep emotional struggles of a man facing execution. It raises questions about the morality of the death penalty and encourages readers to empathize with those condemned.
  2. Albert Camus argues against capital punishment by challenging its effectiveness as a deterrent. He believes that improving living conditions and education could be better solutions for reducing crime.
  3. Dostoevsky and Boethius, both faced with potential execution, reflected on their experiences through writing and philosophy. They showed how facing death can lead to profound insights about life, justice, and the human condition.

Epic Narratives and their Local Sidekicks

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Book 13 of the Iliad showcases lesser-known Homeric heroes like Idomeneus and Meriones, echoing the heroic pairs of other epics, highlighting the importance of these relationships in narrative structures.
  2. The pairing of heroes and their sidekicks allows audiences to see heroes in friendships, possibly providing commentary on characters who lack such relationships, like Hektor, showcasing a social and political deprivation.
  3. The rise of Idomeneus in Book 13 integrates Cretan myths into the Homeric narrative, demonstrating the Homeric strategy of incorporating local traditions and narrative patterns into epic storytelling.

Exciting news from Scroll 5!

Vesuvius Challenge • 117 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
📚 Literature Classics
  1. The P.Herc. 172 scroll from Oxford shows dense ink, which helps in identifying the text better than other scrolls. This makes it easier to detect letters and understand its content.
  2. Preliminary findings suggest that the scroll might be written by Philodemus, a famous philosopher. Some words found indicate it could be a complete work, not just a draft.
  3. This scroll has unique physical traits that might help decode other scrolls with unclear texts. As research continues, the hope is to develop better methods for reading ancient writings.

Links for February

By Reason Alone • 101 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
📚 Literature Classics
  1. PhD programs are not taking as long to finish as people think. Many students are completing their degrees faster than before.
  2. Curiosity is an important trait for learning and exploration. It helps us understand complex topics and makes us better listeners.
  3. Reading widely, especially foundational texts like the Bible or works by important figures like Shakespeare, can greatly enhance our understanding of literature and culture.

Dolon and Achilles; Dolon AS Achilles

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Scholars have differing views on the importance of Iliad 10 in the epic, with some questioning its traditional basis and relevance to the main story.
  2. Book 10 of the Iliad offers important insights into the themes of politics, heroism, and community, showcasing contrasts between different characters like Dolon and Achilles.
  3. The opening lines of the Iliad set the tone for the epic, focusing on the rage of Achilles, which evolves the story into a narrative about his anger and its impact on his own people.

99 Homeric Problems

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 79 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
📚 Literature Classics
  1. The Homeric epics have been interpreted differently over time, and understanding this is crucial when studying them.
  2. The 'Homeric Question' involves debates about the authorship, oral tradition, and the reception of the epics.
  3. The transmission models, stages for the epic, and reception models offer insights into the complex history of the Homeric texts and how they were perceived over time.

The Plight of Zoomers: An Empty Tradition

Trantor Publishing • 139 implied HN points • 06 Dec 22
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Understanding the meaning of a text requires cultural context and background knowledge.
  2. Classic literary works like Ancient Greek Literature and Shakespeare may become inaccessible or forgotten by younger generations.
  3. The transmission of traditional cultural knowledge to the Zoomer generation seems to be lacking, raising questions about what will be preserved for the future.

Merely the Third To Kill Me

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Patroklos' death in the Iliad is a pivotal moment that redirects Achilles' rage towards Hektor and explores themes of hubris and fate.
  2. The use of apostrophe in Homer, like directly addressing characters, creates emotional impact and immersion for the audience.
  3. Hektor's role in Patroklos' death raises questions about heroism, fate, and the ambivalence towards excellence in warfare.

Falling Asleep after Sex and Other Cosmic Problems

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. The scene of Zeus being seduced by Hera in the Iliad offers insights into divine cosmos, power dynamics, and themes of desire and limitations.
  2. The interaction between Zeus and Hera reflects on themes of succession, desire, and the disruption of divine order in the broader context of the Trojan War narrative.
  3. Comparisons between the Iliadic scene and the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite highlight the serious undertones of desire and its impacts on gods and humans in cosmic narratives.

A Heroic Tale Curtailed

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Homeric poetry's characteristic of digressions and narrative explorations provides context and content to a larger world, reflecting how human memory works.
  2. The intricate meanings in Homeric narratives are collaborative developments in a dynamic context between composer and audience, capitalizing on human memory and cognition.
  3. The story of Othryoneus seeking Kassandra's hand in book 13 of the Iliad reflects themes of war, glory, and futility, with details that resonate through familiar storytelling traditions.

Announcing Aristotle in Your Pocket

What Is Called Thinking? • 29 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🚌 Education Classics
  1. There's a new digital library that has over 4,000 great books all in one place. It makes reading and learning easier and more enjoyable.
  2. This library connects different books, letting readers explore ideas and themes across various texts.
  3. The goal is to help people discover the joy of learning and make classic literature accessible to everyone.

House Sitting in Kiev—Or Why I Read

Vremya • 479 implied HN points • 02 Jul 21
📚 Literature Classics
  1. House sitting in Kiev gave me a chance to explore the city and enjoy time alone. It was during this time that I rekindled my love for reading.
  2. I realized that reading is about personal freedom and self-discovery. The books we choose help shape who we are.
  3. It's important to choose what we read for ourselves rather than letting others dictate it. Everyone should have the freedom to explore different ideas and authors, even if they can be controversial.

Homer's Parents, Country, and True Name

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Homer's parentage and birthplace were subjects of debate in antiquity, with various conflicting claims made about his lineage, including being the son of different figures or from different regions.
  2. Homer's name is believed to have origins linked to tense political situations, where he was named after being a hostage or because he provided inspired war advice.
  3. Homeric poems were not necessarily composed as complete works but were performed in parts by rhapsodes, later compiled and ordered by various individuals, including Pisistratus the tyrant of Athens.

All the (Epic) Rage: Free Tools for Reading Homer's Iliad

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Translations of Homer's work can be creations of their own, offering unique insights and serving different audiences.
  2. Studying and understanding Homeric language and meaning requires repetition, reflection, and discussion with others.
  3. Online tools like the Scaife Viewer and the Homer Multitext Project provide valuable resources for studying Homer's works, offering lexicons, manuscripts, and commentaries.

Two perspectives on the liberal arts and the humanities

Heterodox STEM • 199 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🚌 Education Classics
  1. Liberal arts education in the US may serve different purposes for elites and non-elites, with disparities in expectations and outcomes.
  2. Humanities education is seen as vital for a well-rounded education and understanding fundamental human questions and experiences.
  3. Reading classic literature may play a role in shaping perspectives and values, potentially reducing susceptibility to certain societal trends like 'wokeness'.

Tyranny and the Plot

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Book 8 of the Iliad focuses on Zeus shaping the plot through divine council and speeches, emphasizing the influence of Gods and Humans in the narrative.
  2. Zeus's control of the plot showcases his authority and highlights the consequences of opposing him, reflecting a theme of power dynamics and storytelling.
  3. Scholars propose book divisions in the Iliad align with potential performances, with Zeus's speeches marking key moments and guiding the understanding of the epic's plot.

The Decline Will Occur Incrementally

Story Club with George Saunders • 50 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Change happens slowly over time, it's not always sudden. You might not notice it day to day, but over the years, things can shift a lot.
  2. Understanding someone's struggles can come from their relationships, like in stories where personal lives influence their work. It shows how feelings and experiences shape creativity.
  3. Literature often reflects personal experiences, and authors might use their own lives in their stories. This can lead to some interesting insights about their characters.

(Re-)Starting the Trojan War

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
📚 Literature Classics
  1. Book 3 of the Iliad provides examples of Homeric style through delays in the fighting and unconventional scenes.
  2. The dominant theme of the third book of the Iliad is the past, showcasing how the narrative weaves together different stories and traditions.
  3. Helen's role in creating a visual narrative sets the stage for the action in the Iliad, showing the interplay of characters and suffering in the Trojan War.