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Ray Bradbury

Spoken Word

Background and poem text: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/17/billy-collins-reads-marginalia

POEM TEXT

Billy Collins reads "Marginalia"

Background, poem text, and context: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/08/09/charles-bukowski-reads-friendly-advice-to-a-lot-of-young-men/

Charles Bukowski reads his "Friendly Advice To A Lot Of Young Men"

Lou Reed at the Kelly Writers House. Background, transcript, and more here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/11/11/lou-reed-anthony-decurtis-interview/

MORE

Lou Reed on Laurie Anderson

A rare 1929 recording by the Dominion Gramophone Company. Background and story here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/13/a-a-milne-reads-winie-the-pooh-1929/

A.A. Milne reads from Winnie-the-Pooh, 1929

On Arthur Schopenhauer’s essays, “On Authorship and Style,” “On Thinking for Oneself,” and “On Genius” (all published 1851).

Is the best way to do philosophy (or any art) to self-consciously build on the work of others to advance the genre? Schopenhauer says no! Geniuses are solitary, original, authentic, naive thinkers. They write because they have something to say, not because they’re being paid. They don’t read too much for fear of being overwhelmed by their influences, and certainly don’t try to remember what they read too well like a scholar would. They think before writing, and get at perennial truths from their own, uniquely grown perspective. So don’t burden them with responsibilities like jobs and families, okay?

Mark, Wes, and Dylan try to figure out whether these harsh commandments hold water or whether S. is just giving excuses for his own unpopularity.

Go to blog

Schopenhauer on Reading, Writing and Thinking - Partially Examined Life

To read Neil's blog - "Ray Bradbury" - from 2012.06.06, visit http://bit.ly/ngjRAY1
To read his blog - "Ray Bradbury: In Memoriam and In Green Town Illinois" - posted in the evening of 2012.06.06, visit http://bit.ly/ngjRAY2

This recording was released via the Kickstarter/fan-funded live album "An Evening With Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer" - additional info available at http://kck.st/pF2lMG
Recorded on 2011.11.08 in Portland, OR at the Aladdin Theater.

Written and Read by Neil Gaiman | @NeilHimself

Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by Jaron Luksa | @JaronSound
Original artwork by Cynthia von Buhler | @CynthVonBuhler
Microphones furnished by Ear Trumpet Labs 

http://www.neilgaiman.com 
http://www.jaronsound.com 
http://www.cynthiavonbuhler.com 
http://www.eartrumpetlabs.com

The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury

Background: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/07/the-histories-of-the-universe-patti-smith/

Patti Smith "The Histories of the Universe" (1975)

Excerpt from Jeff Goldsmith's Q&A with Ray Bradbury, recorded at Comic Con 2010. Discussion and other highlights here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/04/ray-bradbury-comic-con-interview/

Full audio here: http://www.theqandapodcast.com/2012/06/ray-bradbury-q.html

Ray Bradbury on Predictions and the Secret of Life

Ray Bradbury on Space Exploration

Ray Bradbury on Libraries

Ray Bradbury on NASA

Ray Bradbury on Monorail

Ray Bradbury on (Not) Growing Up

Ray Bradbury on Loving Life

Lyrics & Lyricists with Stephen Sondheim

David Foster Wallace's iconic 2005 Kenyon College graduation address. Context and transcript here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/12/this-is-water-david-foster-wallace/

Part 2 here: http://soundcloud.com/brainpicker/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water-2

David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (part 1)

David Foster Wallace's iconic 2005 Kenyon College graduation address. Context and transcript here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/12/this-is-water-david-foster-wallace/

Part 1 here: http://soundcloud.com/brainpicker/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water-1

David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (part 2)

Excerpt from a 2005 discussion at the Kelly Writers House, courtesy of PennSound. Background and context: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/14/adrienne-rich-on-love-loss-happiness-creativity/

Adrienne Rich on public vs. private happiness

Read more: www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/01/10/massimo-vignelli-debbie-millman/

Excerpt from Debbie Millman's Design Matters interview: https://soundcloud.com/designmatters/massimo-vignelli

Graphic designer Massimo Vignelli on print vs. digital books

Background and context: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/03/18/tolstoy-reading-rare-1909-recording/

The fascinating story of A Calendar of Wisdom, with selected highlights: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/03/15/a-calendar-of-wisdom-tolstoy/

Leo Tolstoy reads from "A Calendar of Wisdom," 1909

Excerpt from Design Matters with Debbie Millman: https://soundcloud.com/designmatters/roberto-de-vicq

Background and discussion: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/25/roberto-de-vicq-de-cumptich-design-matters-debbie-millman/

Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich on the story behind Bembo's Zoo

Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich on Men of Letters and People of Substance

Maya Angelou tells Weekend Edition's Rachel Martin about what she does with her days off. Listen to the full interview this Sunday, March 31st.

Maya Angelou on her days off

Excerpt from Orwell's fantastic 1946 essay outlining his 11 "golden" rules of tea perfection: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/14/george-orwell-a-nice-cup-of-tea/

TRANSCRIPT / DETAILS

George Orwell on how to make the perfect cup of tea

An inspiring commencement address delivered to the graduating class at San Jose State University. Transcript and discussion: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/15/debbie-millman-look-both-ways-fail-safe/

Debbie Millman: Fail Safe

Annotated highlights and discussion: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/29/joss-whedon-2013-wesleyan-commencement-address/

Be All Your Selves: Joss Whedon's 2013 Wesleyan Commencement Address

Background and poem text <a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/09/24/f-scott-fitzgerald-reads-john-masefield-on-growing-old/">here</a>.