We're back at it with the Master and His Emissary Chapter 10, and we've brought a special guest to throw water on our enthusiasm! Nik has some choice words to say about McGilchrist's analysis of the Enlightenment (and everything else), Brevin is ready to go to war with birds, and Stephen takes the controversial position of disliking group projects. Have a listen!

307 The Problem with..."McGilchrist, RPG Novels, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 13" ft. Nik

While this podcast is supposed to be about the industrial revolution's creation of a dystopian hellscape, the Master and His Emissary sort of breezes by the topic, and the boys do too. Instead they talk about who to vote for in 2020, how many whole fried chickens one can stuff into a Bloody Mary, and even a mask/vaccine politics. Have a listen!

308 The Problem with “Romanticism, Blood Marys, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 14"

It's the homestretch as the Master and His Emissary stares at modernism and postmodernism. There's plenty more about why modern art is bad--what's not to like!? Also, Brevin brings an article about kickstarter board game bloat, Sam laments self-inviting relatives, and Stephen goes on an expectative-laced rant against innocent car enthusiasts. Have a listen!

309 The Problem with... "Modernism, Bad Neighbors, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 15"

It's finally the end of the Master and His Emissary. As they finish up the final chapter, the boys reflect on a long journey well spent, as well as critique a few gaps in the book's conclusion. Also, firebombing freemasons, sinophillic sociologists, Covid nonsense, and comic sans psychopathy. Have a listen!

310 The Problem with…"Zarathustra, Sociology, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 16"

The rest of the superlatives that went unasked.

Star Wars Superlatives: the Complete Saga (Bonus Clip)

Ideas have Consequences Chapters 4 and 5 brings some folksy wisdom, but also some very bad opinions about Jazz, which Sam takes to task. In other news, Stephen shows off his brewing and poetry skills, Brevin endorses apartment gardening, and ebooks are an abomination. Have a listen!

315 The Problem with…“Bad Jazz Opinions and Math Poetry”

The day has finally come to give DFW the treatment he deserves, and Stephen couldn’t be happier. We’ve brought on Liv as backup to explore the heavily foot- and endnoted fiction and non-fiction projects of David Foster Wallace. We discuss the importance of paying attention, the danger of entertainment, the struggle to escape postmodern cynicism, if the only way out is through, and finally what metamodernism may have to offer. Have a listen!
 
Articles:
-“This is Water” by David Foster Wallace (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCbGM4mqEVw)
-“A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again” by David Foster Wallace
-“The View from Mrs. Thompson's” by David Foster Wallace
-“ An Interview With David Foster Wallace” by Larry McCaffery
-“Philosophizing With Lightning?: a Review Of 'Metamodernism: The Future Of Theory'” by By Peter Fousek (https://www.hamptonthink.org/read/philosophizing-with-lightning-a-review-of-metamodernism-the-future-of-theory?)

417 The Problem with…“David Foster Wallace” ft. Liv

In which we begin our next book journey and introduce "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by the philosopher/sociologist/theologian Jacques Ellul. There's numerous reasons to read this book: the year, our technological stage, our memetic ecology. But also, it sounds fun. Pick up a copy and read along with us!

(Free online text: theanarchistlibrary.org/library/jacques-ellul-propaganda)

421 The Problem with... "Propaganda by Jacques Ellul"

The propaganda extravaganza continues with chapter 2 of "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by Jacques Ellul! In this episode we get into the conditions necessary for propaganda--the double sided coin of individualism and mass society, mass media, and information deluge. Also--health systems, more math from Stephen, and why the modern environmentalist movement needs better representatives. 

Cream o' Nihilism Soup: cracksinpomo.substack.com/p/cream-o-nihilism-soup
(Free online text: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/jacques-ellul-propaganda)

424 The Problem with..."Souped Art and Propaganda, Part 3" (fixed)

We finally reach the fifth and final chapter of Jacques Ellul's Propaganda: The Socio-Political Effects. In a world where ideology itself is subject to propagandistic forces, do ideas like democracy and freedom mean anything? Can religion use propagandistic techniques and escape unscathed? The answers will depress you! Have a listen!

427 The Problem with..."Democracy, Televised Mass, and Propaganda, Part 6"

**Dear Listener, if you listened to our Propagandistic escapades, or even just one or two episodes, we'd love to hear your questions, hot takes, and objections. Submit questions, written or audio, to "The Problem with Reading Podcast" Facebook page, and we'll endeavor to answer them in a future episode!**

In this packed episode, we close out our journey through Jacques Ellul's "Propaganda" with all the top takeaways you need to know. Can we beat propaganda? How should we think about advertising and social media? Did the Unabomber have a point? These answers and more!

429 The Problem with..."Final Thoughts, the Unabomber, and Propaganda, Part 7"

As we delve deeper into winter, it’s worth one last quick look back at the year past. 

For your consideration, The Problem with Reading presents the eight best articles of 2024 as chosen by elite and erudite past podcast guests. From Monks to Mathematically-Challenged Medicalists, from Gym Rats to Gambling Addicts, from Anti-culture to Architecture—we have the best of 2024 all in one place, and from the best people. Have a listen!

~Inside the Dangerous, Secretive World of Extreme Fishing: theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/10/extreme-fishing-montauk-wetsuiting-striped-bass/679574/
~"[Don't] Call Me Daddy": Manosphere influencers are not your father: cracksinpomo.substack.com/p/dont-call-me-daddy-manosphere-influencers
~The Last Rave: newyorker.com/magazine/2024/07/08/a-pandemic-breakup
~'I literally can't stop.' The descent of a modern sports fan: nytimes.com/athletic/5777632/2024/10/14/sports-betting-addiction-problem-fans/
~Apparently, Calculus Was Invented In 1994: forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/11/10/apparently-calculus-was-invented-in-1994/
~Literature, Culture and the Western Soul: stmichaelschool.us/forming
~Cities for Humans: firstthings.com/cities-for-humans/
~The Carthusians of Vermont: firstthings.com/the-carthusians-of-vermont/


501 The Problem with..."2024"

In which we begin our new book: "Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed" by James C. Scott. High Modernism, maps, peasant anthropology, utopian schemes, evil architects...this book has it all, and we're excited for the journey. 

502 The Problem with..."Seeing Like a State"

German Scientific Forestry goes horribly wrong! Cadastral mapping allow for state exploitation of otherwise illegible localities! Appearance of order does not imply efficiency! Also, Sam breaks his toe, Brevin enjoys Shamrock Shakes, and Stephen is an Engineer™.

503 The Problem with…“Forstwissenschaftlers and Seeing Like a State, Part 1”

Is your Last Name a government conspiracy? Is 2xPi overrated? Is illegibility of local conditions and terrain a protection against state control? The answer to all these questions is “Yes.”

504 The Problem with…"Tau, France, and Seeing Like a State, Part 2”

The hands of High Modernism have left their mark on world, nowhere more dramatically than on the form of the City. Le Corbusier, architect and supervillain, contends with Jane Jacobs, New York Lover and sidewalk-er. How many cubic meters of air does a person needs? How much empty pavement can put down? Is 18 lanes enough for the main street? All these questions and more, answered. Also, everyone is ill, or soon to be. 

505 The Problem with..."Architectural Despots, Jane Jacobs, and Seeing Like a State, Part 3"

We turn to Mother Russia, the Revolution, and a certain Mr. Lenin for another view into High Modernism. Weightlifting Socialists, vanguards, and alternative Marxisms are all on the table.  Separately, Stephen is a Doctor, ideas are special things, and we play out the episode with a special song. Have a listen! 

506 The Problem with..."Lenin, R&D, and Seeing Like a State, Part 4"

Dr. Mike joins the podcast to teach Metaphysics 101 and put Dr. Stephen in his place. We discuss the inescapability of metaphysics, the ontological argument (for perfect unicorns), and more. Plus, a game to decide the ultimate meta-metaphysician, and Mike hates basketball. Have a listen!

507 The Problem with..."Metaphysics" ft. Dr. Mike

Back in the day, all the cool kids were collectivizing farms, by force if necessary (it generally was). Did you know they were all High Modernists? James Scott tells the stories of Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Russia and their violent agricultural revolutions. The unfortunate meeting of capitalist and communist minds, united in the confidence of technocratic solutions, had immense the human cost, but led, inevitably, to legibility, and the reinforcement of the centralized state's position. Also, Spinal Tap for Sam, Stephen is mad about Grok, and Brevin's phone is going to explode. Have a listen!

508 The Problem with..."Communes, Spinal Tap, and Seeing Like a State, Part 5"

Polycropping, practical knowledge, and National Park Shenanigans; Have a listen!

509 The Problem with..."Polycropping, Death Cab, and Seeing Like a State, Part 6"

two lay catholics and an orthodox-adjacent nerd are unlikely roommates in a dystopian future where humans only exist as soundwaves. enjoy their attempts to discuss academic philosophy/words at all.

101 The Problem with..."Pilot Episodes and After Virtue, Part 1"

The Master and His Emissary

The crew's The Master and His Emissary reading series kicks off with the introduction (a very good place to start). Also, Brevin says words he may regret about the WHO, the internet gods disrupt the broadcast, and Sam thinks "problematic" is problematic. Have a listen!

213 The Problem with..."the WHO, Cooperative Board Games, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 1"

The boys tackle The Master and His Emissary chapter 3 in this lengthy episode, solving the problems of music, language, and thought itself in a tidy hour and ten. They also find another angle to hate upon abstract art, avoid politics, rip on PG movies, approve censorship, and dunk on street preachers. Finally, they agree that the good life is porch-sittin' with beer. Have a listen!

216 The Problem with… “PG Movies, Musilanguage, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 4"

The boys are together in person for the first LIVE Problem with Reading episode ever! Join them for more Master and His Emissary, more Heidegger, more bourbon, and more Q&As.

217 The Problem with… “LIVE Studio Audiences, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 5”

Stephen and Brevin are more modest this week and get through half of chapter 5, checking up on the primacy of the right hemisphere. Also: the Bible for Zoomers is the worst thing you've ever heard of, beer brewing is great, and something about golden bone leprechauns.

218 The Problem with... "Cap G, the Unconscious, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 6"

Stephen and Brevin finish off Ch.5 of the Master and His Emissary as we enter the home stretch of part one! Also in this podcast—corporations want to make religion because they are evil incarnate, Stephen has a fun encounter with soulless bureaucracy at Michigan’s version of the DMV, and our society is decadent AF. Have a listen!

220 The Problem with..."Corporate Sacraments, Decadence, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 7"

Stephen and Brevin finish up Part 1 of the Master and His Emissary to great fanfare. Also--White House tree planting traditions are opaque, Blade Runner 2049 has surprisingly good bioethics, and cookies are mmm.

221 The Problem with…“Replicants, Hemisphere Asymmetries, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 8”

The boys gather once more before the new year to retrospect over the first half of The Master and His Emissary. Joining them is the lord sponsor of the reading series and M+E evangelist Zach, who brings spicy takes, a dramatic voice, and archaic video game references. After that, the pod shifts into words about screens and seeing, cold soup and brunch, and the first of men. Also, four (4) rants from Stephen, Brevin, Zach and a secret guest to close out the season. Have a listen!

222 The Problem with... "Metroid Prime, Cold Soup, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 9" ft. Zach

We’re on to part two of the Master and His Emissary with Chapter 7! The boys tighten up their summarizing skills (hopefully) and talk through cultural memes and left-hemisphere feedback loops. Also, imitation is good for the soul, boots will save our civilization, and a look into the inner priesthood of right-wing ideology today. Finally, listen to Stephen hating on the news and tune in next week to see if his rant backfires!

302 The Problem with… “Cultural Genes, Hating Everyone, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 10"

The fellas tackle another full chapter of the Master and His Emissary, grapple with our helplessness in the face of our idiot ruling class, and invent Gerbil Theory (NSA grant pending). Also, Sam stages a coup against Stephen, Brevin reads a poem, and Christianity may have killed the Roman Empire. Have a listen!

303 The Problem with... "Whining, Chest Theory, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 11"

It is time to fix the Renaissance and the Reformation, and the boys manage to do so in just under an hour. Brevin tries to convince everyone the Martin Luther was the biggest mistake in history, spies don’t care about you, and Covid is changing how we do friendships. Also, Stephen hates physicists approximating equations badly, Sam welcomed the Superbowl’s uncontroversial commercials, and Brevin proposes a tea farm. Have a listen!

304 The Problem with… “The Tea Farm, and the Master and His Emissary, Part 12”

A book appreciation club hosted by one catholic, one anglican, and one orthodox nerd. We talk about book chapters, special topics, and what we're drinking. 

Currently: 
-James Scott's Seeing Like a State (502-present)

Previously:
-Jacques Ellul's Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (421-427, 429)
-Carl Trueman's Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self (407-410, 412-413, 415-416)
-Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death (402 and 405)
-Richard Weaver's Ideas Have Consequences (314-318) 
-Iain McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary (213-310)
-Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue (101-114,116-119)

You can find this podcast on most podcast applications, Itunes, Spotify, and Soundcloud.

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