How to Read Great Imaginative Literature 

"Re-reading is superior to reading" I love that !!!

This is top tier advice. Your channel is definitely inspirational. I’m 28 years old and I’m the only one I know who appreciates the written word as art. Russian classic literature (my favorite) has changed my life and the way I perceive everything. It sounds insane but I almost consider Dostoevsky a close friend bc I feel as though I’ve had countless conversations with him in my head. Sorry for the rambling I came here to say that I’m extremely appreciative and inspired to see someone around my age appreciate literature as an art as well.

"Good reading is like good living" -love that!

Anna Karenina!! The book that saved my life. I'm encouraging my granddaughter to read it, and re-read it.

A fellow student (who was reading The Great Books) changed our entire groups’ attitude by saying we were not worthy to be in that group (I was in charge of a group of 25 that was responsible for orienting freshmen to college). We spent much of the groups’ time talking about how we were to BECOME worthy, and it helped us become better people and better counselors to our charges. I have read widely but I now am adding to my education by reading additionally and re-reading many of the books I read when younger. It is so surprising what I missed before, and I thought I was a good reader! I still have much to learn!

I have started to read the books about 2 years now, but I hadn't had this much appreciation and compassion towards the classics the way I am feeling right now about them. You are amazing, love from Pakistan.

The introduction to reading I wish I got when I was a kid.

I just finished Don Quixote. I’m so glad you recommend rereading the great books. Not until I arrived at the end did I realize my mistake of reading too quickly. I need to read it again and thanks to your translation recommendation I will be purchasing a new book. I’m so glad I found your channel.

Such good advice. Slowing down is so important...its a bit like learning classical music, when we're in degrees in conservatories, we're forced to learn loads of complex, difficult works FAST. It's insane! In the end, you barely scratch the surface. Much nicer to learn one sonata or concerto over a long time (like a year). Lovely video!

Very insightful advice. I'm a classical musician. I got into Proust because of his love of Chopin. I got into Joyce because of his love of Mendelssohn, Meyerbeer, etc. Sharing commonalities with writer/text, helps.

Hi, your voice is so calming and mesmerizing. Sometimes I just put your videos on in the background of whatever I'm doing and it always makes me happy. :)

So true on the many lives you can live through books. I remember having no money in my bank on the way home from a job I hated but was reading Crime and Punishment on my Journey. The story of Raskalnikov made me not worry about financials and from then I have always said I would be happy as long as I have a good book along the Journey of life. Great vid! I also think of Boris from War and Peace in my daily life! Subscribed!

This is good life advice, let alone reading advice.

I can think of no greater example of what we can get out of great literature than this specific video, which shows a very articulate, intelligent, passionate man explaining something that is unique and, in itself, nourishing, and much of it can be attributed to the fact that this man has read great literature. I never knew that the re-read would be more enriching than the initial read, since all of the surprise is removed. I’ll give it a try. A lot to think about that I’ve honestly never considered. Thank you !

I have recently, after MANY years of procrastination, finally read WAR and PEACE, (Briggs translation) and found it fascinating, mostly the war part, to be honest, as I love reading books on history. However, I find myself even weeks after finishing the book,, still thinking and reliving parts thereof; particularly the beautiful imagery when Tolstoy described Andrey's thoughts whilst lying on the battlefield looking up to the sky, and then later, when he actually dies. I liked the book so much that I went and purchased Anna Karenina, but unfortunately, have not started it yet, as in the meantime, I stumbled across the Penguin Little Black Classics and bought The Death of Ivan Ilyich, which to me was short, but definitely not lacking in substance. I found brilliance in how the deaths of Andrey and Ivan Ilyich compared and contrasted. I see there are quite a number of books in the Little Black book series that are from other Russian authors and I want to know from you, Ben, do you know whether The Penguin Little Black books are all short stories or abridged? If they weren't unabridged, it would be great to have a good book at hand, when I have less time available for reading. Also, they are cheap enough to sample from a range of authors whose books I've always wanted to try. Thank you.

Thank you so much. For all your efforts. You have reignited the literature bug in me and I am very indebted. And it is true it takes you away from the frivolous aspects of life.

Your channel is brilliant and I'm quite happy to have found your channel.

I agreed, reading great works of what I call geniuses is the metamorphosis of my thoughts and perceptions of what goes around me …. The Death of Ivan Ilyich has stayed in my brain box for years until I was set free by directing my emotions to: Leonard Bast and the Schlegel sisters. Ooh how wonderful it is to live these hours with the deepest human struggles with uncertainty. Thank God I found you to share my most precious hours of my daily life. Thank you sincerely 🙏🏻because I thought I am all alone with my books 📚

Thank you so much for introducing me to some wonderful literature. I know you reviewed Don Quixote some time ago but I have only recently come across your chat on RU-vid about it and because of that I now have Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote and am working my way slowly through it. I find your explanations on the various aspects of the book so informative and helpful. I can see this work will take me quite a while to get through!!

When you speak and specifically speak about literature, you're so inspirational. I enjoy your vids immensely, and hopefully one day I can join your Patron. Thank you for your lectures and insight. They are so rewarding to watch.

Just found your channel and I'm hooked. Fully agree that our education system has crumbled. I'm in Canada and have decided to homeschool my kids so they can grow up with the education I wish I had, and reading great literature is something I want to share with them. Any tips on introducing children to great literature? Thanks!

Quick quick. We have to be quick! No no we can go slow. This channel is an inspiration.

Inspiring lecture as always. So glad I found your channel. Thank you.

I’m about 2/3 through the Iliad, and at first I was frustrated that it felt like slow going…but going slow enough to really absorb and appreciate is the way to go. Wish I had appreciated this back in school but then the reading was just one more assignment

I found you via Spotify when I was searching for something on Rilke's 'Letters': great find, thanks Ben. I'm in.

Discovered your channel while looking for Bradbury trio materials and I'm very glad to have stayed. Highly insightful content!

I have been reading every day for over twenty years. Recently I have increased the amount I read, i.e., the amount of time I read, so much so that recently my wife and I have stayed at hotels several times in the past few weeks and haven't turned on the TV at all. In the past, turning on the TV is the first thing I did when entering a hotel room. I am also reading more than one book at a time. Currently I'm reading five and taking my time with all of them. Your videos have given me much needed instruction on how and what to read. I am reading the Russians presently; Turgenev, Tolstoy. I haven't yet read any Dostoyevsky but will eventually. Thank you.

Hello!! I just found your channel and am loving your content. I had tried reading One Hundred Years of Solitude a few years ago but couldn't get into it. I recently revisted it and with your advise of simply slowing down and jotting notes was able to finish it. So glad I was able to not only read, but enjoy this book thoroughl!! Thank you!!

I’m incredibly grateful that the algorithm suggested your channel. Having studied Humanities in the early 90s, you’ve reignited my love of reading, long neglected in lieu of life and other things. Yesterday, I bought 5 new copies of works recommended by you, and last night I started Song of Solomon. You’re a gem, Ben. Thanks 🙏

Thank you so much for sharing this great and truly helpful advice!

I agree with all of your assessments. Glad to have found this channel. Great work brother.

Loved this advice. So nicely put.

My brother (only six years older) got a better education than I did, he ended up majoring in Greek, the biggest difference between us was the transistor. He needed to make his own music, while I listened to the radio! I am reading books over again and it makes such a difference! It has given me so much more understanding.

A really nice video, and i learned a lot from it. Thanks.

This is such a simple yet excellent description of how and why to read great literature.

So well-articulated, Ben! I’m such a sucker for that ‘reader’s sublime’. I can still remember reading Madame Bovary at 14 and feeling strangely sad about Emma’s fate (bit weird for a teenager who didn’t know the first thing about marriage and adultery lol). Have been gravitating towards literature about dysfunctional marriages ever since... not at all spoilt for choice! Have you read John Updike, by the way? He’s one my favourite modern greats. :)

Hi Benjamin, Thank you for the clarification. Being not native English, originally Arab, I have to translate a couple of words per page or more. That really makes it difficult to follow along and wastes time. More challenging yet is the cultural differences that a western would view some words or a phrase that a non native wouldn’t. Your comments if you like!

Another great video, you are saying exactly what I've been thinking.

This channel is great! ❤️❤️❤️

This has to be the very best of your wonderful videos. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I really enjoy hearing about your approach to reading. Mainly because it validates what I I have been doing when I read books. Last book I read (Joyce Carol Oates's The gravedigger's daughter) mentioned various Classical music and Jazz tracks, and now I have a whole newfound interest and appreciation, just by looking them up and making that association written word-music. I also write notes and spontaneous thoughts down, as Levin says: "a correct thought cannot fail to bear fruit". Additionally, since I have a modest Tarot collection, I draw cards for characters in novels, match cards to concepts learned, et cet. It is so much fun. I saw you are a Tarot fan as well so perhaps you understand my nerdiness :). I am so looking fwd to the lectures. And these videos are gems! Thank you, Ben.

I needed to hear this.

You are so motivating!

Ja uwielbiam czytać klasykę. Czuję takie pragnienie żeby poznać jak najwięcej klasycznej literatury. Odkąd przeczytałam Braci Karamazow Dostojewskiego. I tak od 20 lat.

I can't recall who said we should concentrate on just a few classics - Aeneid, Iliad, Homer, Ovid etc - and read them only, again and again in our whole life. Same might apply to some of the great (thick) novels. As you say, don't v try to read everything, but really know a few.

I’ve just come across your channel, and it’s great. I have to ask you a stupid question. Do you read multiple books at the same time? I feel you must. This is something I haven’t done since my college days, but watching several of your videos makes me want to do so.

My biggest complaint with the education system is that I don't feel like it taught us HOW to think, and now as an adult I don't know how to teach myself that skill.

I feel like you are a figment of my imagination and I've just conjured you up.

Really like your posts

Thank you so much.

I should've watched this video years ago 😢 Wonderful

You convinced me!

I like your philosophy on reading.

This is fascinating!

Hi Benjamin, Thank you for these great insightful videos! I was wondering; have you read the divine comedy? Was this assigned reading during your degree, and if so, what translation did the university recommend? And which is your personal favourite?

Ah, Proust's famous Allareshedutompaydu ☺️

Amazing. Thank you ❤ Luckily I am a slow reader. I would never speed read a literature I WANT to read. Thank you for great points of view

Hi benjamin, you are so inspiring!! Unfortunately my native language is spanish....Can you recommend any club in that language?

14 countries in 14 days sounds like the typical American tour of Europe, or maybe they would do it in 7 days: one country in the morning and one in the afternoon. I never did this kind of traveling and never thought I'd visited a place until I'd spent at least a month there, better three. Seven years with Proust sounds about right, for a first reading.

Thank you

Benjamin, what would be a good translation of Beowulf? I'm aware of Seamus Heaney's and Tolkien's translations. What would be the best I could find? Also, is there a translation that has both modern English and Old English?

I feel as you are my best friend❤

How do you choose the books you want to read

You should read Tolstoy's short stories.

Slow down, hard to do. I'm working on Tolstoy these days. Trying to figure out what is going on there. How important is taking notes? I'm alone and no one is interested in sharing.

Could a 13 year old read chekov

😊

Oscar Wilde should be in there

So read slow I will not have any difficulty doing that I am a slow reader by nature

❤🙏📚📖📓

I’m reading short stories by Anton Chekov. The translation is not good. Any recommendations on Russian to English translators?

👍👍👍👍👍

Never underestimate the fourth brain..LOL

Thank you so much for doing all this work .I would like to know which essays would be a good start to read.