Why should you read James Joyce's "Ulysses"? - Sam Slote 

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"If Ulysses isn't worth reading, then life isn't worth living" - Joyce Well, we'd all like to write our own reviews.

I started reading Ulysses 15 years ago and am nearly one third the way through it.. I'm 40 now so I should get there before I die

If anyone is looking to start reading "Ulysses", please read Joyce's other book "Dubliners" first. Dubliners has a few short stories which help you grasp the writing of Joyce. Then Ulysses will be (slightly) easier to read and comprehend.

"If Ulysses isn't worth reading, then life isn't worth living". Yeah i agree; life isn't worth living.

This made Joyce sound like a hipster laying down every cultural reference and joke he knows in a book and then got mad that no one got his reference or that his book didn't make sense. Joyce was hip before hip was hip.

If you want to read it, as I did, I advise you to buy one copy of Ulysess along with the books "Ulysses Annotated" by Don Gifford (which contains more than 8000 entries that explains historical and literary references within Ulysses) and "James Joyce's Ulysses: A Study" by Stuart Gilbert, which is a reading guide for the novel written by a personal friend of Joyce.

I've been reading "Ulysses" this year and I've needed a lot of help getting through it. Mostly, I've been listening to a lecture series from The Great Courses. If you look up Joyce's "Ulysses" by Professor James A.W. Heffernan, he gives a chapter by chapter analysis to help you understand what Joyce is saying. It's very helpful, and entertaining! Heffernan really knows his stuff and he's good at doing accents as they appear in the book. Sorry for sounding like an ad, but the book is super challenging, and the lecture series made it a lot easier for me.

Perfect for reading over the course of 15 years with the last page being read to the girl who told you to after trying to run away from home

They make it sound like Ulysses is the Dark Souls of books.

I tried to read Ulysses twice. The first time I made it to page 50, and returned it to the library. The second time I did rather better; I returned it after reading page 3.

I think the best advice that I could give someone who wants to read Ulysses is: 1. Accept that you will not get everything. People have made it their entire job to study this book and try to understand it completely. You will not get everything on one pass. And that is okay, it makes it even more fun when (or maybe if...) you decide to read it again. 2. Read his earlier works: Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. This will get you used to his language and some themes and make it an easier start. 3. Get "Ulysses Annotated". This is like the encyclopedia of Ulysses. If you find something that you don't understand and want answered/explained then you will find it in this book. 4. If you feel like you have the energy you should read "The Odyssey" (and therefore also the prequel "The Iliad") by Homer. This may seem daunting but it is really rewarding. Just make sure to get a good and not overcomplicated translation. With these things done and with the correct mindset of "I won't understand every detail" getting through this book, while not a breeze will be much easier. It may seem like a lot of work (and it is) but I for one think reading ulysses for the first time is among the greatest literary experiences of my life and I hope it will be for you too. Ps. If you get through Ulysses have a look at Finnegans Wake also by Joyce. If you think getting through Ulysses was hard try getting through the first page of that book.

A book so great, I’ve never met anyone who actually read it all the way through. And I have a degree in English literature.

“My book is so detailed you could recreate a city from it!” “My book is as meaningful as life itself!” Yeah, Joyce sounds like he was a real joy to be around

i feel so cultured by watching Ted-ed Videos

Indeed Ulysses is hard to read... but hey, imagine how hard it was for Ulysses to come back home from Troy! And that's how I read it...every chapter, an adventure, with perils and hardship. For instance, it is very hard to pass the sirens chapter... You get super distracted but the sounds, the rhymes, the alliterations...that you can't pay attention to the story. Pretty much like when Ulysses had to past through the sirens in his own journey....In a nutshell, when you overcome the whole book, it's bliss. Unforgettable. Trust me, you'll never read any other book the same way, after this journey.

You just convinced me to read Ulysses. It is almost unbelievable that a human wrote such a masterwork as you've described it. Thank you.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the beauty, detail and elegance of the animation and music in the video. Well produced Ted-Ed ✨

I have participated in Bloomsday events over the years. The first thing that I realized is that the text is meant to be read aloud. Once I got that, I was happy to join reading groups. It is like the bit in "Educating Rita", when Rita's intellect and love of literature blooms and addresses the question of "How to Stage Ibsen's Peer Gynt"? Put it on the radio.

I'll get to it after I finish "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and this pile of Billy Bunter and Biggles novels.

Video: “it’s up to the reader to get a shovel” Me: *hits book with shovel*

I really love this “Why you should read” series, I end up reading the books in those videos. Keep it up!

I've avoided the work for many decades, this video has convinced me that it is worth giving a genuine attempt. Thanks for sharing this.

Well I think you may have convinced me to take a stab at this famously tough read. One tip I can pass along to others regarding tackling challenging books is to simply keep reading. Don't get hung up on a difficult passage or sentence just plow through it. If you understand none of it you can choose to reread it or not. You don't need to get everything in a novel to enjoy a work in it's totality. It's more important (for me at least)to get into the flow and enjoy the language and how the author has chosen to arrange his words. The glow of the metaphors and tanginess of the humour. All the things that bring books alive in your mind. Don't miss out or be intimidated by the big boy books. Jump into the pool and splash around. Have fun. That's what I'm gonna do with Joyce's Ulysses.

I am currently reading Ulysses and before that i was convinced that it was a terrible book. Well, i was wrong. I still haven't finished it but I feel amazed at Joyce 's style. It's disarming (but in a good way), elegant, refined. It's the kind of writing that pierces your soul and become engraved in your memory. I'm so happy i discovered this book.

Very happy to see this video coz recently I bought the book 'A portrait of the artist as a young man' written by the same author ,which I tried reading but couldn't understand, then I felt I'm very poor at English but watching this video gave me confidence.

Well done, a brilliant summary of one of the greatest books of all time and right on the money in every way. Your summary does it justice in such a short space.

Thank you for a simple explanation that has encouraged me to read Ulysses by James Joyce with enthusiasm. It will be a delight to know how many people have seen a theatrical version of Ulysses.

Can we appreciate the creativity of this animation? It's just brillant.

Fantastic! I never had a desire to pick up this book, little lone read it, but then I saw this video and now want to run out and dive into its complex rich literary structure. Thank you.

Currently reading Dubliners by James Joyce. That collection of short stories is a fantastic expression of creativity and immaculate story telling. Once I wrap up that book I intend to try my hand at Ulysses. After all.. I do consider life worth living.

Everyone who is a reader [or wants to be a reader] needs to add the 25 hardest books on their bucket lost. all James Joyce books and all Leon Uris books. They really opened my eyes to creative writing, and reasoning. My reading was never the same after I read Trinity and Ulysses!

Ulysses makes your brain open up; physically and emotionally messed with my brain. You can say whatever, but it is definetly a mindblowing experience. Pure Genius.

Ulysses- exists That guy off of reddit- I’m about to end this whole mans career

Ted-Ed, please consider doing a video inspiring people to read Paradise Lost. It has taught me so much and enriched my life in so many ways. And thank you for all your work.

This was awesome! Answered so many questions I’ve had, piqued my curiosity, and whet my appetite to learn more about Ulysses.

What a wonderful, invigorating, substantial, inviting, enticing animation here. Many kudos to the animation/graphics artist/s here. Beautiful.....can't get over it. I will attempt reading Ullysses once again.

It took me a year to read it for the first time. This was before the ubiquity of smart phones and almost universal access to computers and I got stuck on a chapter titled “Laestrygonians”. Once I got past that I found that if I read the speech of the characters in a Dublin accent it flowed so much better. Once I’d finished reading I went to the beginning and started all over again just to enjoy the sheer use of language and constructs employed by Joyce.

This is my dad's favorite book. Originally I was unsure if I would ever read it or not, but now I definitely will. Thanks, TED-Ed!

The videos in this series, and especially this one, are wonderful. As if I needed more encouragement to read the book.

Thanks! This actually really informative. I had been thinking about reading Ulysses for some time, but wasn't aware of many of the things you mentioned. I think I'll give it a read!

A classical masterpiece! The only thing bad about Ulysses is that it's time consuming, it's hard, it's lengthy but after all it's no ordinary book. If you're a student or lover of English literature, you just can't avoid it.

'Ulysses' is the Mount Everest of books. Undeniably brilliant, but bloody hard work

BIG "thank you" for these explanations! I tried the book years ago and could *not* get into it but this analysis just might allow me to try again.

One of my absolute favorite novels. Funny, deeply moving, and exhilarating.

I was 15, i hoped to manage it. Bless me!

Having studied it in college and read it three times, I would recommend The Cambridge Centenary Ulysses, released last year. It comes with critical introductions to each chapter that are accessible to anyone who would choose to read Ulysses for fun/pleasure, and it includes plenty of maps, pictures, and some footnotes but not an overwhelming amount. It is a doorstop of an edition - I read virtually every word in it, and it was a great way casually read the novel in a month - but it is also one of the physically largest books in my home full of books.

The best advice I got is to read it while listening to its audiobook. I used various RU-vid videos to do this. Like “The Odyssey,” which was originally shared orally, “Ulysses” is intended to be read aloud.

My favourite book by my favourite author! Lovely video, well made.

"Pick up a copy..." Well, being a Mick meself, I picked two copies of Ulysses... but the second was no better than the first.

First Virginia Woolf, then Ulysses. I'm lovin' it! Maybe you could do one about a contemporary novel, something that is more recent? I would love some recommendations on such books!

I cannot believe this. I have never ever searched for Joyce or Ulysses on youtube or google. But a friend of mine happened to ask me about this book yesterday just when I had my mobile in my hands.... and now this recommendation on my youtube app!!!!!! These devices have ears, and surely eyes.

Okay y’all. Ted talk always makes me want to read books, and this was not an exception. And let me teeelllll youuu! I tried reading this book 3 times and it was difficult!!! It’s still on my list lol. But ugh, I am so excited for the day I can finally read it.

Dubliners is one of my favorite books. I read Ulysses many years ago before I was ready for it, and I am ashamed to say that many of the allusions went over my head at the time. I hope to reread it after reading Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

I recall the day I tried reading this book. Read around 90 pages, realized I didn't understand sh*t, just stopped.

It’s about time I read this book. I keep hearing about what a treasure trove of beauty and wit it is. It’s Stephen Fry’s favourite book in the English language. even though it’s extremely tough to get into, once you do you won’t want to leave. So I hear. “Encyclopaedic Treasure trove” is the perfect description. I want to be taken on a magical tour of the expanse of Joyce’s imagination and genius. I enjoy tough books (like those of Vladimir Nabokov)

I really do enjoy watching this videos! Loved the animation, such a nice work!

4:06 "It has highbrow intellectual humor" *RICK & MORTY FANS TRIGGERED*

I was expecting a 5 hr 59 mins video of this, cause that's how much it took me to finish the 1st page of the novel.

I read Ulysses when I was living in Dublin. Knowing the city helped. We did Bloomsday and got totally smashed. I could never get through Finnegan’s Wake but one of my college profs brought in an old 78 of Joyce reading it. The rhythm and the lilt seemed to make it magical.

Truly one of the best books I’ve ever read. Rewires to mine in the most magnificent ways. A little challenging until you get about 300 pages in, and then, there it is, you’re stuck…retired for life! In answer to the topic question, why should read Ulysses ? because it’s great

You should read Ulysses because it's the best book ever written. If you take to it, it will inhabit your mind till the end of your days. It is endlessly rewarding, endlessly fascinating and beautifully written. I would put Joyce's prose style up against that of any writer, living or dead.

I finished it today. 2 months of reading and it was really worth it.

I would never in a million years read this book but the part at 2:37 is awesome.

Wow! Im going to the bookstore later today to check for this great masterpiece, "Ulysses".

I started reading Ulysses after watching this video and finished it just yesterday! Finally! :D

My favorite book, there's nothing else quite like it.

I love reading it aloud, and doing different accents and voices.... Typical of my home city Love it!!

wow the animation in this is marvelous.

One can never merely read Ulysses. One can only study it. I had two books "Ulysees Annotated" and 'The New Bloomsday Book" to supplement my reading of Ulysses for my PhD. Yes, it can be challenging but if you get through all of it, the book does make you feel a myriad of emotions that you would have never thought a book can make you feel. And it's a comedy.

reading auto-generated subtitles is like a stream of consciousness as well

Love the animation along with the explanation.

I had this in my recommended reading at University but never got to reading it as I had like 40+ texts - dramas, novels to complete. But I was always interested in the book ever since I read the poem Ulysses by Tennyson and why Joyce's central character was called the same name. Maybe now is the time.

I was like: “Homer wrote Ulysses!” Then I remembered Homer wrote Odyssey which the main character is Odysseus (Latin: Ulysses). Really interesting video and I hope once I become a fluent English speaker, I can then become a fluent English reader using this book.

When I was in school, we had to read 30 books for Dutch, 12 for French, 12 for German and also 12 for English. When the teachers created the list with English lit, it was judged that Finnegan's wake by James Joyce was so hard, it would count for 12 books. Nobody read it, which I now regret. How can a teacher disapprove of your interpretation when he doesn't understand it himself?

I love a high-effort video. This is so nicely done.

Ulysses is a gorgeous book. Leopold Bloom is US. And Penelope, that ending, is so poignant and sad and beautiful and raunchy and funny all at the same time. There's so much in there you could reread it over and over and still get something new every time.

Add to bucket list!

I read it, wasn’t as difficult to read as I thought it would be- the book is amazing

this is amazing. great work all around.

I found the Cliff's notes enthralling

"It's a testament to Joyce's genius that Ulysses is a difficult book" - that sounds like a pretty hefty fallacy. Books may be difficult by virtue of incompetence, too.

I’ve been to Dublin because I read this book. In actuality, I’ve never been there. It is unbelievably fantastic.

Stately, plump Buck Mulligan... I need to reread Ulysses as I am now much older and can appreciate it in a way I could not when I first read it. I have always loved Dubliners and the story The Dead (I recently rewatched Huston's film version again and enjoyed it greatly).

Everyone, come to Dublin. We'll be waiting.

The first time I herd of this book was earlier this year on a trip to Dublin. I came across a small, old, book shop that was ironically called “Ulysses” great little shop and the owner was very friendly. He had many original books for sale in there and whilst browsing I came across this book. Whilst walking around the city I saw a piece of wall art that was a portrait of James Joyce I felt like I didn’t choose the book, the book chose me😂 as soon as I got back from Dublin I ordered the book online.

Great video as usual!! Now I'd love to see "Why should you read John Steinbeck's The grapes of wrath"

My dearly now deceased aunt bought me this book as a present when I was like 15 years old. Bless her heart, but I don't know what she was smoking that day. Almost 20 years later I still haven't managed to read through it. And I feel I have to, because it's a present she gave to me. I feel morally compelled to defeat it once and for all in her memory, but as of now there was no such luck. Still, I've recently gone through what I considered to be the Final Boss of my book collection after reading the integral uncensored version of Tales of the Arabian Nights. Maybe now is the time to give the optional superboss a try again...

Dubliners by Joyce is a simple read. Short stories and it includes The Dead a great story which was later turned into a great film starring Eamonn McCann.

“If Ulysses is not worth reading, then life is not worth living.” - James Joyce That is immortal! ❤️

If I had money I would support them on patreon

Awesome Sam and I love your "Annotated Ulysses" from awhile back.

I read it with a Harvard Professor in a Harvard Ext School class for 5 months, with the aide of Giffords annotation. I could not have read this on my own. All of the above necessary to assist and to finish it. I went on to read it in another Lit. class (albeit a speed read - 2nd time). SO I have read Ulysses twice:)

"The most difficult of funny books, and the funniest of difficult ones." Richard Ellmann

Why should we read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? Always fascinated by this classic Please analyze this novel written by RL Stevenson.

i have never read the book and because of this video I am now interested in getting it. thx

Happy Bloomsday 2020!

I read it in Dublin, every word read out loud in class to let it sing and seep in, under the Professorship of Roland McHugh. 1979. I learned so much.

I picked it up from the library, once (I was 10) and I started reading it. Super good, amazing; everything. Had me in the first 2 chapters, then in chapter 3, BAM! It was like an existential plot-twist, and everything crumbled into confusing bits and pieces. I found good joy in reading it for as long as I did, and I still remember the word: Contransmagnifisoustransiliconaosis...? I think, I can't remember.

What a dear, humble man.