Mike Gs Eclectic Reads | Slowness -- Milan Kundera [Book Discussion] @mikegseclecticreads | Uploaded October 2023 | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
An intriguing later-life novella by a celebrated Czech and French author, who died earlier this year (2023).
0:00 Intro
1:47 A need for speed
3:55 Attention deficit
6:47 The dancer and the elect
7:49 Critical reception and public discussion of the work
11:23 Alternate readings
I read this book at the end of 2022 with Davood Gozli and his reading group. See Davood's discussion of the book here:
youtu.be/d6v9v0ScyUs?si=R-vq6nU5KBNF7IVl
I also recommend his discussion of Kundera's "The Art of the Novel":
youtu.be/czft97k6tBs?si=-cACqrdKvra7fT2V
OTHER REFERENCES:
Tim Jones's exploration of the novel, referenced in this video:
pdfs.semanticscholar.org/02ae/838ea643e7b19402d4b582c8fe1c3594ca51.pdf
Angeline Goreau's review of the novel for the NY Times:
archive.nytimes.com/nytimes.com/books/98/05/17/specials/kundera-speed.html
Another short book synopsis quoted in the video:
spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/7328/slowness
An intriguing later-life novella by a celebrated Czech and French author, who died earlier this year (2023).
0:00 Intro
1:47 A need for speed
3:55 Attention deficit
6:47 The dancer and the elect
7:49 Critical reception and public discussion of the work
11:23 Alternate readings
I read this book at the end of 2022 with Davood Gozli and his reading group. See Davood's discussion of the book here:
youtu.be/d6v9v0ScyUs?si=R-vq6nU5KBNF7IVl
I also recommend his discussion of Kundera's "The Art of the Novel":
youtu.be/czft97k6tBs?si=-cACqrdKvra7fT2V
OTHER REFERENCES:
Tim Jones's exploration of the novel, referenced in this video:
pdfs.semanticscholar.org/02ae/838ea643e7b19402d4b582c8fe1c3594ca51.pdf
Angeline Goreau's review of the novel for the NY Times:
archive.nytimes.com/nytimes.com/books/98/05/17/specials/kundera-speed.html
Another short book synopsis quoted in the video:
spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/7328/slowness
![Slowness Milan Kundera [Book Discussion]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mfCSvHpN0_M/hqdefault.jpg "Slowness Milan Kundera [Book Discussion]
An intriguing later-life novella by a celebrated Czech and French author, who died earlier this year (2023).
0:00 Intro
1:47 A need for speed
3:55 Attention deficit
6:47 The dancer and the elect
7:49 Critical reception and public discussion of the work
11:23 Alternate readings
I read this book at the end of 2022 with Davood Gozli and his reading group. See Davoods discussion of the book here:
https://youtu.be/d6v9v0ScyUs?si=R-vq6nU5KBNF7IVl
I also recommend his discussion of Kunderas The Art of the Novel:
https://youtu.be/czft97k6tBs?si cACqrdKvra7fT2V
OTHER REFERENCES:
Tim Joness exploration of the novel, referenced in this video:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/02ae/838ea643e7b19402d4b582c8fe1c3594ca51.pdf
Angeline Goreaus review of the novel for the NY Times:
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/05/17/specials/kundera-speed.html
Another short book synopsis quoted in the video:
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/7328/slowness")
![Mediocre Ijeoma Oluo [Full Book Review] [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pUGEptAJhek/hqdefault.jpg "Mediocre Ijeoma Oluo [Full Book Review] [CC]
This book exposing the white male-centered side of identity politics offers some thought-provoking ideas, but reads more like an essay collection than a unified argument.
Twitter: @mikegreads https://twitter.com/mikegreads
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5996769-mike
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mike-G-Reads-104046585263367")
![A Man Lay Dead Ngaio Marsh [Book Discussion] [Spoilers Second Half]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pnXq7U-m4Os/hqdefault.jpg "A Man Lay Dead Ngaio Marsh [Book Discussion] [Spoilers Second Half]
In Marshs first of 32 detective novels, a murder game at a party provides cover for an actual murderer.
0:00 Intro
0:19 Queen of crime (fiction)
1:49 A murder “game”
2:49 Not quite there yet
SPOILERS BEGIN
7:59 The perfect crime
10:46 Missed opportunity")
![A Month in the Country J. L. Carr [Book Discussion]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qh59zauNpGg/hqdefault.jpg "A Month in the Country J. L. Carr [Book Discussion]
A recently returned WWI veteran tries to get his life back in order by spending the summer working in a rural English village.
0:00 Intro
1:40 A quiet novel
2:34 Nostalgia
5:16 A story of healing?
6:51 Outro
MENTIONED IN THE REVIEW:
John Davids review of the book:
https://youtu.be/dGPKlkfevlw?si=h9dEa5q8VnjyZHOz
Jesse Browners review for NPRs All Things Considered:
https://www.npr.org/2011/09/29/140119187/this-miniature-masterpiece-is-quietly-transcendent")
![Hunger Roxane Gay [Short Book Review]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rJNip-AZlc8/hqdefault.jpg "Hunger Roxane Gay [Short Book Review]
An immersive and personal account of the authors struggles with eating and body image, and how it relates to other aspects of her life.
Twitter: @mikegreads https://twitter.com/mikegreads
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5996769-mike
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mike-G-Reads-104046585263367")
![The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich – William Shirer [Book Discussion and Deep Dive]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rJmpQVNfHpA/hqdefault.jpg "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich – William Shirer [Book Discussion and Deep Dive]
William Shirers account of Nazi Germany told just 15 years after the end of the war, though in some moments dated and/or highly biased, still certainly deserves its reputation as a classic.
0:00 Intro
0:48 About the author
3:10 Yes this book is huge but
7:06 The Rise of Adolf Hitler
10:19 Triumph and Consolidation
16:40 The Road to War
22:12 (A digression on Realpolitik)
28:57 Early Victories and the Turning Point
31:24 The Beginning of the End
41:01 The Fall of the Third Reich
42:44 Final thoughts
Also mentioned in this video:
* The Tragedy of Great Power Politics – John Mearsheimer
* The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
* Night – Elie Wiesel
* Germany: A Nation in Its Time: Before, During, and After Nationalism, 1500-2000 – Helmut Walser-Smith")
![A New World Begins Jeremy Popkin [Book Review] #Historathon2023](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rtvagguNbtA/hqdefault.jpg "A New World Begins Jeremy Popkin [Book Review] #Historathon2023
Jeremy Popkins overview of the French Revolution is a coherent, albeit somewhat dry, introduction for those new to the topic.
0:00 Historathon 2023 plug
0:50 Intro
2:40 The time frame
3:44 Sober and chronological, perhaps to a fault
7:39 A successful introduction to the French Revolution
9:10 Napoleon Bonaparte and Toussaint Louverture
10:19 Best and worst of the overall presentation
Recurring themes in history:
11:35 Reformists and revolutionaries
14:06 Can liberties be violated to introduce liberalism?
15:58 The driving force of the common people
17:30 Final reflections
HISTORATHON INFO:
I learned about #historathon2023 from @NicholasOfAutrecourt; watch his announcement video here: https://youtu.be/eU1F2EQ5txM.
And for more details, check out the original announcement by the creator @revenantreads: https://youtu.be/MkzJ1BKpmG4
Search for #historathon2023 for lots more history videos by other creators and! Q3 covers 1500-1820, but read whatever history you like ;)
WORKS REFERENCED:
Reviews
Matts Goodreads review (quoted in the video): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3487973920
Z. F.s Goodreads review (also quoted): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3679233741
Videos
A documentary on the French Revolution (Id recommend it): https://youtu.be/R9RJz8LLhZQ
Crash Course European History episode on the French Revolution: https://youtu.be/5fJl_ZX91l0
My Goodreads account:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5996769-mike")
![Taken At The Flood Agatha Christie [Spoilers Second Half] [Book Review]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s2gbbBqDxHM/hqdefault.jpg "Taken At The Flood Agatha Christie [Spoilers Second Half] [Book Review]
Poirot tests our patience in one of his worst performances to date.
0:00 Intro
0:16 A post-WWII British mystery
2:39 A scattered mystery
3:56 SPOILERS BEGIN
4:00 Concealed identities
5:18 Assessing characters’ guilt
7:03 Is Poirot’s verdict indisputable?
9:02 The fall of a would-be-hero
10:52 Conclusion
My Goodreads account: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5996769-mike")
![Amusing Ourselves To Death Neil Postman [Book Review]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/scHcr_CRxXs/hqdefault.jpg "Amusing Ourselves To Death Neil Postman [Book Review]
In a prescient essay from 1985, Postman warns future generations of the dangers of TV, computers, and Sesame Street.
* I erroneously state in the video that Indiana was the 18th state admitted to the Union a fact check while editing revealed that it was actually the 19th state, which can also be verified by counting the stars on the state flag. This would be an example of a statement that is both misinformation AND disinformation :)
0:00 Intro
2:42 The age of show business
5:07 Information and disinformation
9:07 The danger of education as entertainment
12:19 Was Postman right?
14:09 Would Postman have hated this video?")
![Mrs. McGintys Dead Agatha Christie [Book Review] [Spoilers Second Half]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sjm1FEN3MqE/hqdefault.jpg "Mrs. McGintys Dead Agatha Christie [Book Review] [Spoilers Second Half]
Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver tag-team a mystery where youll find it hard to keep straight who did what and which character is which.
0:00 Intro
0:54 The good (the characters)
2:42 The bad (the mystery)
7:17 The ugly (SPOILERS)
My Goodreads account: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5996769-mike")
