What makes you give up reading a novel? (I ask because I just finished Vanity Fair, and in seeking out if you've said anything about it here I see you mention you stopped as it seemed too long. Why in that case, why in others?)
Tyler should ask you how you pass on your passion for classic literature to your young kids. Something I am sure lots of parents would love to hear about!
What, from TC’s perspective (as author of Good and Plenty), is a reasonable degree of latitude, and appropriate limitations, for federal governments to exercise in cultivating literary taste?
I hope you guys talk about The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. He recently noted it in his fiction category of greatest artwork of the century so far and you noted it as well in your 2025 review
I'm really liking forward to this. I actually found out about your substack when it was mentioned by Dan Wang in his conversation with Tyler.
It would be good to hear more about you and your background, what prompted you to start this substack, what you've learned along the way, how the move to America came about, and where you see your reading going in the future (what books must you read that you haven't read yet, what authors and topics are you losing and gaining interest in, etc.)
Looking forward to the episode and thanks for the enjoyable channel.
Question for Tyler to ask you: Should students of economics be offered subjects on Romanticism as an integral part of the curriculum? In his 2009 book, The Romantic Economist, Richard Bronk argues that “economic activity is as much a function of imagination and social sentiments as of the rational optimisation of given preferences and goods.” His thesis is that economists can gain new insights and develop more successful models by borrowing alternative metaphors and assumptions from the philosophy and literature of Romanticism.
How do you figure out what new fiction to read? I’m reading The Loneliness of Sunny and Sonia only because both you and Tyler recommended it (and loving it BTW). The opportunity cost of even starting something not great is significant—time could have been much better spent chipping away at, e.g. War and Peace or Moby Dick…
Adam Kirsch just had an article in the Atlantic proposing that if we want people (especially young people) to take up reading we should promote it as a vice, a waste of time, pointless and counterproductive, not a moralistic duty to save democracy as many are currently doing. I think that would be a fun topic for you two to take up. Here is the Atlantic piece: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/reading-crisis-solution-literature-personal-passion/685461/
I am really looking forward to this one.
The topics mentioned are all great. I would like some additional probing of your impressions on America as a relatively new resident.
I need to write more about this yes
Definitely
Me too
What makes you give up reading a novel? (I ask because I just finished Vanity Fair, and in seeking out if you've said anything about it here I see you mention you stopped as it seemed too long. Why in that case, why in others?)
well that was bad behaviour on my part and I ought to read it again
1. The Henry production function. H.O. output is impressive in quality/ quantity! (like Tyler's) How does it happen.
2. The new oral culture. Is Tolstoy on audiobook just as good?
Tyler should ask you how you pass on your passion for classic literature to your young kids. Something I am sure lots of parents would love to hear about!
Catherine might be better at answering that!
When did we stop having children and start having kids the offspring of goats?
Both my son's share my passion for literature. One shares my passion for art.
What, from TC’s perspective (as author of Good and Plenty), is a reasonable degree of latitude, and appropriate limitations, for federal governments to exercise in cultivating literary taste?
I hope you guys talk about The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. He recently noted it in his fiction category of greatest artwork of the century so far and you noted it as well in your 2025 review
How do you deal with the fact that you can realistically only read a tiny fraction of world literature in your lifetime?
I made a series of choices so that I could read for my job haha
Even so, there will be lots of things that you won't be able to read, presumably. What's your response to that?
It’s horrible!
Stoked for this podcast. Conversations with Tyler is incredible
I'm really liking forward to this. I actually found out about your substack when it was mentioned by Dan Wang in his conversation with Tyler.
It would be good to hear more about you and your background, what prompted you to start this substack, what you've learned along the way, how the move to America came about, and where you see your reading going in the future (what books must you read that you haven't read yet, what authors and topics are you losing and gaining interest in, etc.)
Looking forward to the episode and thanks for the enjoyable channel.
Agree with all that.
What is interesting about Davenants use of measure for measure?
what if snything is good about popes editing of shakespeare ?
Question for Tyler to ask you: Should students of economics be offered subjects on Romanticism as an integral part of the curriculum? In his 2009 book, The Romantic Economist, Richard Bronk argues that “economic activity is as much a function of imagination and social sentiments as of the rational optimisation of given preferences and goods.” His thesis is that economists can gain new insights and develop more successful models by borrowing alternative metaphors and assumptions from the philosophy and literature of Romanticism.
I like this. J.S. Mill would agree.
How do you figure out what new fiction to read? I’m reading The Loneliness of Sunny and Sonia only because both you and Tyler recommended it (and loving it BTW). The opportunity cost of even starting something not great is significant—time could have been much better spent chipping away at, e.g. War and Peace or Moby Dick…
I follow my nose... one solution to the problem is to read more ofc
How is it humanly possible to read as many words a day?
He talked about that recently I think
And listen to music
Ask him "do you see a tension between being pro-AI /pro-tech and pro-reading"?
Excellent, yes
Adam Kirsch just had an article in the Atlantic proposing that if we want people (especially young people) to take up reading we should promote it as a vice, a waste of time, pointless and counterproductive, not a moralistic duty to save democracy as many are currently doing. I think that would be a fun topic for you two to take up. Here is the Atlantic piece: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/reading-crisis-solution-literature-personal-passion/685461/
I thought that article was a bit confused.