The Great Books

1,354
Arts #118Books #39

Hillsdale College’s John J. Miller discusses classic works within the Western literary canon.

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Recent Reviews
  • Pyepoud
    Harris/Walz ads?
    Did I miss something? I checked recent stories on the NR website. They clearly expose the flaws of the H/W campaign. But in the first 10 minutes of Great Books I have had to endure TWO campaign ads endorsing H/W' economic plan for America! Even some Democrats have panned the rank economic stupidity of these ideas, but THIS program is promoting them? I've loved this podcast for a long time, but unless .... naw. I'm out.
  • frenchathart
    Very Strange Politics
    Has to bring his weird politics into it.
  • Escaped from DC
    Love this podcast
    No one gets to the heart of these great books like Miller. For those of us starved for access to the classics this is a must. Thank you Hillandale!
  • why??$??
    Keep all old ones!
    Excellent podcast. I wish prior episodes didn’t drop off!
  • closerlookbooks
    Very enjoyable
    I look forward to listening to a few Podcasts through the week. I look most forward to The Great Books. It is a thoughtful format that I thoroughly enjoy. Steve
  • Lady MAH
    Insight on Great Works
    Thank you for this service
  • Rb 1111111111111111
    Love every episode
    But Hunt’s voice was grating.
  • Mark Wm L
    David Hume
    Thank you, John for all these excellent podcasts. They remind me of the great books I’ve read & inspire me to read those I haven’t.
  • 5onalee
    lol. no.
    so this is conservative intellectualism? perfect. all these morons whinging about liberal bubbles and safe spaces. honestly, if you do consider yourself a serious person, take a minute, and look at the selections. the "classic" "western" "canon" (by definition that's elitism, no??) is far more wide and more diverse than this. you are selecting works, and interpreting them to soothe and validate your preconceived worldview. honestly, ask yourself "serious person," why such safe choices? what is actually so sad is that you're all too ignorant to even know that there is so much more and better out there. and you're missing out.
  • Lindyc5
    Superb
    I look forward to each new installment.
  • SRH04
    George McDonald
    Outstanding
  • Vex Brute
    Great information!
    Always helpful information with people who are in the know.
  • Hillsdale fan
    Great source of reading material
    John Miller does an exceptional job of asking the questions that allow his expert guests to share new insights about familiar texts. This podcast is also an excellent source of ideas for new reading material.
  • Book biker
    Makes even steep hills disappear
    For years I’ve savored Great Books during long bike rides, while Miller and his guests revisit old favorites and introduce me to new options. Thanks for making the miles fly by!
  • ZachMG
    Decent
    Pretty basic interview podcast. I prefer interviews that feel more like a conversation, whereas John J. Miller seems to use the same broad playbook of questions for every episode, and doesn’t necessarily respond to what the guest says. Also, only the latest 10 episodes are available now? I’m guessing you have to subscribe or something. A show like this is only useful if the entire backlog is available, but it’s not good enough for me to even consider paying money for it.
  • Klahn Girl
    Thank you-new thoughts for me
    The episode of the Grimms Fairy Tales contained so many new ideas for me. I didn’t know the background of the stories.
  • majorspydr
    Well worth the time spent listening
    Podcast produced by John Jay Miller, who also produces Bookmonger. I’ve been listening to Bookmonger for over three years and now discovered Great Books. This podcast provides in-depth analysis why the book is great and its value today to all earnest readers. Well Done!
  • efwHunter
    Excellent help
    When I’m looking to read a great work of fiction I look here not only to get an idea of something I might find interesting but also in search of a book that I ought to read. Never been disappointed. Great conversations.
  • Javi Rojo Jr
    Keep this podcast going!
    I love refreshing podcasts like this. Please keep it going
  • Christopher De Francis
    Excellent Podcast!
    I highly recommend this podcast for anyone who loves the Great Books, enjoys different perspectives and who simply loves to learn. Truly a podcast that excites the mind and forces us to think critically.
  • Aaron Irber
    Short, Sweet, and Engaging
    This is a great literature podcast. The host asks great questions and then listens to the guests response like a professional. There is so much packed into bit sized episodes, which are easily digestible. I’m glad my favorite authors, Tim Powers and Gene Wolfe, got some well deserved credit too.
  • jmrwest
    100% AGREE with previous reviewer
    Please make ALL the Great Books Episodes available through the podcast. Great Books is a main reason I joined NRPlus.
  • Malkaruth
    Good analysis
    For the most part, the guests provide good analysis and insight into the literary works they discuss. I was introduced to Elizabeth Gaskell’s “North
  • Guate8
    Thoroughly enjoy it
    Excellent program! JJ Miller is a wonderful host, does his homework. Thank you! The only hitch is I haven’t been able to revisit many of the shows. Would love to be able to do it. Worth listening again.
  • RedlandsHS
    Love listening
    I’m a regular listener. Would love to have access to all prior episodes but haven’t discovered the means to do so.
  • Michael D. McAuley
    Broadens My Appreciation for Good Literature
    This podcast has helped me find or rediscover so many good books. John J. Miller is a great interviewer, and unlike so many other book interviewers, he’s actually read and can provide insights on the books. And for those of you who don’t like the very short political ads, just hit your 15-second skip button. That’s what it’s for, and it will get you back to John’s superb show.
  • why22x
    Subscribe!
    Extremely worthwhile podcast.
  • tgiw21
    EW! dreadful conservative ads
    EWWW. It’s offensive to listen to an ad like the conservative republican narrative offering this podcast chose to have offend some of their potential followers from the get go - so gross. No thanks.
  • Italianinny
    Best podcast for bookworms, too much poliics
    I have been following this podcast for many years and I love it. This is the only place where people actually talk about books, the story, the writing, the author, all the guests are very knowledgeable. Sadly it is becoming increasingly political, with all this advertisement pro right wing. Please stop. This is about books. Leave politcs outside
  • Far removed
    Mr Miller is a great podcaster
    His interviews are like great adventures. It is a whirlwind of delight created by his guidance and the knowledge of his guests .
  • SadAttorney
    The Book
    Much depends on the readers’ tastes in books. I’ve listened to many agreeable selections. Love to hear an episode on _Remains of the Day_ or _Sophie’s Choice_.
  • ispy1337
    garbage
    conservative political attack ads mixed in with high school level literature analysis
  • OML
    Not so great.
    Extremely conservative and not particularly challenging material. Eye rolling for every 'so sincere' bashing of liberal education. This weeks starry eyed endorsement of Ben Carson(!?!) I'm done.
  • Dayton Family of Four
    Informative, interesting, & thought-provoking
    Great hosts with interesting takes on your favorite boooks and some you have yet to experience. Keep up the good work. (If your only listen was episode 232, don’t judge the podcast solely on that episode. It was an outlier.)
  • SeñorM
    One of My Favorite Half Hours of Each Week
    These short but informative explorations of important works of literature always teach me something new. Additionally, they have introduced me to several authors and works of which I had previously either never heard, or at least had never read. Kudos to John J Miller and NR for putting together such a wonderful podcast!
  • laurenvger
    Great Beginning in the BCPZ
    Please don’t stop here. That was a very informative interview regarding the first additions of the BCP. Please continue in a different episode. There’s so much that can be said about that 1928 book of common prayer and what theological movements informed that. It’s all fascinating.
  • Sazi
    Ironic advertisement makes Lincoln’s point
    I really enjoyed the episode about Lincoln’s speeches, very relevant for today. In fact, during the discussion of how concerned Lincoln was about the divisions in our country & the destructive passions at work against is unity, the podcast ran an ad for a conservative youth educational platform that began (not direct quote, but very, very close): “We all know that leftist teachers and universities are indoctrinating our youth….” I had to laugh at the ironic placement of this ad, sowing divisions and rousing passions in the midst of a discussion about the dangers of these things to our self government. Just too perfect.
  • Buhlteufelin
    Exceptional
    Exceptional episode on Animal Farm. Loved the Hobbit episode, too. Wide ranging podcast unafraid to be intellectually demanding and soberly intelligent.
  • WoodMorger
    Wonderful Interview of The Hobbit
    Love the Tolkien books and Holly Ordway provided a wonderful overview of The Hobbit. I have saved the episode along with the previous ones on the trilogy. The questions provided an enjoyable conversation that could easily have continued for some time. Nicely done!
  • estburke
    Tantalizing Interviews
    So happy to have discovered this podcast. Miller lets his guest tell about such and such a book, and why it’s an important read for others.
  • stegj
    Love this podcast but …
    I love this podcast and and am a regular listener. But I was disappointed that the guest for the “Alice” episode failed to mention that the children who were the impetus for the book were none other than the children of the great Scottish author George MacDonald, who himself wrote many classic children’s books. A sad oversight. Otherwise, keep up the good work!
  • RPrice620
    Finally!!
    I am so thrilled to have finally found this podcast. The book talk is just wonderful, and it is great to not have the liberal agenda shoved down my throat while trying to hear about books. Please keep this podcast going!!!!
  • ZenAbba
    What a Gem!
    This podcast was such a refreshing find for me. Intelligent and articulate - I hope you make many more episodes!
  • Ewayland
    Surprisingly good
    The shows consistently have intelligent discussions of quality literature and, for the most part, you can’t tell that it’s sponsored by a right-wing magazine. Except for the ads. The ads are hilariously right-wing. Did you know conservative parents pay to train their college bound kids to resist “liberal indoctrination”? Apparently some are dumb enough to do so. And there’s a business ready to take their money! Long live capitalism!
  • markrobcol
    The Great Books: Brideshead Revisited
    Enjoyed it. But, big error on Miller’s part. Anglo-Catholics are Anglicans with ‘high’ liturgical practices (and theology) that are similar to Roman practices. The Flytes are Roman Catholics and would only be referred to as such.
  • Hi-line
    Good but they whitewash
    I’m a great reader and a great lover of literature. I do enjoy this podcast on many levels. Wonderful insights into some books. But here is the GIANT Achilles heel:They avoid any mention of the homosexuality in the books or of the writers. For example, in Brideshead Revisited , they completely skirted around Sebastian’s homosexuality. They didn’t mention Daphne du Maurier’s bisexuality which shows up in the novel Rebecca. I know that it’s a right wing group that sponsors this podcast, but come on, let’s speak the truth.
  • rmb25000
    Finally a podcast actually about books
    Great discussion and informative. Keep up the great book reviews!
  • Will Hutchins
    Extremist Political Ads
    I’ve heard, on multiple occasions, far right political ads on this podcast. I’m over it - regardless of whether it’s left or right, political extremism is destructive and for the simple minded. Come to the middle. This podcast is okay, but since they’re profiting from these types of commercials - I’m done.
  • skwhic
    Master and commander
    Love the boo but that guest was awful. He was too old, he rambled and was at times not anywhere near the ballpark. There had to be someone better.
  • swankypop
    Right-Wing Propaganda
    Unlike some other reviewers, I believe that literature and politics often do go hand in hand. Some of the greatest literary works throughout history were greatly influenced by politics, and many books have political themes. But placing a paid right-wing ad at the beginning of a podcast, with no connection to literature at all? It's a no from me.
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