The Read Well Podcast

09/08/2025

Read Slowly - Take Notes - Apply the Ideas.

Have a good night, friends.

-Eddy

08/08/2025

Today, I issued a 7-day challenge in my newsletter to bring our books everywhere. I had to do some electrical work in my attic today. Keeping my promise! 😂

08/08/2025

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06/08/2025

Well, I’m finally going to read Watership Down. Yep, I’ve never read it. Do you have any tips for me before I begin?

I’m very excited.

05/08/2025

👋Hey friends!

Tonight, during book club, we’re reviewing the first 70 pages of The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell. Here are the notes for our discussion:

Page 3 – The Importance of Imperfection

Campbell argues that truth in writing lies in portraying human imperfections.

Page 7 – Marriage as Spiritual Sacrifice

True marriage is not just romance, but a spiritual sacrifice—giving up ego to form a unified relationship, like yin and yang.

Page 8 – Society Should Be in Service of Man

Our society should be in the service of our development. We have culture and myth to help us learn how to mature well,

Page 10 – America and the Lack of Ethos

Unlike older, more homogenous cultures, America lacks a deep cultural ethos or shared mythology.

Page 14 – Mythological Roles in Society

Roles like judge or king transcend the person and become mythic symbols. We respond to the myth, not the man.

Page 38 – The Four Functions of Myth (Part 1)

Myth serves four functions. First: mystical (awe and wonder). Second: cosmological (explaining the universe while preserving mystery). Third: sociological (supporting social order).

Page 39 – The Fourth Function: Pedagogy

The fourth function of myth is to teach people how to live a full human life.

Page 47 – Dreamtime and the Psyche

Dreamtime is when personal dreams reflect timeless truths. They reveal spiritual dimensions of real-life concerns.

Page 52 – The Snake and the Fruit

A Bassari myth mirrors the Garden of Eden story, showing cultural overlap.

Page 55 – The Rejection of the Goddess

The Eden story may reflect a historical rejection of the Mother Goddess and serpent, associated with life and women.

Page 60 – Freud vs. Jung

Freud saw the unconscious as personal; Jung saw it as biological and universal. Campbell aligns with Jung—archetypes arise from our bodies and biology.

Page 65 – To Know is Not to Know

True wisdom is realizing that the ultimate truth is unknowable. Mystery is the point.

That’s it. Should be a fun night.

Until then, read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas.

-Eddy

04/08/2025

Yep, I package every order.
This one made me happy.

01/08/2025

🎉Happy Friday! What are you all reading this weekend? 📚

I'm working through "The Power of Myth" with my book club, and I'm preparing for an existentialism class I'll be taking in the fall by reading some Albert Camus. Love that guy!

Drop me a comment. What's your book?

01/08/2025

I absolutely could not survive without my notebooks. Thinking on paper is grand.

30/07/2025

Philosophy has its own language. If you don’t know the basics, every page can feel like wading through a swamp.

📝Here are a few terms every beginner should know:

• A priori – Knowledge independent of experience.

• A posteriori - Knowledge gained from experience.

• Ontology – The study of being.

• Epistemology – The study of knowledge.

• Dialectic – A method of argument involving dialogue between two or more people holding different points of view (Socrates was a master of this).

• Teleology – The explanation of things by their purpose or end.

• Phenomenology – The study of structures of consciousness through experience.

• Metaphysics – The nature of reality beyond the physical.

• Deontology – A moral theory based on rules and duty.

• Utilitarianism – The idea that the best action maximizes overall happiness.

These terms show up constantly. There are, of course, many more—but knowing these will get you started.

Until next time, read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas.

-Eddy



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29/07/2025

Woo! I just got in 100 copies of The Death of Ivan Ilyich in preparation for my class in November.

🧑‍🏫What class?

I'm doing a deep reading course on this very book. We already have 10 students registered! This week, I'm building the study kits that will go out in the mail.

It's going to be a fun one. 🎉

If you want to join us, learn more at: https://pages.thereadwellpodcast.com/products/30-day-deep-reading-course

27/07/2025

I got a chance to see The Death of Socrates on display at The Met. It was incredible!

26/07/2025

Went to check out Dana Ellyn’s incredible art at Pen + Brush in NYC but they were closed. Bummed I missed it. Check out her work and give her a 🙌🏻

After that, I went down the street to Strand Bookstore for 18 miles of books and loved every step.