Podcast
The Book Club | PragerU
Hosted by PragerU · EN
Michael Knowles and special guests discuss great literature that has shaped Western Civilization.
20episodes
Episodes
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Will Witt: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Aug 20, 202400:31:34Tap to summarizeWould you sell your soul to stay young forever? In Oscar Wilde’s famous novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, a handsome young man’s wish for eternal youth is granted while his portrait ages in his place. As Dorian indulges in a life of hedonism, his portrait reveals the grotesque toll of his moral corruption. Join Michael Knowles and Will Witt as they discuss this beloved novel and explore its insights into the dangers of vanity, immorality, and the ultimate cost of a life without virtue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Libby Emmons: A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
Jun 18, 202400:32:03Tap to summarizeIs Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House the feminist landmark it’s often portrayed to be? Or is it a critique of radical individualism and the undermining of traditional societal roles? The Post Millennial’s Libby Emmons joins Michael Knowles to discuss this groundbreaking 19th-century play and explore its insights into our intrinsic selfish nature and tendency to lie for self-preservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Derryck Green: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Apr 16, 202400:28:59Tap to summarizeOnce required reading for high school students, To Kill a Mockingbird now comes with trigger warnings. The book, which confronts and calls out the evils of racism, is considered by some to be too offensive for our modern-day woke sensibilities. Why? Set in 1930s Alabama, a young girl watches her attorney father defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Michael Knowles is joined by Derryck Green to discuss the powerful themes of this timeless American classic and why it should continue to be read (not banned). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Pastor Rob McCoy: Sermon on the Mount
Jan 17, 202400:40:54Tap to summarizeMichael Knowles is joined by Pastor Rob McCoy to discuss the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most beloved and frequently cited passages in the gospels of the New Testament. Together, Michael and Pastor McCoy explore the various interpretations of the text and reflect on the lessons that Jesus’s sermon teaches us about living a virtuous Christian life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Charles Kesler: Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics
Nov 21, 202300:31:51Tap to summarizeIs the purpose of life happiness, and if so, how can we achieve it? Written nearly 2,500 years ago, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is as relevant today as it's ever been. Michael Knowles is joined by Professor Charles Kessler to discuss this seminal work exploring the age-old question of how to live a happy and meaningful life. As it turns out, Aristotle’s recipe for the good life has not grown stale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Julie Hartman: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Sep 19, 202300:37:51Tap to summarizeWhat if your sins were on display for all the world to see? Michael Knowles is joined by Julie Hartman to discuss The Scarlet Letter, which tells the story of a young woman who is shunned by her community after bearing an illegitimate child. What can we learn from this American classic about society’s response to immorality, the complexities of love and passion, guilt, shame, hypocrisy, and repentance? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Andy Puzder: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Aug 16, 202300:37:21Tap to summarizeHow do you stay true to yourself in a world that demands conformity? Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead—centered around a talented architect who refuses to compromise his principles or conform to the expectations of others—examines whether we should uphold the “common good” if it means sacrificing our own self-interest. Michael Knowles is joined by former Carl’s Jr. and Hardee's CEO Andy Puzder to discuss this seminal work and its view of the collective vs. the individual. This video was made possible by a generous gift from The Peter & Judy Copses Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Book Club: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë with Madeleine Kearns
Dec 22, 2021Tap to summarizeJane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is one of the most beloved books in literature. In this episode of The Book Club, Michael Knowles and Madeleine Kearns take you through the pages of the Victorian novel to examine the themes of love versus independence, social class and structure, religion, and gender roles. In our fast-paced world, it’s tough to make reading a priority. At Thinkr.org, read or listen to hundreds of titles in a matter of minutes: start your free trial today at https://thinkr.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Book Club: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with Abigail Shrier
Mar 18, 2020Tap to summarizePride and Prejudice is one of the most famous and most beloved romantic novels of all time. In this episode of The Book Club, Michael Knowles and Abigail Shrier explore the themes of love, virtue, and social hierarchy discovered in the pages of Jane Austen’s classic work. Tune in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Book Club: Hamlet by William Shakespeare with Andrew Klavan
Feb 19, 2020Tap to summarizeWilliam Shakespeare’s Hamlet is the greatest play ever written. In this episode of The Book Club, Michael Knowles and Andrew Klavan discuss the themes of this classic work — inaction, appearance versus reality, doubt and truth — and how they mirror modern society. Pick up a copy and join us for this impactful episode. In our fast-paced world, it’s tough to make reading a priority. At least it used to be. At Thinkr.org, they summarize the key ideas from new and noteworthy nonfiction, giving you access to an entire library of great books in bite-size form. Read or listen to hundreds of titles in a matter of minutes: start your free trial today at Thinkr.org To hear more of Michael, check out the Michael Knowles Show podcast: apple.co/2tSTNyY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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