Thinking Fellows – "Why You Should Read Old Books" (March 22, 2022)

Episode Overview

In this episode—the first in a new "Why You Should…" series—the Thinking Fellows (Scott Keith, Caleb Keith, and Adam Francisco) explore why reading old books remains relevant and vital today. Drawing heavily on insights from C.S. Lewis, classical sources, and personal anecdotes, the hosts examine what qualifies as an "old book," discuss the pitfalls of ignoring the past, and present compelling arguments for making these works a core part of intellectual and spiritual life.

Defining "Old Books"

Timestamps: 01:44–10:00

• What counts as "old" varies by context:

  • For Adam Francisco, "old books" are Greco-Roman or even medieval works, while something from the 1800s might seem modern (02:16).
  • Caleb notes, "if something is old enough to have been written in Latin first and then translated, it's probably also an old book, right?" (04:14).
  • Discussion around C.S. Lewis’s essay "On the Reading of Old Books," which serves as both a touchstone and a framework (06:29).

• Cultural context shapes our concept of "old":

  • The hosts reflect on generational shifts—what seems ancient to one may be familiar to another (05:32, 09:03).
  • Scott illustrates by comparing the perception of eras depicted in TV (e.g., "Happy Days" in the 70s about the 50s) to how fast culture now changes (10:06–12:36).

Quote:
"Old books could be a couple of categories... But is there something in the in between that if a 22-year-old is listening to this... something from the 60s could seem very old." – Scott (08:18)

Why Read Old Books?

Timestamps: 16:55–43:00

• Resisting "chronological snobbery":

  • Lewis's notion that each generation is tempted to believe it's more advanced and uniquely wise—reading old books humbles that view (22:15).
  • "There's nothing new under the sun... reading old books certainly helps destroy that type of arrogance." – Caleb (22:15)

• Perspective and critical thinking:

  • Old books pull readers out of their own generation's context, beliefs, and echo chambers (12:36, 29:43).
  • They help foster deeper, better-informed conversations, extending our mental reach beyond 101-level thinking (29:43).
  • "Reading old books helps with your critical thinking and your logic skills... you can actually connect the ideas yourself." – Caleb (33:11)

• Learning from enduring human concerns:

  • Many contemporary issues—politics, aging, ethics—were tackled ages ago, often with surprising relevance (13:04–14:36, 30:03–33:11).
  • Scott: "Read Cicero writing on the idea of duties. You'll see things that you can apply but that aren't made from the exact... echo chamber of your day to day sociopolitical life" (14:05).

• Rediscovery, not reinvention:

  • The Renaissance and Reformation didn’t discover new ideas, but rediscovered and reinterpreted classical sources for their day (20:10–22:15).
  • "Even when we talk about Luther, he didn't discover the gospel, he rediscovered the gospel." – Scott (20:10)

Practical Benefits for Modern Readers

Timestamps: 27:20–44:57

• For the busy, non-specialist reader:
  Adam poses: "Why should John, who's an electrician, who's raising kids... bother reading Cicero on duties or Athanasius on the Incarnation?"

  • Caleb responds: It enhances your understanding, conversations, and personal growth, especially if you're the kind of person who listens to thoughtful podcasts and wants deeper knowledge (27:40–29:43).
  • "Having read increases your ability to have meaningful conversations or build up on that knowledge." – Caleb (29:43)

• Broader perspectives reduce existential anxiety:

  • The hosts argue that constantly treating every modern crisis as ultimate is a symptom of ignoring the past (36:20–39:56).
  • "You won't know about those [past crises]. You live as a sort of materialist in your time, and you can't argue for anything that's more than you or anything that came before you." – Scott (39:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why ideas persist:
  "You'll find out that there's no new idea under the sun, especially theologically... The goal isn't to be creative. The goal really is to be in alignment with the Scriptures..." – Scott (18:20)

• Lewis’s advice for reading:
  "Lewis recommends... if you read a new book, read an old book, then read an old book, then read a new book... if you can't manage to pull that off, at least read an old book for every three new." – Scott (22:59)

• On learning from history:
  "If you read some old sources, you'll find out that consequences have come along throughout all of human history and not yet has one of them shown to be ultimate." – Scott (39:07)

• Comic relief:
  The running joke about Caleb being a "flat-earther":

  • Adam: "Caleb's... our millennial baby. He's an old soul. Anything he writes is going to be, in a way, old."
  • Scott: "He believes in a flat earth."
  • Caleb: "I do not believe in a flat earth. You guys gotta stop saying that on this show." (16:20–16:32)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Definition & Scope of Old Books: 01:44–10:00
• Lewis and the Value of Old Books: 06:29–08:18
• Cultural Generational Perspectives: 09:03–12:36
• How Old Books Offer Perspective: 13:04–14:36
• Rediscovering Ideas (Renaissance, Reformation): 20:10–22:15
• Chronological Snobbery & Arrogance: 22:15–23:38
• Critical Thinking and Conversation: 29:43–34:13
• Existential Crises & Historical Perspective: 36:20–39:56
• Practical Examples (Cicero, Elections, Aging): 30:03–33:11

Closing Thoughts

Timestamps: 41:47–44:57

• Perspective matters:
  "Reading old books, reading history, will give you... a much bigger, broader, I would say liberal in the sense of free perspective. You're not bound to... the fleeting chaos of the moment." – Adam (41:49)

• Learning from the past aids decision-making:
  "It's harder to make good decisions if you're making them alone or... if you believe it's the first time anybody's had to make that decision." – Caleb (44:13)

• Final words:
  "Life gets better. The world might get a tad bit better if we stood on the shoulders of giants instead of reinventing the wheel all the time." – Adam (44:49)
  "Amen to that. That's a good place to end." – Scott (44:57)

Key Takeaways

• Old books are more than relics; they are enduring windows into past wisdom, struggles, and aspirations.
• Reading them checks intellectual arrogance, broadens perspective beyond current cultural norms, and equips readers—specialist and layperson alike—with richer, more nuanced understanding.
• The hosts encourage reading old and new books in tandem and stress that, for Christians, aligning with enduring truths should take precedence over novelty.
• Practical recommendations: Pick up a classic (Cicero, Athanasius, Augustine), challenge yourself to alternate “old” and "new," and let these works inform your critical thinking and everyday decisions.

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