Podcasts about Project Gutenberg

In a fit of spite, Professor Kozlowski condenses his discussion of landmark British political philosophers Hobbes and Locke - forerunners of the American constitution - into a single joint lecture. We'll compare and contrast the two states of nature proposed by these thinkers, examine their divergent attitudes toward the authority of government, and root their philosophical conclusions in the tumultuous history of the English Civil War.Hooray for English philosophers - no translations necessary for these texts! Here are the Project Gutenberg texts of Hobbes' Leviathan, and Locke's Second Treatise Concerning Government.Additional readings for this lecture include some more 17th-century English classics: Bacon's scientific Utopia, New Atlantis; Milton's epic masterpiece, Paradise Lost; and Swift's satirical classic, Gulliver's Travels. Finally, for my video gamers, I recommend the colonization-based management sim/city builder Anno 1404 (it may not be the most period-appropriate game in the series, but I think it is the best mechanical representation of this era without the industrialization mechanics of Anno 1800).If you're interested in Professor Kozlowski's other online projects, check out his website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠professorkozlowski.wordpress.com

Let's roost into relaxation with this rather charming guide to the Hamburg chicken from an author better known for wizards and wicked witches. This time, speculations on the origins of the Hamburg breed and characteristics of the beautiful Black Hamburg. So fancy!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All paid supporters in the month of August will be entered into a giveaway for exclusive swag, hurrah! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The Book of the Hamburgs” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53965   Music: "Heaven Be Here,” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

CW: Incest, Infanticide, and Misogyny as philosophical ideas and historical realitiesProfessor Kozlowski tackles the rest of the Republic by ranging over the three excerpts in the Cohen textbook and several excluded passages. On the docket:Equality for women (yay!)Open marriages (yay!?)Communal child-rearing (wut?)Eugenics (boo!)The Allegory of the Cave (yay!)How governments fall apart (Aristotle to follow)The Myth of Er (w00t)Professor Kozlowski apologizes in advance for how much brutally heinous s#!t will be discussed in these lectures. Especially when we get to Fascism and Social Darwinism.You can find the full text of Plato's Republic for free on Project Gutenberg; this lecture uses Lane Cooper's translation in Princeton Readings in Political Thought ed. Mitchell Cohen.If you're interested in Professor Kozlowski's other online projects, check out his website: ⁠professorkozlowski.wordpress.com

Thomas C. Williams is an American author and historian living in France since 1989. A former U.S. Embassy staffer, he is a leading expert on Volney and Thomas Jefferson's secret translation of The Ruins of Empires, a radical Enlightenment text that nearly derailed Jefferson's presidency. He has lectured at the Robert H. Smith Research Facility (Monticello) and the French Senate, published widely on the subject, and donated the largest collection of Jefferson translations to Monticello. He is also the author of the historical novels English Turn and Kash Kachu.In this episode, Thomas joins me for a deep dive into the life and legacy of Volney: Enlightenment thinker, revolutionary, and author of The Ruins of Empires. We begin with Volney's intellectual formation and his role in the early days of the French Revolution, then explore his friendship with Thomas Jefferson and the political risks surrounding Jefferson's secret translation of Ruins. Finally, we look at how Volney's ideas continue to resonate today, offering a striking lens through which to view modern events.TimecodesIntroduction01:10 - Volney's Biography & Intellectual Formation25:58 - Volney and Jefferson: Transatlantic Ideals56:30 - Volney's Legacy and Contemporary Relevance1:16:38 - ConclusionVolney's Ruins, translated by Jefferson, on Project Gutenberg.Thomas socials:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ruinsofempires.bsky.socialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RuinsOfEmpiresThomas's novels:English Turn: Napoleon Invades Louisiana: Volume I: Ruins of EmpiresKash Kachu (White House): Volume 1: Revenge of the KatchinaArtwork: Constantine Francois Volney, Count of Chasseboeuf, by Gilbert Stuart, ca. 1795. From PAFA.Support the showReach out, support the show and give me feedback! Contact me or follow the podcast on social media Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify Become a patron on Patreon to support the show Buy me a Coffee

Professor Kozlowski tackles the origins of Plato's Republic proper - following Socrates as he describes the earliest organization of government through its growth into a "fevered" state of luxuries and wealth. And, bonus - we get a ten-minute tangent on the Laws of Lycurgus! - which influenced many ancient thinkers (including Plato and Aristotle) and will continue to haunt us for the rest of the class.You can find the full text of Plato's Republic for free on Project Gutenberg; this lecture uses Lane Cooper's translation in Princeton Readings in Political Thought ed. Mitchell Cohen.If you're interested in Professor Kozlowski's other online projects, check out his website: ⁠professorkozlowski.wordpress.com

Let's chip away at sleeplessness with some 19th century naturalist writing, more specifically the “gleanings from the notebook of a field geologist.” This time, we spot an odd boulder in a Scottish ravine, trace its origins back to the Ice Age, and ponder the monumental workings of glaciers. Perfection.   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The Story of a Boulder” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66703 Music: "Calling to Other Worlds,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

For the first reading in History of Social Thought, Professor Kozlowski *finally* tackles that greatest of philosophical classics: Plato's Republic. Today we'll look at the famous opening argument and get some preliminary answers to the question "What is Justice?" as well as Plato's practical example for dealing with Internet edgelords trying to win debates rather than understand truths.You can find the full text of Plato's Republic for free on Project Gutenberg; this lecture uses Lane Cooper's translation in Princeton Readings in Political Thought ed. Mitchell Cohen.If you're interested in Professor Kozlowski's other online projects, check out his website: professorkozlowski.wordpress.com

Let's conclude our month of relaxing travels to sleep with a journey to the farthest reaches of the Arctic and the search for the North Pole. This time, we meet the region's people, learn about various home constructions, and appreciate the grandeur of a land of seasonal extremes.   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The North Pole: Its Discovery in 1909” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18975   Music: "Dream Colours,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's continue our month of relaxing travels to sleep as we return to 19th century Italy with Charles Dickens and wind through the maze-like, mysterious, miasmatic, marvelous streets of Genoa. You can practically smell the place, which…was probably better avoided. Yikes. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Pictures from Italy” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/650 Music: "Peace,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

In 1610, Spanish pilot Juan Bernardo de Fuentidueñas survived a wreck near Macao — but what he discovered next would shake centuries of historical assumptions.On a remote reef, he encountered three indigenous survivors. His chronicle described them not as Japanese, Ryukyuan, or Chinese... but as Lequian Indians.For over 400 years, historians have believed Lequios = Ryukyu. But what if we've been wrong?Drawing from firsthand accounts preserved in The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898 (Blair & Robertson, Vol. XVI), this documentary uncovers stunning new evidence that Lequios was not in Japan — but right here in Northern Luzon, Philippines.

Let's continue our month of relaxing travels to sleep with further tales of adventure from the South Seas. This time, we head to the atoll of Ahu Ahu, learn about gossiping ghosts, and drink rather a lot of rum punch. As one occasionally does.   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Faery Lands of the South Seas” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54479   Music: "Ocean Tapping” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's launch ourselves to sleep with more from this rather detailed look at fireworks. This time, we complete our historical retrospective of firework displays in Europe through the early 1900s, marvel at the fiery spectacles held at the Crystal Palace, and pity a guy that gets stuck on a wire. Whoops! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Pyrotechnics” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64922 Music: "Peace,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's journey through the stars to sleep with our final reading from this marvelous book. This time, binary star systems, how to measure the vastness of our universe, and a quick summary of key astronomical facts, including the reminder that the parsec is a distance, not a unit of time. Take note, fans of a certain film. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Astronomy for Young Folks” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45112  Music: "Exit Exit” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Native English speakers answer questions about the internet from previous B2, C1, C2 and IELTS exam papers.We will take a look at some common errors that people make when speaking about technology, particularly with pronunciation. On top of that, we have some lovely phrasal verbs, some ways to add emphasis and we have a quiz about binomial pairs. For classes or transcripts go to https://realexamenglish.com/podcast/Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesomeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Link for Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/Thanks to all of the contributors, including Emma, Mike, Noel, Konner, Jen, Dan from the Roar and Score Trivia Podcast and the girls from the Butt Stuff PodcastSupport the show

Let's pedal a path to sleep with more advice about the newfangled sport of bicycling. This time, the difference between racing and touring postures, getting the most from your fulcrums, and how to mount your bike without falling over, which seems helpful to know whether you're a lady or not. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Bicycling for Ladies” at Project Gutenberg:  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62227 Music: "Heaven Be Here” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and digital interfaces, the way we read—and what we read—is undergoing a profound transformation. From scrolling news on smart devices to listening to AI-narrated audiobooks, global reading habits are shifting rapidly. As artificial intelligence permeates both the creation and consumption of literature, it's vital to ask: how is AI affecting our engagement with fiction and non-fiction? And what does this mean for authors, readers, and the future of storytelling?

Let's relax and sleep to more advice from the redoubtable Mrs. B. This time, fish soup recipes, followed by a surprisingly detailed discourse on the natural history of fishes, their use as food, and general advice for preparing them. Also, a bit of poetry about oysters, because of course there is. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The Book of Household Management” at Project Gutenberg:  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10136   Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's continue our relaxing journey through history with the twin empires of Rome and China, social structures in ancient Rome, and the evolution of religions in the wake of conquest. Wells weaves a wonderful tale for your tired mind. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “A Short History of the World” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35461 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's sleepily celebrate one of mankind's closest companions with this charming guide for "doggy people." In this first reading, dog care basics, a detailed look at some hounds, and how chasing beagles keeps cricketers in shape in the off-season. Helpful! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “All About Dogs” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45377 Music: "Heaven Be Here” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Dystopian fiction is all the rage these days. But back in the 1800s one of the bestselling books in the United States was a work of utopian fiction, about a guy who falls asleep in 1887 and accidentally time travels to the year 2000. The book, called “Looking Backward” launched political parties, communal living projects, and inspired a generation of architects and city planners. Check out the Bellamy House in Chicopee, the Bradbury Building in Los Angeles, and read Looking Backward for free on Project Gutenberg. 

Let's theorize our way to sleep with more about a hollow Earth that contains unseen multitudes. This time, the mystery of whales migrating under Greenland, groaning lakes, and rebuttals to five arguments against the theory, including the opinion that not being hollow is an ungodly waste of space. Science! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Symmes' Theory of Concentric Spheres” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54329 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Send us a textToday's episode is my conversation about the 1928 film In Old Arizona. My friend Joanne Thornborough from the POP! Goes My Brain newsletter joins me to discuss the film and we talk about how some traditional western stereotypes are turned on their heads in this film, the ingenious uses of sound in the film at the dawn of the talkie, and yet another love triangle in late 1920s film. You can watch In Old Arizona on YouTube or purchase a copy for your collection and be sure to check out Joanne's newsletter.Other films mentioned in this episode include:The Wizard of Oz directed by Victor FlemingHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone directed by Chris ColumbusThree Amigos directed by John LandisThe Big Trail directed by Louis R. Loeffler and Raoul WalshArmageddon directed by Michael BayArthur directed by Steve GordonThe Birth of a Nation directed by D. W. GriffithBack to the Future directed by Robert ZemeckisThe Valiant directed by William K. HowardThe Great Gatsby (1926-lost) directed by Herbert Brenon42nd Street directed by Lloyd BaconDinner at Eight directed by George CukorI Love You Again directed by W.S. Van Dyke IIOther referenced topics: "The Caballero's Way" (short story) by O. Henry available on Project Gutenberg"My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion"Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith"Arthur's Theme" by Christopher CrossThe Cisco Kid comicsVariety review of In Old ArizonaDennis Schwartz Movie ReviewsMad Men (series)Breaking Bad (series)The Sopranos (series)Find out more information about the Barrymore Theatre.Support the show

This week, while your reader checks off a long-held Life List item at the Globe, let's relax as one literary genius waxes rather lyrical about another, as well as the nature of artistic genius itself. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep,” says the Bard. We quite agree. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “William Shakespeare” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53490   Music: "Peace,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's voyage to sleep with this history of the peoples of Mexico, travel with migrating tribes, consider the ways geography groups languages, and ponder some origin stories of the Aztecs. Also, your reader probably mispronounces everything, so apologies in advance. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Mexican Archaeology” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/74836   Music: "Exit Exit,” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Send us a textToday's episode is my conversation about the 1928 film White Shadows in the South Seas. My friend Matthew Brady from the Warren Peace newsletter joins me to discuss the film and we talk about why this film was almost a shoe in for winning Best Cinematography at the 2nd Academy Awards, how interesting it was to be able to see some aspects of indigenous life on the South Pacific islands of around 100 years ago, and the cautionary tale that is this film. You can watch White Shadows in the South Seas on YouTube or purchase a copy for your collection and be sure to check out Matthew's newsletter.Other films mentioned in this episode include:Nanook of the North directed by Robert J. FlahertyMoana directed by Frances H. Flaherty, Robert J. Flaherty, and Monica Flaherty FrassettoThe Birth of a Nation directed by D. W. GriffithIntolerance directed by D. W. GriffithSadie Thompson directed by Raoul WalshOther referenced topics:White Shadows in the South Seas (novel) by Frederick O'Brien (also available on Project Gutenberg)"Rain" (short story) by W. Somerset MaughamLos Angeles Times article about Raquel Torres performing a voice testMotion Picture Magazine reviewThe Film Spectator review

Let's attract sleep with these early experiments to master a fundamental element of modern life, electromagnetism. How do magnets create a charge? What is making that needle twitch? How did anyone ever figure this stuff out? Curiosity is a powerful force indeed. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Experimental Researches in Electricity” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14986 Music: "Cosmic Tingles,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Clare and Hannah take on Jekyll and Hyde in a battle of Victorian proportions. In other words, we slink furtively through darkened doorways, scandalize young housemaids sitting up past their bedtime, and write letters to our lawyers with the tantalizing instruction: "Do not open until I have died or disappeared under mysterious circumstances."  Get your own copy of this Robert Louis Stevenson classic, here at Clare's Bookshop.org store! Or, since Jekyll & Hyde is in the public domain, you can read it online for FREE at Project Gutenberg. Support the showWe provide links and other resources to help you find and enjoy the things we talked about on this episode! Note that some of these may include “affiliate” links to books and other products. When you click through and purchase, the price of the item is the same for you. In fact, most of the time you'll get a discount! But the company gives us a little somethin' somethin' to say “thanks” for sending you their way! This helps you enjoy the website and the podcast EVEN MORE by eliminating intrusive advertisements. Thanks for clicking! Theme music: “Splanchnics Riff” composed and performed by Clare T. Walker

Let's purchase some peace with more from this foundational work of economics. This time, the fundamentals of supply and demand, the function of profit, and why monopolies are a pretty terrible idea unless you want to pay more for less.   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The Wealth of Nations” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3300   Music: "earth 2 earth,” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's sink into sleep with the final reading from this handy guide to making a very popular food indeed. This time, we hear maxims for the cheesemaker, are then immediately told to ignore maxims, learn how to box cheese neatly, and bewail the scandal that is low-fat, “skimmed” cheese. Testify!   Patreon Supporters, since we finished this book, as always, you will be getting all three readings stitched into a single recording for those nights when a long boring book is just the ticket for sleep. Cheesy! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The Handbook on Cheese Making” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70813 Music: "Changing Colours,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss liberal judge Susan Crawford's sweeping victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race; Trump's new, nearly universal massive tariffs; and the dangerously casual standards the government is using to deport alleged gang members despite acknowledged mistakes. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Stephanie Nolen for the New York Times: Millions of Women Will Lose Access to Contraception as a Result of Trump Aid Cuts. John: Arthur Delaney for HuffPost: Emails Confirm Social Security Administration Canceled Maine Contracts As Political Payback; Fatima Hussein and Patrick Whittle for the Associated Press: Social Security's acting leader faces calls to resign over decision to cut Maine contracts. Bodkin on Netflix. David: Book Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space, by author Adam Higginbotham; Movie The Intern with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway (official trailer on YouTube: The Intern); book Emma by Jane Austen (Emma ebook at Project Gutenberg; Emma at Jane Austen's House). Listener chatter from Emma in Lebanon, New Hampshire: Vermont's ‘Mr. Maple' Has Great Stories To Tell For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily talks with Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater about their new book, Mad House: How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, A Former Used Car Salesman, A Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man With Rats In His Walls Broke Congress. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss liberal judge Susan Crawford's sweeping victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race; Trump's new, nearly universal massive tariffs; and the dangerously casual standards the government is using to deport alleged gang members despite acknowledged mistakes. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Stephanie Nolen for the New York Times: Millions of Women Will Lose Access to Contraception as a Result of Trump Aid Cuts. John: Arthur Delaney for HuffPost: Emails Confirm Social Security Administration Canceled Maine Contracts As Political Payback; Fatima Hussein and Patrick Whittle for the Associated Press: Social Security's acting leader faces calls to resign over decision to cut Maine contracts. Bodkin on Netflix. David: Book Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space, by author Adam Higginbotham; Movie The Intern with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway (official trailer on YouTube: The Intern); book Emma by Jane Austen (Emma ebook at Project Gutenberg; Emma at Jane Austen's House). Listener chatter from Emma in Lebanon, New Hampshire: Vermont's ‘Mr. Maple' Has Great Stories To Tell For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily talks with Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater about their new book, Mad House: How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, A Former Used Car Salesman, A Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man With Rats In His Walls Broke Congress. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss liberal judge Susan Crawford's sweeping victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race; Trump's new, nearly universal massive tariffs; and the dangerously casual standards the government is using to deport alleged gang members despite acknowledged mistakes. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Stephanie Nolen for the New York Times: Millions of Women Will Lose Access to Contraception as a Result of Trump Aid Cuts. John: Arthur Delaney for HuffPost: Emails Confirm Social Security Administration Canceled Maine Contracts As Political Payback; Fatima Hussein and Patrick Whittle for the Associated Press: Social Security's acting leader faces calls to resign over decision to cut Maine contracts. Bodkin on Netflix. David: Book Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space, by author Adam Higginbotham; Movie The Intern with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway (official trailer on YouTube: The Intern); book Emma by Jane Austen (Emma ebook at Project Gutenberg; Emma at Jane Austen's House). Listener chatter from Emma in Lebanon, New Hampshire: Vermont's ‘Mr. Maple' Has Great Stories To Tell For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily talks with Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater about their new book, Mad House: How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, A Former Used Car Salesman, A Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man With Rats In His Walls Broke Congress. In the latest Gabfest Reads, David talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's official: AI has arrived and, from here on out, will be a part of our world. So how do we begin to learn how to coexist with our new artificial coworkers? Ethan Mollick is an associate professor at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and the author of Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI. The book acts as a guide to readers navigating the new world of AI and explores how we might work alongside AI. He and Greg discuss the benefits of anthropomorphizing AI, the real impact the technology could have on employment, and how we can learn to co-work and co-learn with AI. *unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:The result of an experiment identifying the impact of GEN AI07:35 We went to the Boston Consulting Group, one of the elite consulting companies, and we gave them 18 realistic business tasks we created with them and these were judged to be very realistic. They were used to do actual evaluations of people in interviews and so on. And we got about 8 percent of the global workforce of BCG, which is a significant investment. And we had them do these tasks first on their own without AI, and then we had them do a second set of tasks either with or without AI. So, random selection to those two. The people who got access to AI, and by the way, this is just plain vanilla GPT-4 as of last April. No special fine-tuning, no extra details, no special interface, no RAG, nothing else. And they had a 40 percent improvement in the quality of their outputs on every measure that we had. We got work done about 25 percent faster, about 12.5 percent more work done in the same time period. Pretty big results in a pretty small period of time. Is AI taking over our jobs?20:30 The ultimate question is: How good does AI get, and how long does it take to get that good? And I think if we knew the answer to that question, which we don't, that would teach us a lot about what jobs to think about and worry about.Will there be a new data war where different LLM and Gen AI providers chase proprietary data?11:17 I don't know whether this becomes like a data fight in that way because the open internet has tons of data on it, and people don't seem to be paying for permission to train on those. I think we'll see more specialized training data potentially in the future, but things like conversations, YouTube videos, podcasts are also useful data sources. So the whole idea of LLMs is that they use unsupervised learning. You throw all this data at them; they figure out the patterns.Could public data be polluted by junk and bad actors?16:39 Data quality is obviously going to be an issue for these systems. There are lots of ways of deceiving them, of hacking them, of working like a bad actor. I don't necessarily think it's going to be by poisoning the datasets themselves because the datasets are the Internet, Project Gutenberg, and Wikipedia. They're pretty resistant to that kind of mass poisoning, but I think data quality is an issue we should be concerned about.Show Links:Recommended Resources:“Navigating the Jagged Technological Frontier: Field Experimental Evidence of the Effects of AI on Knowledge Worker Productivity and Quality” | Harvard Business SchoolGeoffrey HintonProject GutenbergGemini AI“Google's Gemini Controversy Explained: AI Model Criticized By Musk And Others Over Alleged Bias” | ForbesDevin AI Karim LakhaniGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at University of PennsylvaniaHis Work:Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI 

Let's sail to sleep with more from this remarkable journey around the world. This time, our author is chased by pirates! Also, we cross the doldrums, accidentally ground the ship on the coast of Brazil, and receive kind offers of assistance, which is very nice indeed. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Sailing Alone Around the World” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6317 Music: "Ocean Tapping,” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's relax with the conclusion of this curiously wonderful blend of mathematics, philosophy, and social commentary. This time, our square throws off the chains of dimensional thinking and gets rewarded with chains of a different sort. Free thinking is costly, it seems. Patreon Supporters, next week you will be getting all five readings from this book as a single recording for those nights when a long boring book is just the ticket for sleep!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Flatland” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/201 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's relax with some historical details about Ireland up to the 12th century, including the structure of kings and chiefs, the kingly retinue, and the brehon system of laws that applied to both ruler and ruled, which…seems like a good idea, really.   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The Story of Ancient Irish Civilization” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41666 Music: "Calling to Other Worlds,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

A Man of Means is a collection of six short stories written in collaboration by P. G. Wodehouse and C. H. Bovill. The stories all star Roland Bleke, a nondescript young man to whom financial success comes through a series of "lucky" chances, the first from a win in a sweepstake he had forgotten entering. Roland, like many a timid young man seeks love and marriage. In this pursuit his wealth is regularly a mixed blessing. The plot of each story follows its predecessor, sometimes directly, and occasionally refer back to past events in Bleke's meteoric career. The writing style is crisp and droll, and shows much of the skill and polish of the later Wodehouse. The disasters that befall the hapless Bleke are entertainingly recounted and his unforeseen rescues surprise and delight. In the character of the butler, Mr Teal, we meet an early draft of the ingenious Jeeves. The stories first appeared in the United Kingdom in The Strand in 1914, and in the United States in Pictorial Review in 1916. They were later published in book form in the UK by Porpoise Books in 1991; the collection was released on Project Gutenberg in 2003. (Adapted from Wikipedia.) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A Man of Means is a collection of six short stories written in collaboration by P. G. Wodehouse and C. H. Bovill. The stories all star Roland Bleke, a nondescript young man to whom financial success comes through a series of "lucky" chances, the first from a win in a sweepstake he had forgotten entering. Roland, like many a timid young man seeks love and marriage. In this pursuit his wealth is regularly a mixed blessing. The plot of each story follows its predecessor, sometimes directly, and occasionally refer back to past events in Bleke's meteoric career. The writing style is crisp and droll, and shows much of the skill and polish of the later Wodehouse. The disasters that befall the hapless Bleke are entertainingly recounted and his unforeseen rescues surprise and delight. In the character of the butler, Mr Teal, we meet an early draft of the ingenious Jeeves. The stories first appeared in the United Kingdom in The Strand in 1914, and in the United States in Pictorial Review in 1916. They were later published in book form in the UK by Porpoise Books in 1991; the collection was released on Project Gutenberg in 2003. (Adapted from Wikipedia.) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A Man of Means is a collection of six short stories written in collaboration by P. G. Wodehouse and C. H. Bovill. The stories all star Roland Bleke, a nondescript young man to whom financial success comes through a series of "lucky" chances, the first from a win in a sweepstake he had forgotten entering. Roland, like many a timid young man seeks love and marriage. In this pursuit his wealth is regularly a mixed blessing. The plot of each story follows its predecessor, sometimes directly, and occasionally refer back to past events in Bleke's meteoric career. The writing style is crisp and droll, and shows much of the skill and polish of the later Wodehouse. The disasters that befall the hapless Bleke are entertainingly recounted and his unforeseen rescues surprise and delight. In the character of the butler, Mr Teal, we meet an early draft of the ingenious Jeeves. The stories first appeared in the United Kingdom in The Strand in 1914, and in the United States in Pictorial Review in 1916. They were later published in book form in the UK by Porpoise Books in 1991; the collection was released on Project Gutenberg in 2003. (Adapted from Wikipedia.) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

There is a force known by many names--and many names are inherent within the various practices of our Ancestors. As we harken back into the past, and turn our gaze to the Northeastern parts of our world, we may learn--from the tales and legends of old--that there is a profound amount of wisdom yet to be discovered...WE ARE GOING TO SALEM!Instagram: @beyondtheseaspodcastEMAIL ME: beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.comTarot Collaboration: @thefeatherwitchnycPodcast website: https://beyondtheseas.buzzsprout.com/More info: https://www.kierandanaan.com/beyond-the-seasWINE COLLAB!!! 

Let's return to this classic history of the Roman emperors and hear a bit about a ruler both famous and infamous in his need for public adulation. Why pay attention to affairs of state when you can perform for judges you've bribed? Stately!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The Lives of the Twelve Caesars” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6400 Music: "earth 2 earth,” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's relax with more of this sleepy stroll through some of America's greatest natural wonders, protected for the enjoyment of all people as national parks. This time, we continue our tour of Yosemite and its mighty glacier-carved mountains. Majestic!    Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Our National Park” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60929   Music: "Watching Whales on the Moon,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's relax with more advice about successful farming. This time, we get snookered in the purchase of a cow, wage endless war on weeds, and sell some blackberry bushes. Profitable!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All supporters in the month of February will be entered into a drawing for a personal, made-just-for-you episode of the book of your choice. Neat! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Ten Acres Enough” at Project Gutenberg:  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48753 Music: "Changing Colours,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 1999's Outcast. We talk about world structure, world building, concrete vs abstract implementations of mechanics, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to/through Talanzaar Issues covered: sad news, a digression on Edgar Rice Burroughs and Project Gutenberg, finally "getting" the game, depth of story and environment at the time, the "second" world, moderating your own difficulty, supporting narrative goals, a dynamic "find this person" system, concrete interactions to increase believability of the world, the big impact of the world state change, organic architecture, cheesing the terrain collision, world-building in conversations, Mogi and his history, the crane puzzle, auto-targeting the swinging cube, the brothers competing for the business, the flautist and singer, the adventurous music, world state music, reputation as a concept, enemy states. Games, people, and influences mentioned or discussed: Belmont/Jesse Lane Nelson, Defeating Games for Charity, Jedi Starfighter, BioStats, LostLake, Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carter/A Princess of Mars, Project Gutenberg, Computer Gaming World, Tomb Raider, Anachronox, LoZ: Ocarina of Time, Total Recall, Grim Fandango, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Star Wars, Castlevania X: Rondo of Blood, Kirk Hamilton, Aaron Evers, Mark Garcia. Next time: Finish (?) Outcast Links: Belmont hosts Tim & Brett on JSF Twitch: timlongojr Discord DevGameClub@gmail.com

Let's continue with more of the finer arts of behavior as we conclude our instruction in the etiquette of invitations, consider the well-appointed house, and are reminded that looking down on the serving class is inexcusably ill-bred. Well said, Mrs. Post!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All supporters in the month of February will be entered into a drawing for a personal, made-just-for-you episode of the book of your choice. Neat! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Etiquette” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14314 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

In our annual celebration of Darwin Day, let's continue our sleepy stroll through this fundamental text of biology. This time, why natural selection works better in big spaces, the perils of extinction, and the strength that comes from diversity. It's science!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All supporters in the month of February will be entered into a drawing for a personal, made-just-for-you episode of the book of your choice. Neat! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1228   Music: "Dream Colours,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's continue our sleepy tour of the zoological collections of the British Museum and discover the wonders first being seen by the general public circa 1850. This time, reptiles, the fauna of Great Britain, and some philosophy about our place in the history of living things. Because of course that's included in a 19th century book.   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All supporters in the month of February will be entered into a drawing for a personal, made-just-for-you episode of the book of your choice. Neat! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “How To See the British Museum in Four Visits” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13755   Music: "Cosmic Tingles,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's climb the slopes of sleep with more from this journey to study the world's highest mountain. This time, we visit Tingri, climb glaciers, and reach the highest monastery in the world. We're less than 10 miles from Everest, friends. Dreams of adventure await!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Mount Everest, The Reconnaissance, 1921” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39421 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's relax with one of the most boring reads I've ever encountered, a minutely detailed guide to the internal workings of legislative assemblies. Why, one might wonder how anything ever gets done at all. Motion to sleep, seconded!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Robert's Rules of Order” at Project Gutenberg here:  https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9097   Music: "Calling to Other Worlds,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Let's relax with another sleepy stroll across the sands of time to ancient Egypt. This time, we finish our overview of tombs and learn about Egyptian painting conventions, including cat-based satire. It never gets old! Maspero has a marvelous way of bringing these images to life, and I think you'll love his descriptions.   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Manual of Egyptian Archaeology” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14400   Music: "Exit Exit” by PC III, licensed under CC BY   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.