Benjamin McEvoy

Essays on writing, reading, and life

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How To Retain Your Reading (Video)

August 5, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

What’s the point of reading all these great books if you don’t retain anything? This is a problem I struggled with for years. I read and read and read, but never remembered what I was reading. But the last couple of years, I’ve become a powerhouse of retention. And here’s how you can too. How […]

Filed Under: Books, Education, Videos

Brandon McMillan Teaches Dog Training MasterClass Review

August 3, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

I’ve always had dogs. My first dog was a beautiful black Labrador who was bred as a work dog, was fiercely intelligent and friendly, but unfortunately suffered from cancer over and over again towards the end of her life. My current dog is a golden retriever, who took some time to bond to but now […]

Filed Under: Lifestyle

How to Read Deeply (Podcast)

August 2, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

We’re talking about book reading challenges, how to choose your books, making time for reading, rereading, reading synoptically connecting it to everything else you’ve read), and more. Show Timestamps: 3:55 – quantity shouldn’t be the measure of success 5:40 – on reading diversely 7:00 – against the gatekeepers of the literary world 12:00 – are […]

Filed Under: Books, Education, Hardcore Literature, Podcast

How to Talk to Your Shadow: Practical Tips from Jungian Psychology (Podcast)

July 31, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Today’s episode of Hardcore Literature is all about how to talk to and befriend your shadow. We all have a dark side lurking within. But how do you access it? And how do you access you inner king, warrior, lover, magician, or trickster? How do you analyse your dreams and improve your life? These questions, […]

Filed Under: Books, Education, Hardcore Literature, Podcast

Let’s Deep Read Chekhov’s Short Stories Together (‘Volodya’ Analysis & Appreciation)

July 25, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Let’s deep read Anton Chekhov’s short stories together, starting with my personal favourite: ‘Volodya’. If you want to read along in real time, there are two ways to do that: You can watch/listen to the video reading and analysis. You can listen to the podcast version of the reading and analysis. If you want the […]

Filed Under: Books, Hardcore Literature, Videos

Should You Learn a Language to Read its Literature?

July 25, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

The greatest literary traditions in the world are, in no particular order (except English which is first): English Ancient Greek Latin Russian French Irish  American German Indian Japanese  Chinese English is the most expressive language. With twice as many words as the next largest language, Russian, and most words containing multiple shades of ambiguity and […]

Filed Under: Books, Education

The Vision for Hardcore Literature

July 24, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

I’ve sketched out my goals for Hardcore Literature before, but I want to get better at giving you a behind-the-scenes look. So here are a few things I’m thinking about for the direction of Hardcore Literature until the end of the year.  The Vision for Hardcore Literature The podcast had a good first season, and […]

Filed Under: Hardcore Literature

The Psychological Significance of the Classic Myths: Ovid’s Daedalus and Icarus (Podcast)

July 22, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Today we’re kicking off a new series called ‘The Psychological Significance of the Classic Myths’, starting with the Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. We’re about to deep dive into the greatest stories ever told in human history, extract their gold, their wisdom, and make the poetic practical. Over the course […]

Filed Under: Hardcore Literature, Podcast

Aristotle’s Virtues: Ambition and Good Temper (Podcast)

July 20, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Today’s Hardcore Literature episode is about Aristotle’s ethics and the virtues of ambition and good temper.  We’re talking about honour, how to cultivate the right ambition, snowflake syndrome, the four common types of anger, how to challenge your unconscious underlying beliefs about the world, and much more. And I’m giving away three copies of Aristotle’s Nicomachean […]

Filed Under: Hardcore Literature, Podcast

How to Read and Appreciate Short Stories (Podcast)

July 17, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

I love all the Hardcore Literature podcasts I’ve done thus far. But this 30-minute podcast on how to read and appreciate short stories was, hands down, my favourite. Geeking out and deep diving into the art and craft of short stories, talking about how to become a connoisseur of this wonderful literary form. You’ve got […]

Filed Under: Books, Podcast

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Benjamin McEvoy

I write essays on great books, elite education, practical mindset tips, and living a healthy, happy lifestyle. I'm here to help you live a meaningful life.

Top Posts & Pages

  • How to Read the Complete Works of Shakespeare in a Year (Recommended Reading Order)
    How to Read the Complete Works of Shakespeare in a Year (Recommended Reading Order)
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    How to Get an Oxford University English Literature Education for Free
  • 8 Books That Will Deepen Your Love and Understanding of Shakespeare
    8 Books That Will Deepen Your Love and Understanding of Shakespeare
  • George Orwell's Animal Farm Podcast
    George Orwell's Animal Farm Podcast
  • How to Read Anna Karenina (10 Tips for Tackling Tolstoy)
    How to Read Anna Karenina (10 Tips for Tackling Tolstoy)
  • Why Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is a Masterpiece
    Why Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is a Masterpiece
  • 10 Books Of Poetry Every Literature Lover Will Treasure
    10 Books Of Poetry Every Literature Lover Will Treasure
  • The Jim Morrison Reading List: How To Read Like A Rockstar
    The Jim Morrison Reading List: How To Read Like A Rockstar
  • 7 Lessons Learned From Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (Book Review)
    7 Lessons Learned From Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (Book Review)
  • How to Read Crime and Punishment (10 Tips for Digesting Dostoyevsky)
    How to Read Crime and Punishment (10 Tips for Digesting Dostoyevsky)

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