Benjamin McEvoy

Essays on writing, reading, and life

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George Orwell’s Animal Farm Podcast

November 10, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Today’s episode of the Hardcore Literature Podcast is a long one. A long one for a short book with a huge impact. We’re reviewing, analysing, discussing, and drawing modern day parallels with George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945). This podcast takes it’s time getting into the book itself, but it’s all relevant. The first 40 minutes of […]

Filed Under: Books, Hardcore Literature, Podcast

How to Read: Synoptic, Analytical, Inspectional, Elementary & Speed-Reading

November 9, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Today’s video is one that is near and dear to my heart: how to read. There are four main styles of reading: Elementary Reading Inspectional Reading Analytical Reading Synoptical Reading Each has levels of difficulty. Each style of reading rewards one with enlightenment. They don’t teach you how to do this style of reading in […]

Filed Under: Books, Education

The Top 3 Cities to Live in as a Western Man

November 8, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Men with sense are quietly leaving their countries in droves. They’re packing their shit and taking their value elsewhere. Sure, the cities are to blame. But anyone with a knowledge of history, or anyone watching the news in the last few months, knows that it’s only a matter of time before the sociological virus spreads […]

Filed Under: Travel

I’m Reading a Poem a Day During Lockdown – Any Requests?

November 7, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

England’s gone into it’s second nationwide lockdown. A lot of people are feeling quite miserable. I really liked Sir Patrick Stewart’s response to the first lockdown. He read one of Shakespeare’s sonnets every single day. And ended up getting through all of them as the lockdown stretched on longer than the government had originally told […]

Filed Under: Poetry

How to Write a First-Class Essay Masterclass (Early Access Available)

November 1, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Due to popular demand, I’ve just opened early enrollment for the Essay Writing Masterclass: How to Write a First-Class Essay. And, I must say, I’m so proud of this class. It’s easily the best course I’ve put together to date (and students enrolled in my other courses will tell you the quality is extremely high […]

Filed Under: Education, Writing

Shakespeare Reading Challenge Update (Henry VI 1, 2, 3 & Richard III)

October 29, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

I’ve now read through the Henry Tetralogy. That’s Henry VI Parts One, Two, and Three, and have moved onto Richard III. Those Henrys are a slog. Finally arriving at Richard III is like a breath of fresh air. I rank each book, marking my grade – both on a sliding alphabetical scale and out of […]

Filed Under: Books, Shakespeare

Which Translation of Anna Karenina is the Best? Pevear & Volokhonsky vs Constance Garnett vs Aylmer and Louise Maude

October 25, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Which translation of Anna Karenina is the best? Let’s have a “Tolstoy Taste Test” and find out. We’re pitting three of the finest, most respected and well established translators of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina head-to-head to find out which one is the best: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky Aylmer and Louise Maude Constance Garnett  Fun Facts: Constance Garnett […]

Filed Under: Books

Why Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is a Masterpiece

October 24, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

The mark of a literary masterpiece is how thoroughly the concerns of its characters become your concerns. Do you think of the novel’s characters as though they were real people? Not wholly good, not wholly bad, but with dreams, desires, fears, and the ability to change – either towards decay and stagnation or towards God […]

Filed Under: Books

The Q&A Show: Answering Your Questions About Books, Reading & Literature

October 23, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

Thank you to everyone who has emailed in and asked such great, nuanced questions about books, reading, and literature. I just had to do a Q&A show – first one! – because these were some really interesting questions. Feel free to check out the timestamps below the audio player to jump to whatever questions interests […]

Filed Under: Books, Education, Podcast

The First Episode of the Nobel Prize Book Club Challenge: The Works of Peter Handke

October 22, 2020 By Ben McEvoy

I’m so excited to kick off the first month of the Nobel Prize Book Club Challenge. This first episode is about the controversial winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature, Peter Handke. The Works of Peter Handke: Nobel Prize Reading Challenge And what a great show. Check out the show notes and timestamps below […]

Filed Under: Books, Hardcore Literature, 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)
  • Which Translation of Anna Karenina is the Best? Pevear & Volokhonsky vs Constance Garnett vs Aylmer and Louise Maude
    Which Translation of Anna Karenina is the Best? Pevear & Volokhonsky vs Constance Garnett vs Aylmer and Louise Maude
  • How to Get an Oxford University English Literature Education for Free
    How to Get an Oxford University English Literature Education for Free
  • How to Read Crime and Punishment (10 Tips for Digesting Dostoyevsky)
    How to Read Crime and Punishment (10 Tips for Digesting Dostoyevsky)
  • R.L. Stine Teaches Writing For Young Audiences MasterClass Review
    R.L. Stine Teaches Writing For Young Audiences MasterClass Review
  • How to Read Anna Karenina (10 Tips for Tackling Tolstoy)
    How to Read Anna Karenina (10 Tips for Tackling Tolstoy)
  • The Jim Morrison Reading List: How To Read Like A Rockstar
    The Jim Morrison Reading List: How To Read Like A Rockstar
  • The Colour of Time by Dan Jones & Marina Amaral (Book Review)
    The Colour of Time by Dan Jones & Marina Amaral (Book Review)
  • 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)
  • Shakespeare's Sonnets Podcast
    Shakespeare's Sonnets Podcast

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