The Book Club

PragerU

4.8 (1K)
BOOKS

Michael Knowles and special guests discuss great literature that has shaped Western Civilization.

3 DAYS AGO

Joseph Fornieri: On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

Can you do whatever you want—even harm yourself—as long as you don’t harm others? In On Liberty, John Stuart Mill warns against threats to personal freedom, especially through the “tyranny of the majority.” Michael Knowles is joined by Joe Fournier, a political science professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, to explore Mill's classic work, the importance of defending free speech and personal choice, and why individualism is essential for true progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 min
AUG 20

Will Witt: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Would 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

31 min
JUN 18

Libby Emmons: A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

Is 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

32 min
APR 16

Derryck Green: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Once 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

29 min
JAN 17

Pastor Rob McCoy: Sermon on the Mount

Michael 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

41 min
11/21/2023

Charles Kesler: Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Is 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

32 min
09/19/2023

Julie Hartman: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

What 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

38 min
08/16/2023

Andy Puzder: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

How 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

37 min

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4.8

out of 5

1,028 Ratings

Helpful with my teens

Oct 29

The Lodge on Twinkle Lane

I just discovered this podcast after reading The Scarlet Letter alongside my teens who are reading it at school (so I could converse with them about it). That episode was SO helpful in helping me process my thoughts on the books as well as the big themes. I plan to make my boys listen to it also & am curious to see if they talk about those ideas during seminar discussion at school 😉 I love that it’s from a conservative, biblical worldview. Thank you for this bookclub!
Can’t get enough book club!!

Oct 13

Nelsontina

I get to join book club while commuting to work. I have learned so much. Anxiously awaiting new episodes. Thank you!
Such great books!

Aug 19

@_rruubbyyy

Always loved Michael Knowles content! His commentary on these books made me want to read them! Keep going!!
Very Strange Politics

Sep 16

frenchathart

The host brings his weird, extreme politics into it constantly.