Why people recommend it
The Iliad by Homer is an ancient Greek epic poem that chronicles the fierce battles and heroic figures of the Trojan War, exploring themes of glory, wrath, and mortality. The classic text was brought up across multiple podcast episodes by guests including James McCann, Stavros Halkias, and Spencer Klavan between August 2022 and December 2025. McCann referenced the epic on The Joe Rogan Experience to compare the brutal style of fighting seen in a modern video to ancient warfare. Halkias discussed the poem on the same show, expressing his deep interest in the classic and highlighting the pivotal choice faced by Achilles between a short, glorious life and a long, obscure one. Klavan brought up the work on The Megyn Kelly Show to create a literary analogy for navigating the sinking ship of academia, referencing a vivid scene where a massive hero walks from ship to ship. The speakers utilized the timeless themes and legendary characters of the epic to provide historical context and colorful metaphors for contemporary discussions on human conflict, existential choices, and personal struggles.
Who recommended it
- James McCann Discussed
- Stavros Halkias Discussed
- Spencer Klavan Discussed
James McCann — 1 mention
“read the Iliad or something this is kind of how people are fighting.”
Stavros Halkias — 1 mention
“I'm really into the uh The Iliad”
Spencer Klavan — 1 mention
“there's a you know a scene in The Iliad where one of the heroes kind of uh Walks from ship to ship because he's so huge”