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Every book Carl Benjamin recommended on podcasts
Carl Benjamin appeared on The Rubin Report and Modern Wisdom to discuss political developments, historical individualism, and cultural trends. During his interview on The Rubin Report, Benjamin recommended The Origins of English Individualism by Professor Alan Macfarlane. He discussed how Macfarlane combed through historical records to demonstrate that England possessed a thriving property market and individualistic culture dating as far back as the thirteenth century around 1200, challenging common historical assumptions. On Modern Wisdom, Benjamin drew upon classical literature to explain the origins and symbolic meaning behind the name of his podcast and studio, The Lotus Eaters. He referenced Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, specifically discussing the island of the lotus eaters as the initial destination where Odysseus and his crew encounter the lotus fruit. Benjamin noted how a vast amount of cultural and psychological interpretation has been extrapolated from just a few paragraphs of Homer's ancient text. Through these discussions, Benjamin bridged historical scholarship and classical epic poetry to articulate his perspectives on modern political and cultural identity.
Books recommended by Carl Benjamin
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The origins of English individualism
The origins of English individualism by Alan Macfarlane is a historical study that examines early property markets and social structures in England.
Recommended“so I mean there there's a there's a great book on uh called the origins of English and individualism by uh Professor called Alan mcfar and he goes through the historical records and finds that actually going back to like 1200 in England there's a a thve saving property market right now”
Where to get it
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The Odyssey
The Odyssey by Homer is an ancient Greek epic poem that recounts the arduous ten-year journey of Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War.
Discussed“the name is from the odyssey uh the the island of the lotus eaters is the first island that odysseus and his crew arrive at”
Where to get it
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The Odyssey of Homer
The Odyssey of Homer by Homer is an ancient epic poem recounting Odysseus's arduous journey home from the Trojan War and his encounters with various mythological trials.
Discussed“The name is from the odyssey... We only get like a few paragraphs in the odyssey and so a lot has been extrapolate extrapolated from that that doesn't really exist in the text like you know”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| England's Best Intentions Are Blowing Up in Its Face | Carl Benjamin | The Rubin Report | 2025-02-24 | 1 |
| Making Sense Of 2021's Madness - Carl Benjamin - #280 | Modern Wisdom | 2021-02-08 | 2 |