Person
Every book The Cultural Tutor recommended on podcasts
The Cultural Tutor is an insightful online creator and writer who appears on literary and creator-focused shows such as How I Write to discuss the mechanics of exceptional prose, historical literature, and the evolution of modern writing styles. In advocating for foundational, enduring texts over ubiquitous modern advice books, the guest recommends Boethius's classic philosophical work The Consolation of Philosophy as a superior alternative that elevates a writer's output compared to contemporary bestsellers like James Clear's Atomic Habits, which the guest references as a ubiquitous modern productivity guide. Expanding on historical sources of wisdom and technique, The Cultural Tutor enthusiastically recommends Leonardo da Vinci's A Treatise on Painting, pointing to the master's private notebooks and collected advice for young painters as an essential read containing timeless insights from one of history's greatest polymaths. Additionally, the guest examines the texture and cadence of historical English prose by discussing the enduring clarity of the 1611 King James Bible as a premier example of seventeenth-century writing. To illustrate the emotional resonance, grandeur, and encyclopedic scope of maximalist prose, the guest also brings up John Ruskin's nineteenth-century masterpiece The Stones of Venice, using these historical references to demonstrate how studying foundational texts vastly improves contemporary writing.
Books recommended by The Cultural Tutor
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A Treatise on Painting
A Treatise on Painting by Leonardo da Vinci, compiled and edited by John William Brown from the artist's private notes, collects practical advice and philosophical musings on the art of painting.
Recommended“Well, in his private notebooks, he wrote a load of advice for young painters. And then his heir, Franchesca Meltzy, who collected Da Vinci's notes, takes it and publishes this scattered advice in a treaties called on painting. Wonderful. Everyone should read it.”
Where to get it
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The Consolation of Philosophy
The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius is a classic philosophical work written while the author awaited execution, exploring the nature of fortune, happiness, and divine providence.
Recommended“if rather than reading Atomic Habits, you know, is the first one that comes to mind as one of these books which is like everywhere, you know, if rather than reading atomic habits, you go and read, I don't know, Botheus, the consolation of philosophy, just one example, um then your output is going to be different.”
Where to get it
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Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a widely acclaimed self-improvement guide focused on how tiny changes can produce remarkable results through practical behavioral strategies.
Discussed“if rather than reading Atomic Habits, you know, is the first one that comes to mind as one of these books which is like everywhere, you know, if rather than reading atomic habits, you go and read, I don't know, Botheus, the consolation of philosophy, just one example, um then your output is going to be different.”
Where to get it
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King James Bible
Commissioned by King James I and published in sixteen-eleven, this monumental English translation of the Christian Bible remains a foundational pillar of both English literature and Western religious tradition.
Discussed“probably the best example of of a 17th century writer, but then look at the King James Bible, right? 1611. That stuff even now, I mean, there's a few archaicisms in there. You can read that book.”
Where to get it
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The Stones of Venice
Discussed“So this is volume one of the stones of Venice his seinal work about notionally about Venetian architecture really it's almost like this sort of beautiful encyclopedic synthesis of architecture itself and it was one of the most influential books of the 19th century”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| No One In The World Writes Like The Cultural Tutor | How I Write | 2024-07-31 | 2 |
| The Cultural Tutor: From McDonald's to Twitter Stardom | How I Write Podcast | How I Write | 2023-08-23 | 3 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Oh, it's Charles Harold's pilgrimage. Uh, Aliceville. Thanks.”