Person
Every book Zach Weinersmith recommended on podcasts
Zach Weinersmith appeared on EconTalk to discuss various literary works, poetry, and his own creative projects. During the conversation, Zach Weinersmith mentioned Edmund Spenser's work while discussing the lasting legacy and obscurity of Beowulf compared to other old poems, noting that despite being one of the lasting poems in English, few people want to read Spenser's The Faerie Queene anymore. Additionally, Zach Weinersmith discussed the enduring popularity of Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf, observing that while readers often find Milton very difficult, they will readily pick up the Heaney edition of Beowulf to read the monster fights in the first section before struggling through the middle. Furthermore, Zach Weinersmith mentioned Homer's The Iliad while talking about the memorizability of classic poetry, pointing out that while remembering a hundred lines of nonsense would be very difficult, memorizing lines of The Iliad is quite doable. Through these literary references, Zach Weinersmith explored the accessibility, memorability, and shifting cultural legacy of classic epic poetry across different centuries and translations.
Books recommended by Zach Weinersmith
-
Beowulf
Beowulf is an Old English epic heroic poem recounting the exploits of the hero Beowulf as he defeats monsters like Grendel and a dragon.
Discussed“people find Milton very difficult but people will still pick up like the Sheamus Haney edition of Beowulf and read the first 30 which is all monster fights and kind of Mumble through the middle part”
Where to get it
-
Faerie queene
The Faerie Queene is an epic poem by Edmund Spenser that has historically exerted enormous influence on subsequent literature, including the works of Shakespeare and the Romantic poets.
Discussed“and yet it's one of the lasting poems in English like nobody wants to read Spencer's the fairy queen anymore”
Where to get it
-
The Iliad
Homer's epic poem The Iliad recounts the events of the Trojan War and serves as the precursor to The Odyssey.
Discussed“like you know it would be very hard to remember 100 lines of nonsense but like underlines of The Iliad is quite doable”
Where to get it
Books Zach Weinersmith wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zach Weinersmith on Beowulf and Bea Wolf | EconTalk | 2023-03-13 | 3 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“The closest analog, sometimes uses submarines and we actually did we read some submarine books and we found a case of a guy who at least claimed he tuned the oxygen up or down to like adjust mood in the submarine.”