Ep247: A Life in Reading - Steve Donoghue

In this episode I am join by Steve Donoghue, writer, nationally published book critic, and popular Youtuber.

Steve details his remarkable daily routine in which he sleeps 90 minutes a night and devotes vast amounts of time to reading and writing. He recalls his Jesuit education and reveals the intellectual doctrines at the heart of the religious order famed for its rigour and learning.

Steve reflects on the healing power of high states of concentration, the art of memory and how to train it, and considers the threats posed to human attention by social media and smartphones. Steve considers strategies for more effective reading, how to grapple with difficult texts, and how to engage in criticism without losing appreciation.

Steve also offers his views on religion, shares his fascination with religious writing, and expresses his passion for the Gospel of Luke and the works of Erasmus and St Augustine.

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https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep...

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Background and career in book reviewing
03:54 - A Jesuit education
06:28 - The brain is a muscle
09:50 - Learning and reading Ancient Greek and Latin
13:15 - A breakthrough moment in Latin
15:48 - Steve’s favourite Latin authors
18:06 - Common misunderstandings about memorisation
20:06 - What is the point of memorisation?
21:46 - Can memory be trained?
23:22 - Memory palaces and other ancient memory techniques
25:51 - Advice for those who wish to improve memory
27:01 - 21st century attacks on human attention
28:29 - A simple test of concentration
32:00 - The healing power of concentration
33:26 - People don’t know what they’re missing
37:18 - Experiences of transcendence and intrinsic reward
38:47 - The value of boredom and rest
42:00 - Meditation as rest taken too far?
44:02 - Generational changes in attention
46:08 - Meditation as attention training
47:00 - Steve’s amazing sleep and reading schedule
52:39 - Sleeping 90 minutes a night
55:19 - The joy of starting a new book
57:20 - Grappling with a text
59:27 - Sub-vocalising slows you down
01:03:32 - Difficulties in discussion religion
01:04:36 - Steve’s view on religion
01:06:00 - Steve’s admiration for religious people
01:11:37 - Steve’s fascination with religious writing and texts
01:14:52 - Philosophers are priests
01:15:29 - Faith based on texts?
01:17:07 - The danger of criticism without appreciation
01:22:07 - Reluctance to examine scripture
01:23:01 - Cynical critics
01:24:28 - A Christian meme of losing one’s faith
01:30:36 - The thrill of engaging with religious texts even without belief
01:32:37 - Following the thread
01:33:05 - The Gospel of Luke
01:34:10 - Steve’s love for St Augustine and Erasus
01:36:36 - Luke vs the other Gospels
01:38:25 - St Augustine’s Confessions
01:40:40 - In Praise of Folly and mocking religious hypocrisy
01:45:40 - Concluding remarks on faith and religion

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To find out more about Steve Donoghue, visit:
   / @saintdonoghue  
https://www.stevedonoghue.com/

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James