Explore the debate: Should we read a book on its own, or does an author’s biography add profound meaning? Discover how the lives of Tolkien, Woolf, and Baldwin shaped their timeless works.

Explore the debate: Should we read a book on its own, or does an author’s biography add profound meaning? Discover how the lives of Tolkien, Woolf, and Baldwin shaped their timeless works.
Ever wonder where innovation comes from? Explore how asking “Imagine what if” – a practice rooted in literature – has shaped our reality, from technology to social change, and how you can use it to rewrite your own world.
A deep dive into the intersection of AI and literature. We explore if AI can be truly creative, the philosophical questions of authorship, and how AI might augment—not replace—human writers.
Develop a reading habit and improve your English listening! A friendly librarian gives five practical tips. Includes script, vocabulary, and a 10-question quiz for exam prep.
In our final episode, we look at the state of literature in our interconnected world. We explore how themes of migration, diaspora, and hybrid identities have come to the forefront. Featuring authors from Oceania, the Caribbean, and the global diaspora, we discuss how technology and globalization are shaping the future of storytelling and creating a truly “world” literature.
This episode celebrates the immense diversity of African literature, from the ancient oral storytelling traditions of the Griots to the powerful emergence of post-colonial writing. We’ll discuss how authors like Chinua Achebe, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have used literature to reclaim their history, grapple with the legacy of colonialism, and forge new identities.
We explore the vibrant and revolutionary literature of Latin America in the 20th century. This episode discusses how a generation of writers like Borges, García Márquez, and Allende blended indigenous mythology, political turmoil, and surrealism to create “Magical Realism”—a unique literary style that captured the complex reality of a continent.
This episode focuses on the monumental contribution of 19th-century Russia to world literature. We delve into the minds of masters like Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov, who perfected the psychological novel and used it to explore the depths of human consciousness, morality, suffering, and redemption with unparalleled intensity.
We trace the evolution of European literature as it emerged from the medieval period. This episode covers the heroic sagas of the Anglo-Saxons and Norse, Dante’s divine journey in the Inferno, the universal stage of Shakespeare, and the rise of the novel and individual consciousness during the Enlightenment.
This episode journeys into the vibrant world of the Islamic Golden Age. We’ll explore the profound influence of the Quran as a literary text, the epic scope of the Persian Shahnameh, the mystical poetry of Rumi and Hafez, and the global travels of the enchanting collection, One Thousand and One Nights.
We romanticize the starving artist myth, but is it a creative truth or a convenient lie? This article dismantles the idea that hardship fuels great art, exploring how the cognitive tax of true scarcity can kill inspiration. Discover why a safety net, not suffering, might be the true key to unlocking our world’s greatest creative potential.
How do words like “handout” versus “lifeline” shape our reality? This article explores the subtle grammar of judgment we use when discussing poverty, revealing how our vocabulary can build invisible walls of stigma. Discover how the connection between language and poverty impacts perception and policy, and ask yourself: if we changed our words, could we change our world?
Improve your advanced English listening skills for exams like TOEFL and IELTS with this practice test. Listen to a lecture about Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, and answer 10 comprehension questions.
Poverty isn’t just about a lack of money. Explore the concept of multidimensional poverty and discover why access to healthcare, education, and clean water reveals the true reality of global inequality.
Explore how the decline of critical thinking fuels political polarization and social media echo chambers. Discover how intellectual humility and good-faith arguments can help heal our divisions and strengthen democracy.
Take critical thinking out of the abstract and into your daily life. Learn to evaluate wellness fads, avoid financial biases, and use self-reflection to improve your health, wealth, and happiness.