Everyman Academy

Quickly take your seats as we conclude our discussion on Anna Karenina.  We've set up the plot, from the train station, to the tragic end of the beloved horse Frou-Frou. Now, we're ready to discuss some of the larger themes. Professor J.T. breaks down what makes this Leo Tolstoy novel a classic. From Russian history to poetic musings on classic literature, no stone goes unturned. Revisit our journey to educate the mind and become inspired to read the classics yourself, on today's episode of Everyman Academy. Class is now in session.

Welcome back to Everyman Academy!  Quickly take your seats as we continue our discussion on Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Today's episode dives right back in to the major plot movements of Acts II-III.  Tune in to discover the events that set Anna's love affair with Vronsky in motion. Her husband Alexy is more than meets the eye, as are the social dynamics in Russian High Society. Professor J.T. leaves no stone unturned in this cinematic re-telling and literary analysis. Horse racing, scandalous liaisons, existential dread, and communism, are some of the many highlights of this timeless tale. Sadly, things don't turn out so great for Vronsky's beloved horse, Frou-Frou. Nevertheless, we hope you bring your tissues for today's episode of Everyman Academy. Class is back in session.

Today, will be entering the world of Leo Tolstoy, as Professor J.T. discusses Anna Karenina, published in 1878. Grab your fuzzy hat and hop aboard the Trans-Siberian Express as we discover Russian literature. Hear why this epic novel is considered possibly the greatest work of literature ever created. There is so much to dig into, it's going to take more than one episode to get the job done. From the big city to the country, the race track to the opera house, there is no shortage of epic moments. This is only the beginning for Tolstoy's masterfully crafted cast of characters, introduced on today's episode of Everyman Academy. Class is now in session.

Bonjour!  Today on Everyman Academy, we will make our first foray into French literature.   Madame Bovary was written in 1856 by Gustav Flaubert and marks the beginning of a literary era known as realism. Never heard of him? We hadn't either, but nevertheless became enthralled with this masterpiece of prose.  Hear why this book is a classic anyone can read, today on Everyman Academy. Class is now in session.

Buckle up, because today's episode of Everyman Academy has a lot of ground to cover.  Uncle Tom's Cabin was the most influential and widely read book of the 19th century. This novel, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe changed public opinion concerning slavery in the United States. Printing presses ran 24/7 to keep up with demand. Despite the massive impact of this novel, you don't hear so much about it these days.  More than a simple book analysis, Professor J.T. covers the topics of world slavery, scientific racism, and the minstrel show. No matter what you think you know about this book, you're bound to learn something new on today's episode of Everyman Academy.  Class is now in session.

Happy New Year! Welcome back to Office Hours! Professor J.T. is here to check in and review the books read in 2022. Develop extra insight into the story so far, and become inspired to join along in this Great Conversation. Look back before we step forward, because we're just getting started!

Welcome back to the fifth and final installment of our Moby Dick series. It's time for Professor J.T. to pull it all together and break down what is all means. Learn why Herman Melville's 1851 masterpiece is about the ancient theology known as Gnosticism.  The key to the meaning of this book is found in Melville's letters to Nathaniel Hawthorne.  What exactly is written in those letters?  Discover the answers behind this question and so much more in today's episode of Everyman Academy. Class is now in session.

Welcome back as we continue our mega analysis of Moby Dick.  Grab your popcorn and prepare yourself for the climactic confrontation with the elusive white whale. Discover the eloquence of Melville's prose while Professor J.T. channels Captain Ahab in all his madness.  Moby Dick fans and newbie's alike discover what all the hype is about in today's episode of Everyman Academy.  Class is now in session.

Furl the t'gallant-sails, and close-reef the top-sails as class resumes in Part III of our Moby Dick mega analysis.  In today's episode of Everyman Academy, you will meet Ahab, Starbuck and the mysterious Fedallah as Professor J.T. breaks down events central to the main narrative.  Everything is beginning to come together as we sail headlong toward the climactic confrontation with the enigmatic White Whale. This cinematic breakdown breathes new life into Hawthorne's 1851 masterpiece.  Class is back in session.

I hope you enjoyed your class break because Professor J.T. is ready to jump back into our analysis of Moby Dick.  In Part II, you will hear a summary of all the chapters that deviate from the main plot. This "Book Within a Book" contains philosophical themes that also expand the grandeur and scope of this masterwork of narrative story telling.  Put your brains on as we once again get lost in the world of Herman Melville on today's episode of Everyman Academy.

Join Professor J.T. as he embarks on the epic journey found within Moby Dick, in the first installment of a 5-Part analysis of Herman Melville's 1851 literary Masterpiece.  Discover how this story begins, meet the famous narrator Ishmael and his cannibal friend Queequeg. Along the way, we'll learn the fascinating history of Whaling and get lost in the mythos of the elusive and mighty Sperm Whale.  So come along, let's all go a-whaling and give three cheers to Nantucket, because this cinematic analysis is about to begin!

Enjoy the first episode of OFFICE HOURS, a new segment on Everyman Academy.  Consider this an informal check-in between our regular class schedule. Today, Professor JT discusses why you should develop the skill of reading and how to form the habit.  Stick around for a rant about Reddit's reading community on /r/books.   It's no surprise, there's plenty of opinions flying around on the 1st episode of Office Hours. 

You may think you know what this 1850 classic by Nathaniel Hawthorne is all about. Your English teacher may have told your class that the Scarlet "A" stands for adultery.  Do you remember occult themes, witchcraft in the woods, and a mysterious figure known as "The Black Man" who carries a book for fresh souls to sign their names in blood?  You may think you know, but think again.  Learn what The Scarlet Letter is really about in this episode of Everyman Academy. 

Get on your tinfoil hats and strap yourself in because Professor J.T. has cracked the code of Jane Eyre! You've got to hear this detailed analysis to understand why this 1847 romance novel is a symbolic reversal of The Pilgrim's Progress (1678). Whether you've read this Charlotte Brontë classic in High School English or just used SparkNotes, you probably could have never guessed the enigmatic Mr. Rochester is intended to represent the dark lord Satan himself! Take a seat to hear why Professor J.T. is so sure of himself in the longest episode of Everyman Academy to date.

Oliver Twist is the story of an innocent orphan boy who joins a group of young criminals guided by their villainous leader Fagin. Professor JT discovers the allure of the writing of Charles Dickens though an analysis of his first novel. Drunks, prostitutes, pickpockets, murder and mystery, this timeless tale really has something for everyone, so come join us! 

Professor JT breaks down the 1813 classic, Pride & Prejudice, the quintessential romance novel.  Discover what makes this story so enduring after all these years. An absorbing escapist pleasure that revels in the finer things of life while telling a universally human story. Pop some champagne and party down with the Bennett Sisters, Bingley and Mr. Darcy in this episode of Everyman Academy.

Travel to distant lands and discover the satirical wit and ribald humor of Jonathan Swift. This episode comes to life in both recreation and analysis of Gulliver's Travels. Professor JT pulls out all the comedic stops to ensure an entertaining and enlightening experience for all that lend an ear. Class is now in session. 

Join Professor JT as he breaks down the classic 1605 novel Don Quixote, written by Miguel De Cervantes. This book really has it all, learn why this is the perfect book for anyone to pick up and start reading. Our journey training the mind begins here! Whether you have never read Don Quixote, or you want to hear a fresh perspective, come along for the ride!

You want excitement? We have just the thing for you, The Pilgrim's Progress, a 1678 Christian Allegory written by John Bunyan. This fantasy epic includes apocalyptic themes, the carnal dystopia of Vanity Fair, and of course 1-on-1 combat with the demonic entity Apollyon! Join Professor JT as he pulls out all the stops on this episode of Everyman Academy. Take the walk on this narrow path as the mundane turns to madness! 

Welcome to Everyman Academy! Anyone can access the Lost Tools of Learning. Join Professor JT as he breaks down Everyman Academy, and why it is so important to develop a habit of reading. This episode is a sales pitch, discover the benefits of reading and the history of classical pedagogy. Anyone can participate in the great conversation! Will you do your part?