Slate Academy: A Year of Great Books

What follows is a discussion about Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, the final selection in Slate’s Year of Great Books. Books and culture columnist Laura Miller reflects on her reading with John Dickerson, the host of CBS’s Face the Nation and panelist on the Slate Political Gabfest. They talk about the experience of reading the novel after the surprising results of the Nov. 8 presidential election and about the world-upending questions being debated in Russia and the world during Dostoevsky’s life. Laura and John also assess “The Grand Inquisitor,” the novel’s lack of a clear main character, and its lessons about God and rationality. To access all features of this members-only Slate Academy, visit Slate.com/GreatBooks

It’s time to choose the final selection for Slate's Year of Great Books. This time, Laura Miller and Academy members will be joined by John Dickerson, host of CBS’s Face the Nation and panelist on the Slate Political Gabfest. Hear John talk to Laura about what he manages to read during a presidential campaign, and why he’s eager to sink into a big, world-creating novel as soon as the election ends. Cast your vote here.

Slate books columnist Laura Miller and senior editor Laura Miller discuss Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges, the fifth selection in Slate’s Year of Great Books, a members-only Slate Academy. Also: Check out Laura Miller’s introduction to Borges’ “metaphysical and pulpy” works, and The Paris Review’s 1966 interview with the author. And join the discussion in our private Facebook Group.

This podcast is part of a Year of Great Books, a members-only Slate Academy. To learn more, visit Slate.com/GreatBooks. Slate editor-in-chief Julia Turner and columnist Laura Miller discuss Barchester Towers, the fourth selection in A Year of Great Books, a Slate Academy series. Their conversation about Trollope’s novel was recorded live at KGB bar in New York on Aug. 31. What to read while you’re reading Barchester Towers:Introducing Barchester TowersHow the novel makes ecclesiastical politics funWhat the Victorian novelist gets right about twentysomethings in loveSimon Vance talks about narrating Trollope’s work And remember to talk to Laura and other Year of Great Books members in our private Facebook group. Finally, make sure to cast your vote for our next selection. To access all features of this members-only Slate Academy, visit Slate.com/GreatBooks.

This podcast is part of a Year of Great Books, a Slate Academy. To learn more, visit Slate.com/GreatBooks. For the fifth selection in our Year of Great Books series, we’re choosing a novel from outside the English language. Laura Miller and members like you will be reading alongside Laura Bennett, a senior editor responsible for Slate’s culture coverage. Before casting your ballot, here are some things you should know about Laura B.’s reading life:A Spanish literature major, Laura once took an entire course on Don Quixote. “A really wonderful, fascinating class that has proved useful in approximately zero ways,” she says.Laura reads a lot of contemporary fiction because of her job. She’s a skeptical consumer of harrowing personal essays.She self-identifies as a fan of “anything that’s swaggy and crackly.”What qualifies as swaggy and crackly? Listen to find out. In their conversation, Laura B. and Laura M. nominate four candidates for the next selection in this different kind of book club.As a Slate Plus member, you can vote here!  Book 5: The Shortlist  Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges  Notes From Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky  Death in Venice by Thomas Mann  Dream of the Red Chamber, vol. 1 by Cao Xueqin  Join the conversation about Year of Great Books at our private Facebook group. To access all features of this Slate Academy, visit Slate.com/GreatBooks