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 fasciation for religious writing, and expresses his passion for the Gospel of Luke and the works of Erasmus and St Augustine.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep247-a-life-in-reading-steve-donoghue

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:

- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1B9FfvVLRt8s6scUa79oag

- https://www.stevedonoghue.com/

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James