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Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. 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Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. 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Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74651173</guid><pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:01:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74651173/into_the_valley_of_death_crimea_balaklava_the_light_brigade_russell_tennyson_and_kipling_various.mp3" length="24861620" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3104</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Strange Roads &amp; With the Gods in Spring-Arthur Machen, Vincent Starrett</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/strange-roads-with-the-gods-in-spring-arthur-machen-vincent-starrett--74610269</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74610269</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:01:15 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74610269/strange_roads_with_the_gods_in_spring_arthur_machen_vincent_starrett.mp3" length="27275226" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3406</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Short Nonfiction Collection, Vol. 037-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/short-nonfiction-collection-vol-037-various--74573387</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. 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Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25666</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Death-Maurice Maeterlinck</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/death-maurice-maeterlinck--74537388</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74537388</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:01:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74537388/death_maurice_maeterlinck.mp3" length="34175733" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4268</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>On-Hilaire Belloc</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-hilaire-belloc--74500900</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74500900</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:01:32 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74500900/on_hilaire_belloc.mp3" length="178179829" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22250</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Short Nonfiction Collection, Vol. 059-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/short-nonfiction-collection-vol-059-various--74456404</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74456404</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:01:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74456404/short_nonfiction_collection_vol_059_various.mp3" length="146960513" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18352</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>George Bernard Shaw-G. K. Chesterton</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/george-bernard-shaw-g-k-chesterton--74419439</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74419439</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:01:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74419439/george_bernard_shaw_g_k_chesterton.mp3" length="166462670" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>20787</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Monthly supplement of the penny magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, issue 21-Charles Knight</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/monthly-supplement-of-the-penny-magazine-of-the-society-for-the-diffusion-of-useful-knowledge-issue-21-charles-knight--74363929</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74363929</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:03:49 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74363929/monthly_supplement_of_the_penny_magazine_of_the_society_for_the_diffusion_of_useful_knowledge_issue_21_charles_knight.mp3" length="31386645" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3920</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Volume 12 - Tributes-Robert G. Ingersoll</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/works-of-robert-g-ingersoll-volume-12-tributes-robert-g-ingersoll--74318638</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74318638</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:03:29 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74318638/works_of_robert_g_ingersoll_volume_12_tributes_robert_g_ingersoll.mp3" length="77142673" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>9633</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Holiday Round-A. A. Milne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/holiday-round-a-a-milne--74166336</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74166336</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:02:55 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74166336/holiday_round_a_a_milne.mp3" length="238804915" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>29821</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>France At War On the Frontier of Civilization-Rudyard Kipling</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/france-at-war-on-the-frontier-of-civilization-rudyard-kipling--74116335</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74116335</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:03:21 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74116335/france_at_war_on_the_frontier_of_civilization_rudyard_kipling.mp3" length="49187898" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6142</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>What the White Race May Learn from the Indian-George Wharton James</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-the-white-race-may-learn-from-the-indian-george-wharton-james--74081265</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74081265</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:03:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74081265/what_the_white_race_may_learn_from_the_indian_george_wharton_james.mp3" length="210123117" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26239</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Essays, Second Series-Ralph Waldo Emerson</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/essays-second-series-ralph-waldo-emerson--74043466</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74043466</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:03:14 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74043466/essays_second_series_ralph_waldo_emerson.mp3" length="189854809" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23708</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Morality of Marriage and Other Essays on the Status and Destiny of Woman-Mona Caird</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/morality-of-marriage-and-other-essays-on-the-status-and-destiny-of-woman-mona-caird--73995116</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73995116</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:03:48 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73995116/morality_of_marriage_and_other_essays_on_the_status_and_destiny_of_woman_mona_caird.mp3" length="244859091" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>30577</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia and Letter to a Friend-Thomas Browne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/religio-medici-hydriotaphia-and-letter-to-a-friend-thomas-browne--73938222</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73938222</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:03:45 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73938222/religio_medici_hydriotaphia_and_letter_to_a_friend_thomas_browne.mp3" length="218192363" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>27247</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Culture and Anarchy-Matthew Arnold</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/culture-and-anarchy-matthew-arnold--73895015</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73895015</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:03:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73895015/culture_and_anarchy_matthew_arnold.mp3" length="173751022" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>21697</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Plum Pudding Of Divers Ingredients, Discreetly Blended &amp; Seasoned-Christopher Morley</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/plum-pudding-of-divers-ingredients-discreetly-blended-seasoned-christopher-morley--73858532</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73858532</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:04:38 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73858532/plum_pudding_of_divers_ingredients_discreetly_blended_seasoned_christopher_morley.mp3" length="196816160" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24578</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Optimism, An Essay-Helen Keller</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/optimism-an-essay-helen-keller--73807248</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73807248</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:06:13 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73807248/optimism_an_essay_helen_keller.mp3" length="29628134" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3700</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Essay Upon Wind, with Curious Anecdotes of Eminent Peuters-Charles James Fox</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/essay-upon-wind-with-curious-anecdotes-of-eminent-peuters-charles-james-fox--73775646</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73775646</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:02:38 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73775646/essay_upon_wind_with_curious_anecdotes_of_eminent_peuters_charles_james_fox.mp3" length="20957579" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2617</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Booklover and His Books-Henry Lyman Koopman</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/booklover-and-his-books-henry-lyman-koopman--73746920</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73746920</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 08:15:01 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73746920/booklover_and_his_books_henry_lyman_koopman.mp3" length="160781726" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>20078</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions Together With Death's Duel-John Donne</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/devotions-upon-emergent-occasions-together-with-death-s-duel-john-donne--73688283</link><description><![CDATA["Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions Together With Death's Duel" by John Donne is a profound exploration of mortality, faith, and the human condition, reflecting on the inevitable approach of death and the spiritual insights that emerge from such contemplation. Donne's meditations resonate deeply as they invite listeners to confront their own beliefs and the transient nature of life, making it a timeless piece that encourages introspection and spiritual growth. The eloquence and depth of Donne's prose provide a rich experience that speaks to the heart of human existence, reminding us of the importance of faith and reflection in navigating our own life journeys.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73688283</guid><pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:59:58 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73688283/devotions_upon_emergent_occasions_together_with_death_s_duel_john_donne.mp3" length="264842200" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions Together With Death's Duel" by John Donne is a profound exploration of mortality, faith, and the human condition, reflecting on the inevitable approach of death and the spiritual insights that emerge from such...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions Together With Death's Duel" by John Donne is a profound exploration of mortality, faith, and the human condition, reflecting on the inevitable approach of death and the spiritual insights that emerge from such contemplation. Donne's meditations resonate deeply as they invite listeners to confront their own beliefs and the transient nature of life, making it a timeless piece that encourages introspection and spiritual growth. The eloquence and depth of Donne's prose provide a rich experience that speaks to the heart of human existence, reminding us of the importance of faith and reflection in navigating our own life journeys.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>33072</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Certain Personal Matters - H. G. Wells</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/certain-personal-matters-h-g-wells--73303923</link><description><![CDATA[Certain Personal Matters by H. G. Wells delves into the intricacies of human experience and the personal reflections that shape our lives. This thought-provoking work invites listeners to explore the depths of individual perspective, making it a timeless examination of the self and its place in the world. The themes of introspection and the quest for understanding remain relevant today, as we grapple with our own personal matters in an increasingly complex society. Wells' insightful commentary encourages us to reflect on our own lives and the universal truths that bind us all, making this audiobook a compelling listen for anyone seeking to connect with the essence of human experience.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73303923</guid><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:00:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73303923/certain_personal_matters_h_g_wells.mp3" length="184298743" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Certain Personal Matters by H. G. Wells delves into the intricacies of human experience and the personal reflections that shape our lives. This thought-provoking work invites listeners to explore the depths of individual perspective, making it a...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Certain Personal Matters by H. G. Wells delves into the intricacies of human experience and the personal reflections that shape our lives. This thought-provoking work invites listeners to explore the depths of individual perspective, making it a timeless examination of the self and its place in the world. The themes of introspection and the quest for understanding remain relevant today, as we grapple with our own personal matters in an increasingly complex society. Wells' insightful commentary encourages us to reflect on our own lives and the universal truths that bind us all, making this audiobook a compelling listen for anyone seeking to connect with the essence of human experience.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23015</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Essays of Robert Louis Stevenson - Robert Louis Stevenson</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/essays-of-robert-louis-stevenson-robert-louis-stevenson--72104510</link><description><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72104510</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 21:58:55 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72104510/essays_of_robert_louis_stevenson_robert_louis_stevenson.mp3" length="159737351" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Robert Louis Stevenson</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Extreme busyness…is a symptom of deficient vitality; and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.” What comforting words for the idle among us! Like many of the best essayists, Stevenson is very much the genial fireside companion: opinionated, but never malicious; a marvellous practitioner of the inclusive monologue. In this collection of nine pieces he discusses the art of appreciating unattractive scenery, traces the complex social life of dogs, and meditates in several essays upon the experience of reading literature and writing it. Perhaps his most personal passages concern death and mortality. Here we meet him at his most undogmatically optimistic, as he affirms a wholesome faith in “the liveableness of Life”. (Summary by Martin Geeson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>19968</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>busyness,essays,liveableness,louis,meditates,robert,stevenson,symptom,undogmatically,works</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2d9fdb6613d14b7f1dcfe261f4883d0a.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
