Slow Learners

Latest Episodes:

EP 4: Systems, Scandals, and Literary Hoaxes (w/Alex Shephard) Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

We continue our journey "Beyond the Zero," covering Gravity's Rainbow, Part 1, Chapters 14-17.

And: Alex Shephard (The New Republic) joins us to talk about literary hoaxes, Pynchonian mysteries, how Gravity's Rainbow scandalized the hoity-toity world of arts and letters.

Other topics include: S&M, prosthetic vaginas, church ceremonies, "The Book," by Pavlov, Thomas Pynchon's jump-shot.

Read ⁠Proverbs For Paranoids,⁠ John's guide to Gravity's Rainbow.

E-mail us your questions, queries, and crackpot theories: slowlearnerspod@gmail.com

EP 3: Military Mind Control (W/Stephen Kinzer) Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

We get further into the weeds, covering Gravity's Rainbow, Part 1, Chapters 10-13.

We're joined by Stephen Kinzer, author of the Sidney Gottlieb biography ⁠Poisoner In Chief⁠ to talk about the history of military mind-control, and Project MKUltra.

Other topics discussed: toilets, jive accessories, having sex with a snake, racism, genocide, LSD.

Read ⁠Proverbs For Paranoids,⁠ John's guide to Gravity's Rainbow.

E-mail us your questions, queries, and crackpot theories: slowlearnerspod@gmail.com

EP 2: A Screaming Comes Across The Sky (W/Dr. Jordan Bimm) Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

The season begins in earnest with this recap and discussion of Gravity's Rainbow, Part 1: Chapters 1-9.

We chat with Dr. Jordan Bimm, a historian of science and technology, about the history of the V-2 rocket, the Space Race, and the mystical/material dimensions of interstellar travel, Britain's most famous witch.

Other topics include: bananas, '50s monster movies, penis-as-dowsing-rod, low humour, Ulysses, etc., etc.

Read ⁠Proverbs For Paranoids,⁠ John's guide to Gravity's Rainbow.

E-mail us your questions, queries, and crackpot theories: slowlearnerspod@gmail.com

EP 1: Who is Thomas Pynchon, And Why Are We Talking About His Book? Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Hallo Leute!

In this, intro episode of Slow Learners, hosts Asher Dark and John Semley lay out their ambition plan, or "plot": to read through Thomas Pynchon's massive 1973 Gravity's Rainbow, discuss it, and talk with experts about its themes and ideas, big and small, smart and stupid.

Topics this episode include: Prof. Irwin Corey, literary awards, Alice Tully Hall, preterition (and its meritorious price), being feted, Homer Simpson, Boeing, scrambled eggs, Oyster Bay High School, "The Boys," the character of Robert as played by Brad Garrett on the long-running CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, They-Systems vs. We-Systems, hating books, etc., etc.

Read Proverbs For Paranoids, John's guide to Gravity's Rainbow.

E-mail us your questions, queries, and crackpot theories: slowlearnerspod@gmail.com