Friends,
You need to read the Odyssey, and the Ascend Book Club has everything you need to do it well. The Odyssey is a masterwork by Homer that weaves together Telemachus’ coming of age story with Odysseus’ coming home story to present to you perennial truths on the human condition. Homer is a teacher, and he shows you lessons on excellence (arete), glory, justice, fate, immortality, and much more.
Christianity owes a debt to Homer, because Homer is at the headwaters of a Hellenistic civilization that made an indelible mark upon Judaism and Christianity. Moreover, many argue that Homer is not only a teacher, but a philosopher and a theologian as well.
The Odyssey is worth reading—and you can read it well with Ascend.
Videos below for the Ascend Book Club:
Introduction to Homer’s Odyssey with Dr. Patrick Deneen and Friends
Conversation on the Odyssey and fatherhood with Jason Craig
Discussions on Books 1-4 of the Odyssey
Watch the introductory video and then read the book (chapter) in the Odyssey and then listen to the corresponding Ascend discussion. In this way, you’ll be able to judge your own reading comprehension and grow in your capacity to read Homer.
And be sure to check out our 115 Question and Answer Guide to the Odyssey.
Join our reading group and study the great books with us!
To support our mission and get all our resources, become a paid book club member. In addition to the weekly podcast, you’ll get:
Live book club discussions / Q&A with Dcn. Garlick & guest scholars
In-depth reading guides and essays to lead you through the great books
Access to our incredible community of readers
The full archive of members-only content (guides, essays, and podcasts)
Introduction to Homer’s Odyssey
Dcn. Garlick was privileged to host Dr. Patrick Deneen, Dr. Chad Pecknold, and Dr. Richard Meloche for an introductory conversation on the great books and Homer’s Odyssey. Dr. Deneen later joined the podcast to discuss his new book, The American Odyssey, and Dr. Pecknold led us through a wonderful conversation on St. Augustine and Plato—but here, they both do a marvelous job of introducing the Odyssey.
The Odyssey Books 1-4
You’re doing good work by giving the Odyssey a slow, attentive read. Our “Year of Homer” conversations can be like a small group to you, helping you notice the small details and subtle lessons that can be hard to notice on a first-time read. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced student of Homer, these conversations are for you. Homer is the teacher. We are the students.
Also, as a side note, around this time we lost our access to our studio and Mr. Adam Minihan had to start stepping back his time on Ascend. So, we are so tremendously thankful to everyone who supported us during this transition period, as Dcn. Garlick was learning to host and the podcast was saving up to purchase new equipment. A couple years later and Ascend is now helping thousands read the great books each month.
You all are amazing. Keep up the good work.
Good work! Join us for conversations from the Odyssey on Books 5-10 next. If you think the pace is a bit slow, hang in there. Book five introduces our hero, Odysseus, and is one of the richest, most philosophically dense books in the entire epic—for those who can see it. We’ll also hear about Odysseus on the island of Phaeacia and hear him begin to tell his tale—which includes the narrative of the Cyclops in Book nine.
Lots of good things ahead. You’re doing good work.
You can read the great books with Ascend.
Dcn. Harrison Garlick lives in rural Oklahoma with his wife and five children. He serves as a deacon at Holy Family Cathedral and as Chancellor & General Counsel for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa. Follow him on X at Dcn. Garlick or Ascend.