What The B@@K? #23 Journey to the Center of the Earth

Amazon Link to Book

What’s Journey to the Center of the Earth About?

Looking for a synopsis? Listen to the podcast or hop over to the webisode!

Webisode Primer for What The B@@K? #23 Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

Some themes to be discussed:

• Science and Superstition

• Scientific Progress and Imagination

• Adventure, Perseverance, Courage, and the Unknown

Want to know what we’re up to next for this podcast to read ahead?

1. July: Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card

2. August: TBD (have a recommendation?)

3. September: TBD (have a recommendation?)

Questions & Conversation Starters:

In no particular order (reference pages may vary by edition), let us know what you think in the comments section on any/all topics and questions!

1. Quite a few of bits of historical information in the first third of the book aren’t actually fiction. One example is the literary society founded by Arni in 1816. Does this make it harder to discern fact from fiction or enhance the story?

2. Is the professor really justified and his dismissive attitude towards Axel on the way to Iceland? Is it just a bunch of appealing to authority fallacies?

3. Courage in the face of defeat is crucial to great discoveries.

4. There’s a lot of scientific talk and math and data. Also, what do philosophers have to do with temperature?

5. Towards the end of their journey, Axel poses the question “What did Saknussemm do?”, solidifying his conversion to his uncle’s point of view.

Questions and ideas we didn’t get to:

1. We hit them all this month!

Top Books We’re Thinking About Next:

1. Paradise Lost by John Milton (Craig will do webisode)

2. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

3. When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey is a novel that falls under the genre of Supernatural Fiction. It's a story of a young girl with a special gift and the mysterious events that surround her.

4. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig is a novel that falls under the genre of Philosophical Fiction. It's a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of quality the meaning of life.

5. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is a novel that falls under the genre of Adventure Fiction. It's a classic story about a boy who discovers a treasure map and sets out on a quest.

6. (added by listener request) What If the Constitution Was Never Ratified? By Chuck DeVore

7. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

8. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

9. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

10. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

Season 2 Book List:

1. September: How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe is a novel that falls under the genre of Fantasy. It's a humorous story about a group of adventurers who set out to defeat a demon king.

2. October: Shadow of the Hegemon by OSC

3. November: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

   • The Time Machine by H.G. Wells is a classic novel that falls under the genre of Science Fiction. It's the story of a scientist who invents a time machine and travels to the future.

4. December: Emergence (by me! Craig T. Stewart) interview with a special guest!

5. January: Anthem by Ayn Rand

6. February: The Emperors Soul by Brandon Sanderson

7. March: Lost Horizon by James Hilton

8. April: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

9. May: Animal Farm by George Orwell (Linked Dual Book with 1984)

10. June: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

11. July: Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card

12. August: TBD