Alcoholism and clinical depression are certainly serious issues that are no laughing matter. But there is also an art and intelligence in humor, satire, and caraciture. Would you tell Dickens, Twain, Wilde, and Vonnegut that they are immature and insensitive? (Maybe you would!)

Besides, life is too heavy. We need this sort of lightness to make it through before we turn to dust and ash like both the “President” and “Ms. Pierce!” Ce n’est pas vrai?

It’s beautifully told, beautifully written, and eagerly heard.

A long-overdue thank you.

I remember taking a trip to Cooperstown as a young lad in the 1970s, where we also stopped at the Farmer’s Museum to poke around.

Wandering aimlessly through the farming implements and other detritus I stumbled on a small pen behind a barn where there was what appeared to be a man lying amid some straw.

I had never heard the story of the Cardiff Giant and my brain immediately wondered why a statue was placed just there?

After reading the story on a small placard my 8 year old mind marveled at how someone would think it was ever a real man. But then as I stared at the face I could almost imagine an imperceptible movement.

I suppose we’re all suckers at heart. Which may or may not be our saving grace as a species.

Finally, I don’t want to be the storyline quibbling guy (but I guess I am): I believe he was made of gypsum, not marble. Although some marble cutters were the ones hired to create him.

Finally, I am amazed that it cost $30,000 in 1860s money to create him. Wow.

At the very least I wish my Writting had 1% of Nate’s sublime beauty.

Keep up the good work Memory Palace.

What was the source for the 50 words? A newspaper? A speech?

Kind regards,
Angela

And by solicitors, I mean cats wearing rumpled suits and tiny bowler hats.

Now I have to go set up the incoming call system for the Super Bowl. You all be nice out there!

G.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ttmzl0nczcd

Download for the album with the coveted song on it.

A

Huge fan by the way. You do an amazing job!

Amazing podcast, as always.

So wonderful…

I’d be so happy if you’d tell me!

Also, if you know a thing about the town of Wellesley, your moral is the saddest, most appropriate takeaway. I’ve been loving all the MP shows I’ve heard, but this one’s special. Thanks again.

Or did I? dum Dum DUM

This is one of the best episodes. Thank you!

ok not literally but this was especially moving, thank you!

It reminded me of something that I read years ago, but I couldn’t remember any details – just that sense of grief when transcendent beauty goes away, and of needing to try, however imperfectly, to hang on to any little shred of it.

I finally found it today – it’s from the biographical introduction to _The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson_. This is the passage I dimly remembered:

——————
There is an unconscious pathos in Stevenson’s fondness for his flageolet. He played it so badly, so haltingly… Looking back, I can recall how constantly he spoke of music. He would recur again and again to the dozen or so of operas he had heard in his youth, repeating the names of the singers … in a zest of recollection; and he would talk with the same warmth and eagerness of the few great instrumentalists he had heard in London concerts. And it was always, of course, with an air of finality, as of a man speaking of past and gone experiences that could never be repeated.

He bought an extraordinary amount of printed music — Chopin, Grieg, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart — and would pore over it for hours at a time, trying here and there, and with endless repetitions, to elucidate it with his flageolet.

…

To-day when I see on every side those wonderful mechanical devices for the reproductions of vocal and instrumental music, I feel an almost unbearable regret that they have come too late for Stevenson… and what a surpassing joy and solace they would have been to him.

—————

I read the Transom article, and I commiserate about not having enough time – but I can’t wait to hear more when you do have time. I kinda wish I hadn’t listened to them all so fast.

Great work and story telling.

Long time listener, etc. Thank you so much for these. My life is a little bit better because for five minutes every so often I get to be informed, entertained, and moved by your work.

Ken

That URL is audiblepodcast.com/thememorypalace

Hope that helps!

I was very happy when I read that The Memory Palace is back. Your podcasts are special. I can look back at the history and remember exactly where I was when listening to most of your podcasts (usually exploring on my bike). You have a special gift. Thanks for sharing it!

I hope that life provides a way for you to continue to share. If not, I wish you the very best in whatever you choose to do. Thanks for the memories!

Ken Morrison

It was easy enough to remember the URL you wanted people to visit, but you should post it somewhere here. I couldn’t find it if it is here.

I’ve just discovered your site, and I’m burning through the pod casts. I’m a bit of a history/popular culture buff, and I love this stuff!

May I suggest adding some ID3 tags to the audio files before publishing them? Itunes users probably don’t notice them missing (it seems to apply the metadata from its directory to files it downloads), but if you use any other podcatcher with the RSS feed or manually download episodes from the website, even the basic Artist/Title/Album fields are empty. Most of the time I end up having to dig through the file system browser on my phone or MP3 player because I forgot to add the tags myself

This is great stuff. Every episode sort of reminds me of the time that I asked a friend, who I knew quite well by this time, to “tell me the most-next-interesting thing that I don’t know about you.” I’m certainly no history expert, but how can a story this good not have come across my path before? Over and over again. Keep it up, Nate.

best,
The Management

[and, please, forgive me for my english, I'm italian ]

Two humble suggestions: Use a pop filter. Get your mouth about 8-10 inches from the mic. We all love the proximity effect, but it can play havoc with the EQ.

Hey…I’m really glad you’re back.

We have all missed your presence very much and can’t wait to hear more from you.

thanks

Don’t know if this is intentional on your part, but you tend to hypnotize me by the end of each episode. I’ll be deeply thinking about what you’ve said and even watching some of the colorful details go off in different directions with a life of their own…. Then I’ll realize, “hey… he did it again… I’ve been sitting here in silence for 30 seconds!”

Is there a more just-the-right-song-at-just-the-right-moment band than YLT? I think that the sentiment may actually postdate their formation.

Well played.