If you went to high school in America, you probably read <a href="https://amzn.to/46XjH4j" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moby-Dick</a> — or, more likely, you skimmed the CliffsNotes and wondered why this dense, whale-obsessed novel was considered a classic.That was me in 10th grade.But earlier this year, I decided to revisit Moby-Dick in midlife, and it hit me completely differently. What once seemed like a tedious story about a guy chasing a whale revealed itself to be a profound meditation on free will, perception, self-reliance, leadership, and obsession. It’s now one of my favorite novels.To help unpack why Moby-Dick endures — and why it might be worth picking up again— I’m joined by Mark Cirino, a professor of American literature. Today on the show, we discuss why Moby-Dick was initially overlooked, the novel’s major themes, and the timeless mystery of Captain Ahab’s monomaniacal quest.Resources Related to the Podcast<ul><li>Mark's previous appearances&nbsp;on the AoM podcast:</li><li><a href="https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/knowledge-of-men/ernest-hemingway-cirino-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Episode #786: The Writing Life of Ernest Hemingway</a></li><li><a href="https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/reading/podcast-922-for-whom-the-bell-tolls/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Episode #922: For Whom the Bell Tolls</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hemingwaysociety.org/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">One True Podcast</a></li><li><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=mark+cirino+nortin+podcast&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS725US725&oq=mark+cirino+nortin+podcast&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAEyCQgDECEYChigATIJCAQQIRgKGKABMgkIBRAhGAoYoAHSAQg1OTg0ajBqNKgCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Norton Library Podcast</a></li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3J4K92M" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark's Norton Library Edition of&nbsp;A Farewell to Arms</a></li></ul>Connect With Mark Cirino<ul><li><a href="https://www.evansville.edu/majors/english/faculty.cfm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mark’s faculty page</a></li></ul>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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