Wisdom in the Best Books and Films Podcast

Episodes

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  103. You Have To Mean Not To 18.10.2026 6m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: The Seventh Gate by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.“I never meant for this to happen.” In The Seventh Gate, the final book of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s Death Gate Cycle, Alfred tries to step out of the blame, and Jonathan won’t let him. In this episode I wrap up our Death Gate series with a story from a job where I handled radioactive materials, and a lesson my dad taught me when I was five: you have to mean not to.“Mistakes do not require malice to require repair. You may not have meant to cause the problem, but once you know about it, you have to mean not to leave it there, and you have to mean not to repeat it.”Chapters:00:00 Hook: “You have to mean not to”00:12 Intro: wrapping up the Death Gate Cycle02:20 The Seventh Gate: Alfred and Jonathan03:12 A story about radioactive materials at work04:04 “You have to mean not to”05:19 The lesson: mistakes require repair05:52 ClosingWisdom in the Best Books and Films: bite-sized nuggets of truth from great books and films, used to help us become better people. Hosted by Jake Bair.Read or listen on Substack: https://wisdominbestbooks.substack.comQuestions, recommendations, or comments: [email protected] you enjoyed this, please subscribe and share it with someone who’d like it. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  102. The Relation of Art to Religion 11.10.2026 23m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Lectures on Art by John Ruskin. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.📖 Read it for free at this link.Subscribe at:wisdominbestbooks.substack.comFeel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  101. Creatures to Act 04.10.2026 8m

  📚 Get the books from this episode: Into the Labyrinth by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen.Please subscribe on Substack where subscribers get more content starting November 2026! The link to subscribe is: Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  100. Shooting An Elephant 27.09.2026 22m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: A Collection of Essays by George Orwell. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Link to the full story.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  99. The Face of Evil 20.09.2026 8m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: The Hand of Chaos by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  98. A Philosophical Enquiry Into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful 13.09.2026 23m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful by Edmund Burke. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.📖 Read it for free at this link.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  97. The Flicker of Faith’s Candle 06.09.2026 7m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Serpent Mage by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  96. What Makes Good Characters? 30.08.2026 16m

  📚 Get the books from this episode: Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens, Serpent Mage by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  95. The Signal-man 23.08.2026 35m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Selected Short Fiction by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Link to the story.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  94. Tearing Down the Fence 16.08.2026 8m

  📚 Get the books from this episode: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, In Defense of Sanity: The Best Essays of G. K. Chesterton by G. K. Chesterton. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  93. Shops and Their Tenants 09.08.2026 15m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.📖 Read it for free at this link.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  92. The Nobility Money Can't Buy 02.08.2026 6m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Link to the miniseries.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  91. The Tuggses at Ramsgate 26.07.2026 52m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.📖 Read it for free at this link.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  90. Selfless Love 20.07.2026 7m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.🎬 Get the show from this episode: Our Mutual Friend (1998). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  89. The Trial For Murder 12.07.2026 31m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Selected Short Fiction by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.Link to the short story.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  88. Allowing Grace 05.07.2026 8m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.🎬 Get the show from this episode: Bleak House (2005). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  87. The Bagman's Story 28.06.2026 36m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.📖 Read it for free at this link.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  86. Steady Loving Patience 21.06.2026 9m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.🎬 Get the show from this episode: Little Dorrit (2008). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  85. Mr. Minns and His Cousin 14.06.2026 28m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.📖 Read it for free at this link.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe
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  84. Choose Your Love, Love Your Choice 07.06.2026 7m

  📚 Get the book from this episode: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Buying through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and this podcast.📖 Read it for free at this link.Link to “Enriching Your Marriage" by James E. Faust.Feel free to contact me with any questions, recommendations, or comments at:[email protected] respond to all emails I receive and that is the best way to reach me. Also please share the show with others you think may be interested by sending them a link wherever you listen. Get full access to Wisdom in the Best Books and Films at wisdominbestbooks.substack.com/subscribe