In case you didn't know, I want to tell you about my Substack where I post a new book recommendation every Friday. I share my favourite books from a lifetime of reading. It's free and you can subscribe here:
If you're looking for 6 book to sharpen you mind then you might like my recent video, which covers that subject! They're all quite short and may affect how you see the world forever! https://youtu.be/ea2EqyUNVI0
I've just published the first of my weekly newsletter series One Good Read. Every Friday I recommend one good read. An essay, short story, novel or something else. substack.com/home/post/p-223759626
I’m trying something new. The Reading Room: it’s for anybody who wants to get back into reading, read more or discover the classics.
I read aloud my favourite books, short stories, novels and essays and you can either just listen or follow along. Over time it will become a curated list of works from some of the greatest ever writers.
You may already be completely sick of my voice and if that’s the case I urge you not to sign up. But if you haven’t reached that point yet then it would be lovely to see you in the Reading Room.
It’s on Patreon and to begin with I’ve picked Sherlock Holmes, for two reasons. Firstly, that’s where my own love of reading began and secondly, they’re quite short and I thought it best not to start with a marathon.
Without Sherlock Holmes I probably would never have moved on from Asterix books and The Adventure of the Speckled Band is one of my favourites, I’m pretty sure I read somewhere it was Conan Doyle’s favourite too.
It’s in two parts, they’re both available now and both free, so when you have a moment pop over to Patreon, make yourself a cup of tea, sit on the sofa and have a listen.
How can you remember more of what you read? I try to answer that in my latest video which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/Pv_TvSaRGq4
In 1941 the American philosopher Mortimer J Adler wrote the essay 'How to Mark a Book' which contains helpful advice on memory and reading. In this video I look at that essay and see if what it says agrees with modern research on memory. And it does, sort of. By looking at the methods suggested in the essay, you discover a truth about reading that isn't always obvious. Reflecting on that doesn't just help memory, it transforms the experience of reading. (This is not an endorsement of Adler's other views and opinions. I like the essay because it gives useful advice on how to become a better reader.)
You've heard of 1984 and Animal Farm, but did you know George Orwell also wrote essays? They're wonderful to read, unsurprisingly but they have something all good essays should have - insight. In this video I briefly discuss one of my favourite Orwell essays and how you can use it to become better at learning. It covers the link between writing and thinking.
I'd love to know your thoughts, and other essay suggestions that have helped you to understand how we learn.
Hello - here are 5 essays to read if you'd like to think a little better.
Seneca, Montaigne, Isaiah Berlin, Virginia Woolf and Philip Pullman: all quite different but have interesting insights about reading, thinking, or learning.
Let me know which ones you've read, or others you'd add to the list.
2026 is proving to be an extremely difficult year for me. I've had a string of problems and my health has been pretty poor too. That's why I haven't posted much. I'm now planning (hoping!) to create more videos and I've been dipping my toe in the water with some shorts.
I like stories about people who succeed unexpectedly: maybe because they come from the 'wrong' background, or their talent is so unusual that the conventional world overlooks it, or the people around them aren't capable of understanding what they do.
Here's the story of a barber's son, born into a poor family in London in 1775. Nothing about his circumstances gave him any advantages, and yet he became the greatest painter in the world. And one of the greatest of all time.
Did you know about the 18th Century priest who came up with a theory that many machine learning algorithms rely on? Can you guess who it is? Watch my new short to find out more about him.
Hello - sorry I haven't uploaded in a while. I spent most of the last 3 months in excruciating agony. I've recovered now. I wrote a short post about it on Substack
Python Programmer
Hello!
In case you didn't know, I want to tell you about my Substack where I post a new book recommendation every Friday. I share my favourite books from a lifetime of reading. It's free and you can subscribe here:
gilesknowledge.substack.com/subscribe
1 minute ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Python Programmer
If you're looking for 6 book to sharpen you mind then you might like my recent video, which covers that subject! They're all quite short and may affect how you see the world forever!
https://youtu.be/ea2EqyUNVI0
5 days ago | [YT] | 47
View 0 replies
Python Programmer
I've just published the first of my weekly newsletter series One Good Read. Every Friday I recommend one good read. An essay, short story, novel or something else.
substack.com/home/post/p-223759626
Today, how a 1980s TV host led me to a little gem
1 week ago | [YT] | 73
View 2 replies
Python Programmer
I’m trying something new. The Reading Room: it’s for anybody who wants to get back into reading, read more or discover the classics.
I read aloud my favourite books, short stories, novels and essays and you can either just listen or follow along. Over time it will become a curated list of works from some of the greatest ever writers.
You may already be completely sick of my voice and if that’s the case I urge you not to sign up. But if you haven’t reached that point yet then it would be lovely to see you in the Reading Room.
It’s on Patreon and to begin with I’ve picked Sherlock Holmes, for two reasons. Firstly, that’s where my own love of reading began and secondly, they’re quite short and I thought it best not to start with a marathon.
Without Sherlock Holmes I probably would never have moved on from Asterix books and The Adventure of the Speckled Band is one of my favourites, I’m pretty sure I read somewhere it was Conan Doyle’s favourite too.
It’s in two parts, they’re both available now and both free, so when you have a moment pop over to Patreon, make yourself a cup of tea, sit on the sofa and have a listen.
This is where you need to go:
www.patreon.com/gilesmcmullen
Oh hang on, this post needs engagement. I'd better add a poll.
Do you like Sherlock Holmes?
1 week ago | [YT] | 58
View 4 replies
Python Programmer
How can you remember more of what you read? I try to answer that in my latest video which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/Pv_TvSaRGq4
In 1941 the American philosopher Mortimer J Adler wrote the essay 'How to Mark a Book' which contains helpful advice on memory and reading. In this video I look at that essay and see if what it says agrees with modern research on memory. And it does, sort of. By looking at the methods suggested in the essay, you discover a truth about reading that isn't always obvious. Reflecting on that doesn't just help memory, it transforms the experience of reading. (This is not an endorsement of Adler's other views and opinions. I like the essay because it gives useful advice on how to become a better reader.)
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 74
View 0 replies
Python Programmer
You've heard of 1984 and Animal Farm, but did you know George Orwell also wrote essays? They're wonderful to read, unsurprisingly but they have something all good essays should have - insight. In this video I briefly discuss one of my favourite Orwell essays and how you can use it to become better at learning. It covers the link between writing and thinking.
I'd love to know your thoughts, and other essay suggestions that have helped you to understand how we learn.
https://youtu.be/6Qt4nv6kZi0
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 50
View 0 replies
Python Programmer
Hello - here are 5 essays to read if you'd like to think a little better.
Seneca, Montaigne, Isaiah Berlin, Virginia Woolf and Philip Pullman: all quite different but have interesting insights about reading, thinking, or learning.
Let me know which ones you've read, or others you'd add to the list.
1 month ago | [YT] | 984
View 13 replies
Python Programmer
Hello,
2026 is proving to be an extremely difficult year for me. I've had a string of problems and my health has been pretty poor too. That's why I haven't posted much. I'm now planning (hoping!) to create more videos and I've been dipping my toe in the water with some shorts.
I like stories about people who succeed unexpectedly: maybe because they come from the 'wrong' background, or their talent is so unusual that the conventional world overlooks it, or the people around them aren't capable of understanding what they do.
Here's the story of a barber's son, born into a poor family in London in 1775. Nothing about his circumstances gave him any advantages, and yet he became the greatest painter in the world. And one of the greatest of all time.
youtube.com/shorts/y54WY7CvGkE
2 months ago | [YT] | 321
View 23 replies
Python Programmer
Did you know about the 18th Century priest who came up with a theory that many machine learning algorithms rely on? Can you guess who it is? Watch my new short to find out more about him.
youtube.com/shorts/W8opFaaGW6...
3 months ago | [YT] | 124
View 9 replies
Python Programmer
Hello - sorry I haven't uploaded in a while. I spent most of the last 3 months in excruciating agony. I've recovered now. I wrote a short post about it on Substack
gilesknowledge.substack.com/p/a-stone-unturned
See you soon,
Giles
6 months ago | [YT] | 144
View 13 replies
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