Shownotes
Kimberly Hatch Harrison (co-founder of Socratica) hosts this podcast that is a home for people who love reading and want to revel in how good it makes you feel when you find a great book, or revisit a much-loved classic. In this last episode of the year, Kim returns to the “Dark Is Rising” series by Susan Cooper. Last year at this time, we discussed “The Dark Is Rising,” the second book in the series, set on the longest night of the year. This time we’ll look at the first book of the series, Over Sea, Under Stone. This book series is masterful in the way it helps children understand the scope of time, and how stories can last for generations. It’s a lesson that is helpful for adults to be reminded about as well.
If you would like your own copy of this book, it is available here:
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
The Dark Is Rising (5 book boxed set)
Kim’s book: How to Be a Great Student
ebook: https://amzn.to/2Lh3XSP
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3t5jeH3
Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/3atr8TJ
Sign up for Socratica Dialogue (Newsletter)
https://snu.socratica.com/join
If you'd like to talk about this podcast (and all things Socratica), you can join our Discord by becoming our Patron on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/socratica
Transcript:
Welcome Everybody! To Socratica Reads. My name is Kimberly Hatch Harrison, and I’m the co-founder of Socratica. You know, Socratica, the company that makes educational videos on YouTube. It’s true, we make beautiful STEM videos that help you Learn More. But I hope you will also think of us as a group of people who simply love learning.
I wrote a book called “How to Be a Great Student,” and it’s not so much about getting better grades in school as it is about making room in your life for the joy of discovery. Understanding how to do right by yourself, so you’re not getting in the way of doing your best work. When you help yourself become a great student, you take ownership of your own learning, and no one can take that from you. We are all born natural scientists, making observations about the world. Or—detectives if you prefer.
I think that explains why it’s so delightful to read mystery stories. It taps into this great pleasure we get from exercising our brains.
Now, I’m not going to pretend to be ignorant about this sad fact: there’s a lot of anti-intellectual sentiment out there, a kind of sneering at book-learning. But I believe that’s the dark side, and we are on the side of the light. There might be a battle we will win today, like, keeping one of your favourite childhood books in the library, but somewhere else in the world someone is trying to prevent a girl from going to school. We can’t assume that all of human society has come to the universal agreement that learning is good and that’s settled. You’re going to have to keep up your end of the struggle. Even if all you do is post on Twitter how much you love your local library. That helps. Wearing a Socratica sweatshirt. That helps. Um…you could buy a copy of my book and send it to your little cousin. Just a thought.
I have this podcast as a home for people who love reading and want to revel in how good it makes you feel when you find a great book, or revisit a much-loved classic. I love to think about how books have influenced us over the years, both in our work, and personally. In this last episode of the year, I want to return to the “Dark Is Rising” series by Susan Cooper.
We just had the longest night of the year here at Socratica Studios. It was the Winter Solstice. Last year at this time, we discussed the second book that gives the series its name “The Dark Is Rising,” which is set on the Winter Solstice. Oooh, is it spooky. But this year, I want to focus on our coming out of the darkness. From here on out, our nights will get shorter, and the days will get longer. One day it will even be SUMMER.
So this time we’ll look at the first book of the series, Over Sea, Under Stone. It’s set in the summer in Cornwall. If you are interested in British history, and British mythology, you might already know a little about the stories about this part of the countryside.
This book series is masterful in the way it helps children understand the scope of time, and how stories can last for generations. It’s a lesson that is helpful for adults to be reminded about as well.
Once again, this is a story that celebrates the curiosity of children. Of people, in general. People who are on the side of the light. There’s this idea imbued through the book that only if you are open-minded will you be able to discover the secret truths that are all around you.
Before I read a passage to you, I’m going to pause to say—there will be no further interruptions. No commercials from sponsors. That’s because we are sponsored by The Socratica Foundation. And the Socratica Foundation is sponsored by—you. The Socratica Foundation is an educational nonprofit dedicated to the three timeless pillars: Literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking. We have a Literacy Campaign to spread the love of reading and share its enormous power. This includes reading lessons, book donations, and this podcast, Socratica Reads. You can learn more at socratica.org
Now let’s turn to some tempting passages from this British mythical mystery, Over Sea, Under Stone, by Susan Cooper. Are you ready? Let’s begin.
{Kim reads excerpt}
Again I’m wondering how I might have been influenced by this book had I read it as a child, the age of the children in the book, as opposed to sometime in my 20s. Would it have been as moving to me as say, the Narnia books. I revisit these books now as an older person, and I’m more interested in this Uncle Merry character and what is he thinking and not saying. But above all I think it’s important that children read, if not these books, books that are LIKE these books. Books that celebrate being on a quest for truth.
If you want to chat more about Susan Cooper’s works, and the power of reading, our Discord Server is open to all of our YouTube channel members, and our Patrons from Patreon. You can join at patreon.com/socratica. Thanks for listening.