How to Read East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Comments · 326

• MA

  @marycarrington-tq2pz · 2 years ago

  I had suffered a brain injury. I could not walk, talk, read, or write. I crawled about the floor of my house. I began to read Betrix Potter and The Just So Stories. I was able to receive books on tape from the library. I had loved Steinbeck previously. I ordered East of Eden. It engaged with my poor brain in such a way that my  : overall well-being improved, I reconnected to the world, and yes my joy returned after several hellish years.😊

  159

• BU

  @buffalorye · 2 years ago

  I read this book as a junior in college, and it completely changed my life. I'm currently in my second year of my American Literature PhD program, and this remains the best book I've ever read.

  75

• NO

  @nolandost3070 · 2 years ago

  Salinas is my hometown, the Pastures of Heaven was my neighborhood growing up, Cannery Row was where I grew up and got my first job, and East of Eden was the final nail in the coffin that condemned me to be a lifelong Steinbeck fan. <br><br>When I was a kid doing beekeeping in my local 4-H club, I saw The Bee Movie in the Steinbeck memorial theater in downtown Salinas. <br><br>Thank you for delivering this brilliant work the justice it deserves.

  119

• KA

  @katmeup7 · 2 years ago

  I’m a first time reader of East of Eden, and it had me tearing up within a few pages…his writing is so beautiful!

  143

• ST

  @strange.lucidity · 2 years ago

  You&apos;re a true inspiration to me Benjamin! What you do in this world is beautiful, heartfelt, important and forward thinking. These videos must be so much work to make!! I have a lot of respect for that and am so thankful to be able to follow your journey. Wishing you all the best for 2024 and all the awesome content coming up 🙏

  67

• VR

  @vrraeel · 2 years ago

  How could I have lived for 77 years and never have read Steinbeck. Providence saved the sweetest until the last. I am home. Thank you .

  151

• ST

  @stephaniekowalchuk2614 · 2 years ago

  I have read East of Eden five times in my life and I know that I will continue to go back to this novel over and over again. I recently read War and Peace and it gave me that same epic feeling. Books like this can change your life and make you see the world differently. Going back to them with all the characters that you love is like going back to an old friend. You will learn something every time you reread it. Thank you for your videos. I love this channel, always look forward to a new video. ❤

  47

• GO

  @gogyoo · 1 year ago

  My favourite character by far is Lee. Cathy is written as an exceptional villain.

  9

• RL

  @rlevanony1 · 2 years ago

  A whole hour on how to read East of Eden. Wonderful! 😍<br>I love this channel.

  27

• PA

  @pablogamberomasson-qg2px · 2 years ago (edited)

  Hey Ben,<br><br>Just had to drop a note to say your &quot;Moby Dick&quot; breakdown is gold. As a non-native English speaker, tackling those fancy words is a real challenge.<br><br>So, here&apos;s the real gem: the link between Jonah and Raskolnikov. Both stuck in tight spots, turning their backs on God, and drowning in angst. It&apos;s like they&apos;re cut from the same cloth – Jonah swallowed by the whale, Raskolnikov trapped in his tiny apartment.<br><br>Your insights opened my eyes to this unexpected connection<br>Greetings from Don Quikote&apos;s Spain,<br><br>Pablo.

  12

• VI

  @VictorAugustus · 2 years ago

  Your video just enlightened me about a scene on One Hundred Years of Solitude &quot;blood crieth unto me from the ground&quot;. Talking about East of Eden i read interested in how Samuel would relate to Samuel the prophet, specially looking for the number 3, the number of times that God called him and I saw that Samuel has 3 strong shivers when he meets Cathy (maybe I&apos;m seeing too much). Great video as always!

  13

• HO

  @HoffJoha · 2 years ago

  I read East of Eden about 8 years ago, loved it, and flew through it. However, after watching your lecture, I realized that I missed at least half, if not three-quarters of the book. This reminded me of a professor of a modern French literature course I took in university, who insisted that we read each book three times: the first time for the story, and the second and third times to really get to know the book. I am now excited to read East of Eden for the second time.

  19