Episode Overview

This week, I consider the Stoic philosophy of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and Epictetus’ Enchiridion, part of Ted Gioia’s Humanities List (link below!). Moving from Greek dramas to 2nd-century Roman Stoics, we first talk about the move from Greek lit to Roman, how the mindset and history will impact what we read. I cover Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus in depth, mention Admiral Stockdale (a modern Stoic) and end the episode with Rudyard Kipling's poem "If."

Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations

Meditations, the private journal of a Roman emperor, emphasizes self-focus, humility, and inner peace. Key takeaways include:

• Focus on your own mind and skills, not others’ actions or opinions.
• Embrace nature to cultivate curiosity and appreciation for the world.
• Accept life’s brevity and smallness, acting virtuously without expecting rewards.
• Find peace within, not in external escapes like vacation homes.
• Hold pleasures loosely to achieve contentment in the present moment.
• I note the surprising modernity of Aurelius’ advice but question its contradictions, like the futility of life versus the call to virtue.

Epictetus’ Enchiridion

Epictetus, a former slave turned philosopher, offers a direct, practical guide in The Enchiridion. I prefer Epictetus’ straightforward style, finding it more relatable than Aurelius’ introspections. Highlights include:

• Distinguish what harms the body from what affects the will—Epictetus’ own lameness adds poignancy to this teaching.
• Know your limits and operate fully within them, committing wholeheartedly to your purpose.
• Avoid excess in speech, laughter, or indulgence, embracing simplicity.
• Consider the parallels to Biblical teachings like Colossians 3:17.

Reflections and Challenges

I don't love Stoicism, as I think it sacrifices deep love and beauty. But there's no doubt that its ideals have a place in society--Stockdale and Kipling both reflect that. Translation struggles (George Long’s arcane 1877 version versus Gregory Hays’ readable Meditations) and time management issues due to travel delayed this week’s reading. Classical music (Haydn’s Symphonies 45, 94, and 104) enriched the experience, though I skipped the art.

What’s Next

Next week, I explore Suetonius’ Twelve Caesars with Mozart’s symphonies and Italian art by Botticelli and Caravaggio. Subscribe to follow the journey!

LINKS

Ted Gioia/The Honest Broker’s 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)

My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)

Haydn's Surprise Symphony

Admiral James Stockdale

Spencer Klavan (Modern Classicist)

CONNECT

To read more of my writing, visit my Substack -  https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

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Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 

Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm 

I'm reading and talking about Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics.

Reading a familiar text in a bigger reading list like this offers its own special challenges. I start with a little insight about what to do when that happens.

I think the best way to talk about these very familiar books is to take them one at a time. Then I have some thoughts about translations (again) and reading in general. 

Genesis: This is a much longer book than you think! The story starts out very broad and then narrows to tell how God decides to work through a man named Abram. We then see how God continues to work through now-Abraham’s family, through Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. None of these men are perfect, or even very heroic except possibly Joseph, but God uses them anyway. Genesis is different than the other very old texts (religious and otherwise) we’ve read in this schedule, and it’s certainly quite different than the Greek philosophy. We see a God who is personal and emotional, capable of anger and also great love, and who is both all-powerful and yet interested in every individual in the entire world.

Ecclesiastes: This is a poem of sorts, and you definitely know part of it because of the Byrds’ “Turn Turn Turn.” The main character, the Preacher (likely King Solomon), reflects at the end of his days on “What’s it all for?” He never settles on a real answer but reflects on how to live, so in its themes it is a lot more like Plato or Aristotle. It’s not didactic like Confucius’ Analects. It feels a lot more like the Dhammapada, but less fatalistic and actually lovelier in its construction. I think the weariness of Ecclesiastes speaks to the human condition, common across time and geography.

Matthew: The first Gospel opens with Jesus’ genealogy through Joseph, and I think Matthew’s emphasis as he relates the story of Jesus’ life is on the fact that the very people who should have been most willing to hear the message did not. Matthew is rooted in Jewish scripture, continually quoting prophets as he relates Jesus’ ministry. The book starts with three chapters known as the Sermon on the Mount, which is harder to read straight through than I expected. It is a lot of sayings and aphorisms, not a lot of story, and you know by now how I feel about that. The book then moves into more narrative as the miracles increase in type and scope, leading to the crucifixion. The teachings from Jesus and Matthew’s own writing are aimed squarely at the Jewish leaders here, pointing out what they are missing and their refusal to see Jesus for who he is.

Mark: This is the shortest Gospel, and I also think of it as the “immediately” Gospel. Mark uses that word at almost every transition from one scene to another, and it makes the book feel very action-oriented. I felt like Mark was sitting with me saying, “Let me tell you what happened!”

Luke: Luke is not an eyewitness at all, and even opens the book up saying he has talked to lots of people so he can get an accurate history put down. Luke's always been my favorite for a variety of reasons...

John: But I was wrong. John is the single best piece of writing I have read so far in this program. It is amazing. The entire book is crafted beautifully, and it’s now my favorite Gospel. Also, it has the very best ending you could hope for. Read it.

Romans: Okay, full disclosure, my Bible study group is doing Romans this year, walking slowly through Paul’s longest letter. Coming to Romans after the previous readings, I was absolutely struck by the vigor of Paul’s writing. It’s energetic, masculine, wide-ranging and urgent. It is deeply personal in a way that none of the previous readings were. I loved reading it in one big chunk and offer reflections on how much I learned this time through Romans. But I will also fight anyone who says Paul didn’t study Aristotle!

I reflect a little on the music, Wagner, and mourn the loss of Warner Brothers cartoons in our world! And then in my culture update, it's a little good and a little BAD.

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week as we shift our attention to Rome and the Stoics.

LINK

Ted Gioia/The Honest Broker’s 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)

My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)

The book The Red Tent

The movie Tokyo Cowboy

CONNECT

To read more of my writing, visit my Substack -  https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

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Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 

Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm 

I'm reading Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics. We start with Plato! The Last Days of Socrates and excerpts from The Republic.

I'm a beginner at reading the classics, but I've decided to just "crack the book" and get started. Here are a few of my key take-aways from Plato:

1. Human nature just doesn’t change.
2. The distinction between an Idea (maybe think of it as a quality, like Beauty) and the thing that has the beauty (like a beautiful vase, for example) is important.
3. These books covered things I had heard of, like the Theory of Ideas, the Argument from Affinity, and the Theory of Recollection, as well as reflections on the nature of the soul.
4. Book I of The Republic is all about “doing right,” a phrase for a Greek word that is also translated “justice” but incorporates a much bigger and more moral sense than mere legal justice.
5. Finally, the Cave Allegory. I thought it was basically about not seeing things clearly, but learning to see them as they really are. In fact it is much, much more than that.

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week for Greek Lyric Poetry (the text from Richard Lattimore) and The Odyssey.

CONNECT

For all the episodes of Crack the Book, check out the list here.

For more of my writing, visit my Substack.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 

Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm

A NEW ADVENTURE.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of diving into those classic books you feel like you should have read by now, but don’t know where to start, Crack The Book is for you.

I’m your host, Cheryl. I stumbled upon a list of classic books and realized how much I’d missed. I wanted to understand these stories and ideas and didn’t know where to start. But I was tired of feeling out of the loop and told myself - I can do this.

And you can too.

In each episode, we unpack an all-time classic book - Plato, Confucius, Dante, and more - exploring their stories, their lessons, and how we can apply them to our lives today.

We’re going to take a walk through the humanities, starting from the earliest epics ever written through to the 21st century modern classics.

So come along with me - I’ll break down the big ideas, share my honest take on what’s worth your time, and show you how these classics can connect to your life.

I’m by no means an expert on these works, but I’m excited for you to join me on this adventure of curiosity and discovery.

Whether you’re new to these books or revisiting them with fresh eyes, you’re in the right place.

Subscribe to Crack The Book now on your favorite podcast platform.

The first episode launches March 18th.

CONNECT

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/

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Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

While we take a little break, enjoy this episode from last year. We interviewed our boat broker Michal Bach and learned a lot. If you enjoyed this interview, check out some of our other guests: JB Turner on August 6, 2024, Kate Seremeth on September 10, 2024, and Ali Hasell on November 26, 2024.

Buying a boat is easier said than done. And finding the right one isn’t that simple either. Thankfully, we had Michael Bach on our side when we bought our sailboat, Abide.

Michael joins me in this episode to share his story of becoming a broker which started out working in shipyards and racing. We then uncover the process we went through together of finding the right boat and arranging the purchase and works.

This episode is packed with surprising stories, professional expertise, and practical advice for anyone interested in sailing!

Highlights from this episode:

• Our broker Michael’s journey from boat racing to finding Abide.
• How Michael sniffs out the duds when looking for boats for his clients.
• Who is the typical boat owner?
• How the boat buying process works.
• How COVID prompted us (and many others) to sail more.

Stay subscribed so you don't miss our new podcast adventure!

CONNECT

Michael Bach - mbach@bycyacht.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

While we take a little break, enjoy this episode from last year with our chef Vanessa! And if you enjoyed this episode, she also shares life at a charter yacht show. Check out that episode from November 19, 2024.

Are you feeling hungry? You will be after listening to this episode!

Vanessa Verster, our chef on board our sailboat, Abide (and Roland’s wife), joins me on this episode to give us a behind the scenes look into life as a private chef on the sea.

We discover Vanessa’s story of how she got involved in chartering, despite having no initial sailing experience. Vanessa is now part of our crew where she uses her culinary mastery to feed us breakfast, lunch and dinner in a space smaller than most home kitchens!

Highlights from this episode:

• Vanessa’s journey to chartering, from South Africa to the USA.
• The challenges of cooking for up to ten people in a tiny galley kitchen.
• Life on mixed charters and handling diverse groups of guests.
• The differences between restaurant and private cheffing.
• The process of crafting a menu and why guests don’t get to see it before boarding.
• Nightmare guest stories!
• The no-go topics of conversation for mixed family charters…

Stay subscribed so you don't miss our new podcast adventure!

CONNECT

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

While we take a little break, enjoy this episode from last year. And to continue to part 2, check out the episode from July 2, 2024.

We love a challenge. And this story is all about jumping in head first. In episode one I uncovered the story of how our adventure began, from the first time Bill and I went sailing, to coming to own a 136-foot sailboat. If you haven’t listened to episode one already, start there!

In this episode, I’m joined by our intrepid captain Roland, who without him, our adventure might not have been possible. We pick up where we left off with Abide arriving at Belfast's Front Street Shipyard, before winding back time to introduce Roland and how he became our captain.

Highlights from this episode:

• How our captain’s journey took him from cleaning the bottoms of boats to joining our crew.
• How chartering works, and what it’s like to live on board with people you’ve only just met!
• How Hurricane Irma tore through our plans.
• Learning about the process from delivery to sailing the world.
• How our journey made us see America from a completely new perspective.

Stay subscribed so you don't miss our new podcast adventure!

CONNECT

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

I’m making some changes to Adventure On Deck.

Over the past year, this podcast has been a space to share stories of adventure, discovery, and our life aboard Abide. And I thank you so much for being a part of this with me. But as all great stories must, this chapter has come to a natural close, now that we’ve told the refit story.

During our adventures, I’ve discovered how much I love how stories pop up in our own lives and how we can get to know the world as a progression of stories

I’ve also discovered how much I love podcasting and connecting with you!

That’s why, although this story has come to a close, the podcast will live on, but it’s time to steer the course into something new.

In this episode, I talk about what’s coming next in this new chapter.

CONNECT

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

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Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Have you ever read a book that feels like it was written for the exact moment you’re living?

That’s how I felt when I read Homer’s Odyssey during our last trip to St. Thomas this year. The story of the epic, 20-year journey home has stuck with me, and I couldn’t help but see the parallels to our adventures aboard Abide.

That’s why in this episode, I’m sharing 5 of these parallels that we’ve learnt from. If you haven’t read The Odyssey - don’t worry, I’ll give you some context. And either way, if you’re planning an adventure of your own, there’s something to learn here.

We may not have ended up getting on Poseidon’s bad side - but there have definitely been some unexpected challenges!

In this episode, I share:

• 5 ways our adventure mirrors Homer’s Odyssey.
• How the realities of our trip differed from our expectations.
• The sirens (or distractions) we’ve had to resist along the way.
• Why “home” looks so different after spending time at sea.
• Lessons that you can bring to your own adventures.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the next one.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Happy New Year, Adventurers! What went well in 2024 for you and what went not so well?

This week, I’m joined by my husband, Bill, as we reflect on the highs and lows of 2024 and look ahead to what’s in store for 2025.

We’re playing a little game of ‘Good Thing, Bad Thing’ - a game we loved to play with our kids around the dinner table to get everyone talking about their day. We’re reminiscing about some incredible moments from this past year - and a few not-so-great moments that we can learn from. From launching this podcast to our favorite trips aboard Abide, 2024 has been super busy and full of surprises and lessons.

Highlights from this episode:

• A look back at our year with Abide.
• Some of the best - and worst - moments of 2024.
• Our hopes, goals, and plans for 2025 aboard Abide and personally.
• Chartering a boat and why we’re doing more of it in 2025.
• And more!

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the adventure in 2025.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

In this special holiday episode, I’ve put something together for you that will surely get you in the Christmas spirit!

I’m putting my own spin on Clement Moore’s classic, ‘The Night Before Christmas’,  inspired by life aboard Abide with our family and crew (and a familiar face that shows up).

Curl up with a cup of hot chocolate (or your favorite holiday drink from last week’s episode!) and set sail with us.

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to follow Adventure On Deck on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the next one.

Thanks so much for listening to Adventure On Deck in 2024, and see you in the New Year!

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

When we host guests aboard Adibe, one thing we love to do is prepare cocktails. And now that the holiday season is upon us, what better way to celebrate than by sharing our top three drinks we love to share?

If you’re planning on hosting a party, or looking for some inspiration, this episode will make it a little easier for you to make things memorable.

This week, I’m joined by our daughters, Paige and Darcy, to share three beverages we love to serve aboard Abide.

We’ve got two alcoholic cocktails to share with you and one for the designated drivers. And each drink comes with some garnish suggestions to impress your guests. Plus, we’re throwing in a couple of bonus recipes that hold a special place in our family.

Highlights from this episode:

• The must-try holiday drinks we love serving aboard Abide.
• Alcoholic, non-alcoholic, hot and cold - something for everyone.
• How making these drinks create a key part of creating a welcoming atmosphere on Abide.
• And more…

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to follow Adventure On Deck on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the next one.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

I'm reading and talking about Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics.

Ted listed SIX Greek dramas for this week: Bacchae (Euripides), Lysistrata (Aristophanes), Agamemnon (Aeschylus), and the three Theban plays from Sophocles, Oedipus the King, Oedipus in Colonus and Antigone.

We discuss how to read drama in general. I tried to read a little bit of background on each play before I dove in. One thing that’s easy to forget with Greek drama is that the audience didn’t have any spoilers; they knew all of these stories really well. They were there to see HOW it came together. That meant that some of the plot gets treated with shorthand in some ways. 

I tried to figure out the major players, and how they might have interacted with characters I had met elsewhere. It’s astonishing how all of these characters are connected by one or two degrees of separation. Bill and I joke that it feels exactly like when we moved to Charleston a couple of years ago. I swear that every person we meet knows someone else we know through one or two people. It’s the strangest thing, and Greek drama is exactly like that.

I also flag my books like crazy: one flag for the cast of characters; one for the endnotes; one for a map, even if it’s in a different book. As a matter of fact, my Fagles translation of the Odyssey came in handy this week. Not only are there some great maps, there is also a glossary of all the proper names in the Odyssey. Many, many of the characters I came across this week also put in an appearance in the Odyssey.

Finally, I kept a brief “plot summary” of each play as I read. Only Bacchae was divided into scenes, but for each play I tried to keep a brief synopsis of the action as I read. This kept me from mixing up characters too much, and also it helped me to get an idea of how the various stories fit together. 

In addition, I read out loud occasionally, especially if I found myself alone in the house. It’s easy to lose the thread of some of these long passages, especially where the chorus has an extended explication of action taking place off stage. Reading out loud helped me capture the rhythm of the language and also the drama of it in a way that reading silently could never do.

I started with Euripedes’ Bacchae, translated by Paul Woodruff. To be honest, half the reason I bought this edition was that it had Elvis on the cover as Dionysus! Not long after the founding of Thebes, Dionysus appears to bring his cult to the city. Dionysus is a son of Zeus but also the grandson of the founder of Thebes, Cadmus. Dionysus’ cousin Pentheus is now king, and he refuses to acknowledge the god-status of Dionysus. Let’s just say Pentheus regretted that decision. This play was shockingly brutal to me, even though all the violence always takes place off-stage in a Greek drama. There are ideas of redemption, and lack of it, woven throughout the play. Bacchae left me curious about anything related to the practice of the cult of Dionysus. Apparently the rites were so secret that nothing, not one thing, survives to help us understand what they did.

Next I read Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. This is a comedy, truly a farce, whose entire plot revolves around the women of Greece coming together to deny all their men sex so they will quit fighting with each other. It is hilarious, and I’d love to see this one performed live. I love a good marriage quote:

Happily, I bought an edition of Lysistrata that also had three other plays translated by Aaron Poochigian. Clouds, in particular, is a send-up of Socrates and that one is definitely on my to-read list! Also, it was fun to see Aristophanes again after meeting him in Symposium. His argument for love was the idea of “you complete me,” so it was interesting to think about that in light of all of the marriage talk here.

Agamemnon was next, by Aeschylus. Here’s where things took a more serious turn. I feel like Aeschylus grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. Agamemnon was the king of Argos who sailed off to Troy to help his brother Menaleus take back Menaleus’ wandering wife Helen. When he showed back up in Argos after a decade, his wife carried out the murder plot she had had ten years to perfect. This play is so dark, so full of blood guilt and pain and anger, you just can’t look away. Is there such a thing as guilt that a family can’t erase? Where does devotion to a god cross paths with family love and loyalty, and can anyone win? This is the first play of the Oresteia trilogy (or “cycle”) in which Clytamnaestra and Agamemnon’s son Orestes also is a hero. Here’s an idea for an aspiring novelist: write a novel about the Murdaugh murders, but based on the Oresteia cycle. I’m not smart enough but I will definitely read that! As far as future reading, I’m definitely returning to find out more about Orestes.

For this play and the three from Sophocles I read the towering Fagles translations. It’s not that I’ve become an expert, but even with my little bit of reading I’m starting figure out what I like in a translation, and for now, for me, it’s Robert Fagles all the way. 

Finally, I read the Sophocles plays set in Thebes: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. Before I read these plays, I only knew about Oedipus from our friend Sigmund Freud and the Oedipus complex. Now I feel kind of mad at Dr. Freud, honestly, because the truth of Oedipus is nothing like the salacious diagnosis. These plays were dark, but not howling in anger like Clytemnaestra in Agamemnon. The ideas of blood guilt remain—can a family undo the dark sins of an earlier generation, or are they doomed to carry out the devastation begun by someone else? Can there be redemption? (I think that the idea of redemption like we Christians think of it is far from Greek ideals.) Can the Fates turn kind? I can’t even describe how much I enjoyed these plays, if “enjoy” also includes crying over the scene where Oedipus tells his daughters goodbye, and being furious at what a total jerk Creon is. Of the three, I particularly loved Oedipus at Colonus.

If there is any small part of you that wonders if you can do this, you CAN. And it’s absolutely worth the effort.

Music this week was Early Blues. We looked at Greek pottery for art. Links are below.

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week for seven books of the Bible. If you've never read it or read it a hundred times, you will get something out of next week's episode.

LINK

Ted Gioia/The Honest Broker’s 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)

My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)

Oedipus at Colonnus (YouTube)

Greek Pottery

Blind Willie Johnson (Spotify)

CONNECT

To read more of my writing, visit my Substack -  https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 

Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm 

When you're planning a trip, how do you make sure you see everything you want to without missing out on the best-kept secrets a destination has to offer?

Whether you’re traveling by boat or not, when planning your next vacation, you want to try to fit everything in. But it’s not always that easy, and can be overwhelming when you’re visiting a new place.

On this week’s episode, Bill (my husband!), joins me aboard Abide. We’re in Antigua as we record this one, after a week of sailing the Caribbean, and we have a strategy to share with you around getting the most out of visiting somewhere new - particularly an island destination.

These are the two things that we do every time we visit an island that allows us to uncover its secrets without getting overwhelmed.

Oh, and we’ll share a few stories with you on some of the incredible sights and near-death experiences we’ve collected from our voyages to Gran Canaria, Saba and more…

Highlights from this episode:

• How to prevent overwhelm when everything is new.
• The two things we do when visiting a new island to uncover its best bits.
• Some of the most gorgeous sights we’ve spotted that might have you planning your next trip.
• Lessons from our biggest travel mistakes!
• What you should always find out before exploring a new destination.
• And more!

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to follow Adventure On Deck on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the next one.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

As fall 2024 wraps up, it’s time to reflect on what’s been a busy season for us and for Abide. This has been an exciting few months for us and we don’t want you to miss any of it!

Roland joins me in this episode as we go over some of the top trips that we’ve taken Abide on throughout fall to cap things off before she goes back to the boat yard.

We’ll take you through the highlights, challenges, and insights from the journey so far. Fall has brought us even closer to the geography and history of some of the places we’ve visited, now with a fresh perspective from the water

Highlights from this episode:

• Reflecting on an exciting fall season aboard Abide.
• Exploring some of the most beautiful locations on the coast.
• Our trip to New York and what surprised us most.
• Tips for making the most of your own adventures.
• And more…

Whether you’re planning your own adventures or just along for the ride, this episode is the perfect way to wrap up fall.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Ever wondered what it’s like to spend an entire year on a boat, navigating 6000 miles of waterways? This week, we’re joined by Ali Hasell, who - along with her husband Duncan and their dog Tito - is taking on America’s Great Loop.

In this episode, Ali gives as a look into the incredible journey that she and a community of ‘loopers’ go on to achieve this momentous task.

Ali uncovers the unexpected challenges and the joys of discovery from the loop so far which she’s currently almost 5000 miles into - from navigating lakes and rivers to managing provisions and maintaining a routine on board. We dive into what it takes to commit to America’s Great Loop.

If you’re looking for some travel inspiration, or just want a behind the scenes on an incredible story, this is for you!

Highlights from this episode:

• What is America’s Great Loop and who’s taking it on?
• How ‘loopers’ adapt to life on the boat long term - and how they adapt to returning home.
• Ali and her family’s routine while traveling the 6000-mile stretch.
• Ali’s top spots from America and Canada along the route.
• The community of ‘loopers’ and how to get involved.

LEARN MORE

If you have questions for Ali, drop her an email: ahasell10@gmail.com.

For more information about America’s Great Loop, go to www.greatloop.org.

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

As Abide arrives at St. Thomas for the USVI Charter Yacht Show, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really goes into preparing a yacht for brokers, clients and customers.

In this episode, I’m joined again by our chef, Vanessa Verster, who’s had her hands full for the last couple of months with everything from crafting menus to styling a Japanese-inspired theme to leave an impression on brokers looking for new charter opportunities.

Prepare to feel hungry again as we dive into what it’s like to host brokers aboard Abide, the high standards expected at these shows, and the creative ways Vanessa and the crew keep things interesting. 

Highlights from this episode:

• What it takes to prepare for a boat show, from the décor to the menu.
• Inside the broker-client relationship and how boats are chosen for charter.
• How we’re going green to meet the show’s requirements.
• Vanessa’s menu plan and the crew’s role in creating a memorable experience.
• A flavored water competition and the Japanese theme for Abide!
• And much more…

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Getting a yacht from one place to another isn’t as straightforward as you might think…

In this episode, Roland and I dive into the ins and outs of yacht ‘deliveries’.

We’re moving Abide to St. Thomas in preparation for a boat show (more on that in a later episode). We’re recording from Charleston, where we’re busy prepping Abide to ensure she arrives in the same condition she left in.

We discuss everything that’s involved from hiring extra crew to stocking up with enough food to sustain 9+ people for days of round-the-clock sailing.

With day-and-night sailing, delivering a yacht is more than a cruise - it’s about managing a finely tuned operation that ensures everyone and everything arrives in one piece.

Highlights from this episode:

• What it takes to deliver a yacht in one piece.
• Planning for nonstop, round-the-clock sailing with rotating crew.
• What to do in an injury situation.
• Cooking on the go and keeping 9+ crew members fueled for the journey.
• The biggest delivery danger in the water - and it’s not sharks or icebergs…
• Roland’s story of locking a crew member up in the brig during a past delivery!

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

As we wrap up the refit story, I’m taking a moment to reflect. In this solo episode, I share 3 insights from the incredible experience of getting Abide back on the water. 

I break down the 3 big takeaways that have stuck with me and that I urge you to think about. This project reminded me of the amazing things we would have missed if we hadn’t taken the leap, and I hope to inspire you to take your own leap into that thing you’ve been hesitating over for way too long.

Plus, we have some questions of yours to answer! I’m truly grateful for the questions you’ve sent in, and I answer them in this episode.

Finally, I fill you in on what’s been happening since Abide returned to Charleston and give a sneak peek into what’s coming next for the podcast!

Highlights from this episode:

• The 3 big life lessons to take away from Abide’s refit.
• The importance of taking risks and the rewards that follow.
• A Q&A session answering your questions.
• What’s been happening since Abide came home to Charleston.
• A look ahead at what’s coming next for Abide, the crew and Adventure On Deck.

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Abide finally made her way back to Charleston. This episode gets a little emotional… but it’s tears of joy so it’s okay!

This week, Roland and I share the last leg of Abide's first real adventure as she arrives home in Charleston, marking a heart-warming return. Recording this episode was an absolute joy.

From navigating treacherous waters to docking in Charleston, the final chapter of Abide’s journey home had its fair share of challenges. We talk Charleston history, Roland’s run-in with some feisty crabs, and the overwhelming excitement of seeing Abide back at the marina. 

Highlights from this episode:

• Navigating the treacherous waters on the way home to Charleston.
• Abide’s arrival in Charleston and seeing her in the marina for the first time…
• …only for our view to be spoiled the next day!
• Some interesting details on Charleston’s history as a major harbor.
• Roland’s crab attack and other stories that had us in hysterics.
• And more…

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

LEARN MORE

The sermon we listened to when Abide got to Charleston: Waiting For

For more about Abide - https://sailabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide in Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Have you ever wondered what life is like for a crew on a yacht? Our crew spend a lot of time on Abide, not only working together, but living together, too.

This week, we’re taking a quick break from the refit story to give you an inside look at what it’s really like to live and work aboard Abide.

I’m joined by Jacob, our engineer, and Elizabeth, our deckhand who connected with me as they both sat down aboard our boat in Newport, Rhode Island.

We’ll dive into how they got into the world of yachting, the training involved to become yacht crew, and what it’s like to live and work in such close quarters. From navigating the day-to-day responsibilities to living alongside co-workers, Jacob and Elizabeth share a unique perspective on life aboard Abide that I know you’ll get a lot of insight from.

Highlights from this episode:

• How Jacob and Elizabeth found their way into the yachting world.
• The rigorous training required to be a yacht crew member.
• Daily life aboard Abide and how they live together as co-workers.
• Insights into the crew’s responsibilities and routines.
• What it takes to make life at sea run without a hitch.

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next episode!

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

As we entered Newport on a freezing Christmas Eve, we realized days later that we hadn’t officially cleared into the port... And that was just the beginning of the next set of challenges!

This week, Roland and I dive into the next leg of Abide’s journey, as we sailed from Belfast, Maine to Newport, Rhode Island and onto Norfolk. 

From a major malfunction that had us moored to the dock for weeks, to the sea trials that revealed more problems, this leg of the trip was filled with close calls.

We delve into crew challenges in this episode, and how we found the crew that was right for us. And we revisit our dream of sailing round the world and talk about why we’re currently looking more locally!

Highlights from this episode:

• The Christmas Eve panic and why Abide needed clearing to dock.
• Navigating Newport's icy waters and returning to the dock due to a major malfunction.
• Three intense sea trials.
• Our journey from Newport to Norfolk.
• HR challenges on board: managing crew swaps and the importance of finding the right people for the mission.
• Is the dream of sailing around the world realistic?

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next leg of the journey.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

What happens when your sailboat is forced to leave the dock before it’s ready, and the deck is turned into an ice rink?

This week, I’m joined again by our captain, Roland - in person this time! We’re sitting aboard Abide as we reflect on the departure from the shipyard in Belfast, Maine. 

Abide had become part of the local scenery, with both friends and strangers showing up to give her a send off. But the decision for Abide to leave the dockyard wasn’t made by us. We revisit the chaotic moments leading up to Abide departure and the challenges that followed. 

We also dive into Abide’s sea trials - the first voyages, and finally bringing Abide into Newport.

Highlights from this episode:

• Dealing with the pressure of being forced out of the shipyard before we were ready.
• Roland’s mishap that turned the deck into an ice rink!
• The emotional farewell as friends and locals wished Abide off.
• Struggling to get off the frozen dock and into open water.
• The far-too-tight squeeze of clearing low bridges during Abide's first sea trials.

The first leg of her journey may be complete, but there’s plenty more ahead! So be sure to subscribe for the next episode.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

I'm reading and talking about Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics.

This week’s reading was the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Somehow I did not get Ted’s recommended translation by Susan Hollis. Instead, I had the gigantic and very, very beautiful reproduction of the complete Papyrus of Ani. This edition had a huge influence on my week "in" Egypt.

The Book of the Dead isn’t really one book; at the time of its writing (around 1300 BC) it was common to have a papyrus scroll of spells and directions placed in the coffin with the deceased. In this case, the priest Ani had died and this is his scroll. There have been many such scrolls, and pieces of scrolls, found in various tombs across Egypt. Each section of the scroll contains a text that has, for modern purposes, been called a chapter. Many scrolls have many “chapters” in common, but so far no scroll has all of them. On top of that, the chapters can be in any order. 

The chapters (are they prayers? Spells? Opinions seem split.) are, for the most part, pretty obscure. We spend some time reading excerpts, just to get a sense of them. There really isn’t a description of how a person might become “spiritualized” or “pure.” Everything is instruction for the dead in the afterlife.

Here are a few more thoughts about this reading. It might seem a little random, but this reading felt a little random, too:

• Until the Rosetta Stone was found in 1820, the text was completely unknown. The guess was that it was a book of wisdom similar to our Bible. That’s actually completely wrong—none of it is oriented toward the living. The text is all about the god Osiris, who was murdered, mourned and buried. Later myths tell of Osiris’ resurrection. The vignettes are personalized, in this case for the priest Ani (and his wife Tutu).
• Burials apparently re-enacted the death of Osiris in ritual form, delivering the deceased to the point of the weighing of the heart. There are prayers to open the deceased’s mouth, ears, and eyes in the afterlife, because all of these would be necessary to live there. There is debate whether the myth created the ritual, or did the burial ritual arise first, with the myth developing around it later to explain the actions? It’s interesting to me that we can’t know based on what the Egyptians left behind.
• Judgment in the afterlife is the literal weighing of the deceased’s heart against a feather! (I would definitely not pass.) The feather is called a ma’at, and is “Truth” or “Rightful Order.” If you are found to have a light heart, you can pass to the good afterlife, the Field of Reeds.
• The heart is the single most important part of a person, living or dead. It’s the engine of the body and the seat of both emotions and intelligence. In the afterlife it was very important not to lose your heart, even though it was now outside of your body thanks to the mummification process.
• The Egyptians saw death as the confrontation with nonexistence and irrationality. The goal of weight your heart was to travel as an akh, in the sun and in order. The Book of the Dead is a guide to thwart the chaos of the universe, and even the gods had to contend with that disorder.
• Words, images and reality were a unity in Egyptian thought. The images in the scrolls function as text, and all of it is real. In drawing or writing things, they take on reality. In fact, this was why defacing the name of a king would be regarded as a capital crime; it was no better than assaulting or murdering the king himself.
• Many gods are represented by animal faces or body parts. Interestingly, this wasn’t meant to communicate actual appearance, but to connote the attributes of that animal with that god. 

I’m coming away from this week with a new regard for the difficulty that Egyptologists have in interpreting the texts. There is still simply so much we don’t know. In fact, the translations themselves are quite difficult because of the way the language is structured, up to and including the direction of the writing on the scroll.

I’m also coming away with a sense of the weirdness of lots of beliefs. I know that is just a very Western-centric attitude, but maybe I can explain it further. The world is just a lot weirder than we want to think about. There is even a god who was praised because she was a “licker,” something I have never heard before, and the Egyptians had a Celestial Cow. I have loved this reading project for introducing me to things I had no idea of.

I’m interested in looking at some Egyptian artifacts in real life. One benefit of having these beautiful color plates in my book was that I spent a long time looking at the details of the papyrus, at the various dress of people in vignettes, trying to identify the gods from one page to the next. It was a very interesting exercise and I’d love to compare what I looked at on these pages to a sarcophagus or papyrus in a museum.

We listened to some music from Youssou N'Dour, and those links are below.

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week for seven books of the Bible. If you've never read it or read it a hundred times, you will get something out of next week's episode.

LINK

Ted Gioia/The Honest Broker’s 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)

My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)

Egyptian Art

The Michael C. Carlos Museum (mentioned--you should go!)

Music of Youssou N'Dour

CONNECT

To read more of my writing, visit my Substack -  https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 

Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm 

When we bought Abide, it was clear that she was built for something more. And part of what helped her reach her potential was the newly designed interior.

In this episode, I sit down with Kate Seremeth, owner of TACK studios and the interior designer behind Abide’s stunning look.

Kate shares her story from starting out in industrial design to becoming a specialist in yacht interiors. Growing up in Maine, surrounded by water, it’s no surprise that Kate found herself drawn to working on boats, but her path into this unique niche is anything but conventional.

Kate talks about the unique challenges she faces designing for the unique features of a sailboat and how she balances human comfort with aesthetics. She gives us an inside look into the process of designing Abide’s interior and shares stories of some of the incredible other projects she’s worked on.

Highlights from this episode:

• The unique challenges of designing for yachts.
• Balancing comfort and beauty in yacht interiors.
• Kate’s process for designing the interior of Abide.
• Refits vs. new builds and how no project is the same.
• How Kate designs interiors that ‘feel like the client’.
• Stories of Kate’s other projects and the ones she’s turned down.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

TACK studios - https://tackstudios.com/

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Kate Seremeth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-seremeth-2a620612/

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

This is where things got really hard.

After being kicked out of the yard in early June 2023, our sailboat, Abide, went back in the water… but it wasn’t yet habitable. It didn’t seem like we were far off, though, with visions of being out on the water within the next couple of months. How wrong we were…

In this episode, our captain Roland and I continue the story of Abide's refit during the second half of 2023. With constant delays, unpleasant surprises and our stress levels rising, we were starting to lose faith.

I know this doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, but we had to go there. We wanted to be open about both sides of the story. It’s all part of it, and it’s absolutely worth listening to you if you want to hear the behind-the-scenes on the challenges of such a large project.

Highlights from this episode:

• Abide’s return to the water, and the challenges that followed.
• The harsh reality of a huge project like refitting a 136-foot sailboat.
• How we raised our spirits and pushed forward.
• The Antigua Yacht Show - our beacon of hope, and how that panned out!

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Are you feeling hungry? You will be after listening to this episode!

Vanessa, our chef on board our sailboat, Abide (and Roland’s wife), joins me on this episode to give us a behind the scenes look into life as a private chef on the sea.

We discover Vanessa’s story of how she got involved in chartering, despite having no initial sailing experience. Vanessa is now part of our crew where she uses her culinary mastery to feed us breakfast, lunch and dinner in a space smaller than most home kitchens!

Highlights from this episode:

• Vanessa’s journey to chartering, from South Africa to the USA.
• The challenges of cooking for up to ten people in a tiny galley kitchen.
• Life on mixed charters and handling diverse groups of guests.
• The differences between restaurant and private cheffing.
• The process of crafting a menu and why guests don’t get to see it before boarding.
• Nightmare guest stories!
• The no-go topics of conversation for mixed family charters…

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

A huge project like restoring a 136-foot sailboat, doesn’t happen in a bubble. While our captain, Roland, and the crew were hard at work with Front Street Shipyard in Belfast all sorts of unexpected challenges were cropping up that made us put the whole endeavour into perspective.

In this episode, we dive back into the refit of Abide during the winter of 2022. 

As the refit continues, Roland and I share a few stories behind the scenes: from the rigorous crew training that Roland has to undergo, from firefighting to spending 5 hours in a freezing pool, to some more personal trials.

Highlights from this episode:

• The impact of life’s challenges on us and the project.
• Training for the unexpected - what a sailing crew has to go through to become certified.
• Coping with sudden loss and other stressful life challenges.
• The process of Roland securing a visa in order to get the project underway.
• The moment Abide was kicked out of the shed.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

It was a cold December night back in 2022. 

Abide was tucked up in the warmth of her shed at Front Street Shipyard. 

Roland was slowly killing his Christmas tree… 

In this episode we jump back into the refit story, picking up where we left off in the winter of ‘22. Our 136-foot sailboat, Abide, was undergoing an intensive refit.

Our captain, Roland, joins me again to share stories from that winter in Maine and give us a closer look into the extensive refit challenge.

Highlights from this episode:

- What happened next in the refit story.

- The crazy level of attention to detail that had to go into repainting Abide.

- How to sail if you get seasick.

- Abide’s 2000-lb dinghy and how we got it on the boat (and why sailboats need one).

- The story of Roland’s Christmas as a South African in America.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

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Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

JB Turner had a vision. A vision for a shipyard unlike any other in Belfast, Maine. A shipyard that could take on bigger projects, and energise the community. And in 2011, JB and his partners got started with building Front Street Shipyard.

Abide is currently sitting inside Front Street waiting to be painted. But in this episode, we’re taking you back to how it all started.

JB shares with us his story, from developing a love of sailing as a child (back when a 32-foot sailboat was considered large!), to the handshake that built the shipyard, to refitting Adibe!

This conversation is filled with interesting stories that I don’t want to spoil for you, so have a listen and you won’t be disappointed!

Highlights from this episode:

• How JB Turner and his partners built Front Street Shipyard from the ground up.
• How Front Street was able to attract its talented team (most of whom don’t sail themselves!)
• The ‘rennaisance’ of Belfast that attracted its sailing community.
• What goes into building a boat from scratch.
• What’s the hardest part of building a sailboat?

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

Front Street Shipyard - https://frontstreetshipyard.com/

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

How much do you need to pay someone to step into an empty black water tank…?

We pick up where we left off in episode 5, with Roland and the crew setting things in motion at Front Street Shipyard, Maine. Our sailboat, Abide was being hauled out of the water and unloaded in the shed.

In this episode, we’re diving into the process and the challenges behind restoring Abide to her original beauty - and then some.

Highlights from this episode:

• What goes into restoring a 136-foot sailboat.
• Making a sailboat functional and beautiful.
• What the ‘giant-tattoo gun’ was for...
• Choosing the right wood and paint (it’s harder than you’d think).
• The supply-chain challenges of 2022 and how the refit was affected.
• The gritty details of the black water tank (don’t worry we don’t get too graphic…).
• How a sailing yacht gets surveyed.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Buying a boat is easier said than done. And finding the right one isn’t that simple either. Thankfully, we had Michael Bach on our side when we bought our sailboat, Abide.

Michael joins me in this episode to share his story of becoming a broker which started out working in shipyards and racing. We then uncover the process we went through together of finding the right boat and arranging the purchase and works.

This episode is packed with surprising stories, professional expertise, and practical advice for anyone interested in sailing!

Highlights from this episode:

• Our broker Michael’s journey from boat racing to finding Abide.
• How Michael sniffs out the duds when looking for boats for his clients.
• Who is the typical boat owner?
• How the boat buying process works.
• How COVID prompted us (and many others) to sail more.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

Bachus Yacht Consultancy - https://bycyacht.com/

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Now the real work begins… 

We’re picking up where we left off in episode 3 with our captain Roland. In this part of the story, the boat (Abide) is still in the water at the shipyard in Belfast, Maine, but we’re gearing up to haul her out and get started on the refit.

This was the biggest project that Roland had undertaken. We speak about how we chose the shipyard, the work that went into getting Abide into the shed and the major undertaking of preparing her for the refit. It sounds straightforward, but it’s anything but!

Highlights from this episode:

• What goes into hauling a 136-foot sailboat out of the water.
• Choosing the right shipyard for the work.
• The process of finding the crew and getting them set up.
• Getting the cost estimates for the refit… ‘estimate’ being the keyword!

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

It turns out, there’s more to a sailboat than a sail and a mast… 

After acquiring our 136-foot sailboat, Abide, we discovered something we weren’t expecting to find that sent us down a rabbit hole (and I’m not talking about the 23 jars of mint jelly…).

We found a huge binder of records relating to the original design and purchase of the boat. We’re talking notes from meetings, emails, and even faxes!

In this episode, my husband Bill and I share what we discovered from these historic records - the drama that unfolded that led to 35 pages of change orders or modifications before the original owner was satisfied.

Seeing Abide now, though, it looks like it was worth it!

Highlights from this episode:

• The history of Abide’s original construction and purchase.
• Introducing my husband Bill to the story.
• How Abide, a boat constructed in The Netherlands, was tailored for an American owner.
• Understanding what goes into designing and building a sailboat.
• Where we’re hoping to take Abide to next and in the future.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

I'm reading and talking about Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics.

This week I tackled the Epic of Gilgamesh and also The Dhammapada. Gilgamesh was written in approximately 2000 BC, the oldest known story in the world, and is about 1500 years older than anything I’ve read to date. The Dhammapada is the oldest writings of the Buddha, from approximately 450 BC, which is a lot more in line with some of the other things I’ve been reading. I think it’s important to note the relative ages of these works and know how they fit together.

Gilgamesh was an actual, historical king of a Mesopotamian city called Uruk, around 2750 BC. The poem tells the story of how he angers the gods and then makes a best friend from a former wild man, Enkidu. They go rampaging, killing beasts for the sport of it, and that angers the gods. Enkidu is cursed and falls ill. When he dies, Gilgamesh is heartbroken and goes in search of a cure for his own mortality. He fails in that quest. Here are a few of my take-aways:

• The style of writing feels extraordinarily primitive to me. There is something very, very basic about the story, and many times it feels like it’s written with the mindset of a sixth grade boy: lots of graphic talk about sex and body parts, and lots of bloody killing. Until the last part, there wasn’t much nuance and there wasn’t a lot of reflection on anyone’s part.
• The Flood story is well-described here, lending credence to an actual, world-changing flood taking place at some point in history. The narrative of it is very interesting, especially the description of a square “boat” constructed and filled with pairs of animals.
• Book X is much more thoughtful than earlier sections. Gilgamesh is mourning his dead friend, searching for ways that he himself might become immortal. But the only immortal human tells him:

• And that’s what it comes down to. Man will always and forever struggle with his mortality. We have and we will. The oldest and most enduring story is about the oldest and most enduring question.
• There is just not a lot of man-woman romance in these old stories. Only Penelope and Odysseus come to mind in the last few weeks. Here, Enkidu is seduced by the temple prostitute but there’s not much more mention of women than that. I was actually surprised to see a wife mentioned in the quote above!

The Dhammapada reminded me very, very much of The Analects of Confucius (Week 4). Books of aphorisms are very hard to read in big chunks, as I’ve already noted. It’s more a matter of scanning, trying to see how things fit together, if there are over-arching themes. I have a few thoughts here as well:

• Some of these sayings of Buddha are good sense, and we saw them in Confucius, and we see them in Proverbs. A wrongly-directed mind will do to you far worse than any enemy; a rightly-directed one will do you good.
• All the talk of “emptying” and forgetting the self is bleak to me. It’s a completely different mindset from the Greek philosophy I’ve read until now. It’s not Stoic; it’s a kind of blankness, a rejection of self but not an embrace of anything else as far as I can tell. 

Reading the Dhammapada leaves me feeling very sad, to be honest. I’ve shared before that I’m a Christian, and I’ve read the Bible a pretty fair amount. There are painful parts to it, but there is also extreme joy. The goal of the Buddha seems to be an evenness to life, a flattening out. Maybe the beauty of the Advent season as it turns to the joy of Christmas was what I reacted to, but I don’t think Buddhism is for me at all. The Dhammapada goes in the “Okay, read that one, check” box, and it hasn’t inspired any further reading from me. Curiosity about the culture? Maybe. But in a world where there are so many things to read, at least I can say “no, thank you” to this.

This is a year-long reading project! Next week we are on to the Egyptian Book of the Dead--it's going to be amazing.

The music selections this week are varied and I’m excited about them, too: choral music from William Byrd, Handel’s Messiah (my fave), Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah, and the Byrd’s Turn, Turn, Turn. For art, it’s all things Michelangelo. A big, juicy week ahead for sure.

LINK

Ted Gioia/The Honest Broker’s 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)

My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)

Mesopotamian Art

CONNECT

To read more of my writing, visit my Substack -  https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

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Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm 

Last week we shared with you the first part of the story of how Roland came to be the captain of our 136-foot sailboat, Abide. This week, you’ll discover the rest of the story.

We were about to start the refit and Roland was boarding Abide for the first time. He was greeted with a frosty reception from the old crew… but this only strengthened the resolve to make this work.

Abide hadn’t been maintained too well, and she needed some attention before she would be ready for chartering. In this episode, you’ll also discover the start of the refit journey.

Highlights from this episode:

• The second part of Roland’s journey to becoming our captain.
• The frosty reception Roland got when he went to pick up Abide!
• The journey Roland and Abide took to Belfast, Maine where the refit began.
• The weird and wonderful things we found stowed away on Abide, like 23 jars of mint jelly…

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

We love a challenge. And this story is all about jumping in head first. In episode one I uncovered the story of how our adventure began, from the first time Bill and I went sailing, to coming to own a 136-foot sailboat. If you haven’t listened to episode one already, start there!

In this episode, I’m joined by our intrepid captain Roland, who without him, our adventure might not have been possible. We pick up where we left off with Abide arriving at Belfast's Front Street Shipyard, before winding back time to introduce Roland and how he became our captain.

Highlights from this episode:

• How our captain’s journey took him from cleaning the bottoms of boats to joining our crew.
• How chartering works, and what it’s like to live on board with people you’ve only just met!
• How Hurricane Irma tore through our plans.
• Learning about the process from delivery to sailing the world.
• How our journey made us see America from a completely new perspective.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss part two.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

We cast off from the pier, motored away, and did not sail… but we bought the boat anyway.

This is the story of how my husband (Bill) and I (Cheryl) - two non-sailors - came to own a 136-foot sailboat, with the crazy idea that we might sail around the world. If you're ready to set sail into the unknown and become inspired to satisfy your wanderlust each week, this is the podcast for you. 

In this inaugural episode, you’ll discover how this all started, from the first time Bill and I went sailing, to finding Abide - the sailboat of our dreams, and getting the crew on board.

Highlights from this episode:

• How two non-sailors came to own a 136-foot sailboat.
• How we found the crew that we would work with for the rest of our adventure so far.
• The test trip that had us doing donuts around the bay for an hour.
• The grinding halt that Covid brought to our plans and the revelation it brought us.

If you enjoy the first part of the story, subscribe on your podcast app of choice. This is only the beginning of the adventure. I’m so pleased that you’re here to join us on it!

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

I'm reading and talking about Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics.

An interesting combination this week. Ted Gioia, the creator of my reading list, called it “Love and War,” but it felt like a lot more than that. And last week, I called it a hodgepodge, but I can admit I was wrong.

Plato’s Symposium is the third of Plato’s works on this list. After wrestling with Ethics in particular last week, I was happy to get back to my friend. Symposium is written as a dialogue among friends, recalled by one who wasn’t there, a little like the game of “Telephone” we’e all played. The friends’ topic? Love, specifically eros. Given that this is upper-class Ancient Greece, there is a significant discussion of love between men; honestly romantic love between men and women is practically ignored. 

The reading plan only covered a few portion of Herodotus’ Histories, Books 1 and 6-8. For full disclosure, I did NOT complete the reading but stopped with Book 7. In my edition of Histories the assigned books were more than 350 pages and I simply ran out of time. If I had done all the reading this week I would have been around 430 pages! Given that I “signed up” for about 250 pages per week, I had to stop. Confession time over.

As always, I have so many, many thoughts about these works. For Symposium, I summarized each person’s eulogy as a way to get my hands around the text. A few ideas:

• Obviously Love held an important place in the lives of Greeks. This entire dialogue is centered around it, but it doesn’t look like love in many ways. I’m accustomed to thinking of love as wanting and being willing to work for the best of your beloved, and that being mutual. That desiring “for” someone else, rather than merely desiring them, was absent at least as far as I could see.
• There are a number of points made about Love as the dialogue progresses, and they definitely don’t agree. As always, you’re left to parse out the better and worse arguments. 
• “You complete me” (yes, Jerry Maguire) makes an appearance! That attitude has been around a looooong time. Aristophanes tells a long and pretty funny tale about how human beings were at one time two-headed, eight-limbed creatures, but when Zeus got mad and split everyone in two. Now we go around looking for our other half.
• Does Love motivate us to honor? What kind of Love would do that? Or maybe Love is a moderating force? (I found that a weak argument.) Is its purpose beauty? Those are all offered as arguments, and all are rejected by Socrates. 
• Socrates, via his mentor Diotima, argues that Love’s purpose is procreation. As someone who has actually been pregnant several times, I found Socrates’ discussion of pregnancy to be uncomfortable, to say the least. 
• There is a ton of homoerotic talk, especially from Socrates and Alcibiades. It is just so strange to me that there is virtually no discussion of love between men and women, but tons between older and younger men. As usual, my bias shows, but it’s who I am.

On to Herodotus. He’s been on my radar since I read History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer about a year and a half ago, and seeing him on the reading list was part of my motivation to jump in. He did not disappoint. The sections that I read were the origin stories of Croesus and Cyrus, and Persia, and then the beginning of the Persian War. I ended with the Battle of Thermopylae, which is an amazing story in its own right. A few takeaways:

• Every military leader should read this book. I may actually send it to my son who is in the Navy! There are examples of excellent leadership, and cranky leadership, and dumb leadership. Herodotus is opinionated, funny, and incisive, if not always historically accurate. When Demaratos, the exiled Spartan king, advises Xerxes to use caution as he plans his war, he points out that men who are free will always be braver, better soldiers than men who are slaves. Xerxes brushes him off, but Demaratos then points out that Xerxes has no experience fighting with an army of free soldiers. It’s profound and brave, considering capricious Xerxes.
• Geography rules everything. The mountains, plains, islands and bays are vitally important to history. We ignore it at our peril. The ancient world was certainly ruled by it. And on that note, modern maps often relegate the eastern Mediterranean to the very edge of the map. How refreshing to see the Med as the center, with Europe, Turkey, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa on one map. We (I?) are so Western-focused that it’s easy to forget that the water goes a long, long way past western Greece. My edition of Histories was full of excellent maps and they went a long way in improving my experience of reading.
• Sometimes the whole world can turn on one jerk. The Greeks held Thermopylae, a tiny mountain road, until a servant decided to show the Persians the “back way” through a secret mountain pass. The Persians ambushed the Greeks from behind and that battle was lost. It took that one guy.

I could keep writing a long, long time, but it would get boring. I loved reading the Histories, but probably my favorite role of Herodotus was “anthropologist.” There were so many different cultures that clashed in that area and he was alert to all the differences: the matrilineal Lycians; the cannibalistic Scythians; the dual-monarchist Spartans. He digresses and chats and then gets back to the story. 

If you are interested in reading this, I can’t recommend The Landmark Herodotus: The Histories, edited by Robert Strassler, enough. It’s well-illustrated and -mapped and the translation (by Andrea Purvis) is eminently readable. The footnotes are just enough, without dominating your attention. This is how a history book should be. 

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week for Gilgamesh and the Dhammapada.

LINK

Ted Gioia/The Honest Broker’s 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)

My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)

CONNECT

To read more of my writing, visit my Substack -  https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

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Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 

Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm 

I'm reading and talking about Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics.

Ethics is the most challenging reading I’ve done, possibly ever. I’m not sure if it’s because I am out of the habit of reading deeply, or my attention span rivals a gnat’s, or if this text is actually that hard, but I pushed through. After reading about virtue, and habit, and endurance, and choosing pain because you know it will lead to the good thing, I was not about to stop.

We talk a little about the importance of a good translation (more on that to come!) and take a deep dive into note-taking. This is a big project, and I wanted to be sure to retain the big ideas as I went along. I share the things I'm doing, what seems to be working and what I don't do.

There is so much to this text. (Maybe that’s another reason it was so intense?) In no particular order, just a few notes. 

• There are three basic ways of life: pleasure, politics, and contemplation. Don’t confuse pleasure with happiness, because they aren’t the same. Contemplation is great—you might be happy—but there’s no real action, and that is part of what virtue requires. So, political life, a life lived in relation to others, is the highest good.
• A virtue is typically the middle way between the vices of too much and too little. For example, courage is the middle way between recklessness and cowardice.
• Reciprocity is what holds a community together (there’s the politics!), and economics is even based on the idea of reciprocity.
• Friendship. My goodness, I could have used these thoughts at 18, or 24, and can definitely use them now. There are three types of friendships: of utility, of pleasure, and complete. Complete is rare, and so you should attend to it. But it can end if the friends become markedly less equal in some way. Knowing that might help you inoculate against it.
• Aristotle breaks everything into taxonomies—I mean, the man was obsessed with categorizing everything. It’s much more of an engineer’s approach to life than Plato’s with his ideas about Forms.
• Regarding Poetics, what amazing guidance about storytelling in tragedy or epic. I wonder if modern filmmakers ever have to read this.
• Metaphor is the master poet’s tool.

When I began this project I said I’d read introductions minimally and try to engage solely with the text as much as possible. I needed help with Aristotle, and I highly recommend Larry Arn's series from Hillsdale College.

Music this week was Bach’s Cello Concertos. Beautiful, lush, varied. I have a real love affair with the cello so this was a pleasure to listen to! You can listen here.

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week as we return for love with Plato and war with Herodotus.

LINK

Ted Gioia/The Honest Broker’s 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)

My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)

CONNECT

To read more of my writing, visit my Substack - https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ 

LISTEN

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Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 

Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm

This week we travel to ancient China with The Analects of Confucius — a book that’s equal parts wisdom, discipline, and quiet rebellion. Like the New Order song, it’s all about finding true faith in a messy world: not religious faith, but faith in virtue, order, and the hope that we can still live rightly, one deliberate choice at a time.

First, The Analects is a lot like the book of Proverbs in the Bible: aphorism after aphorism, with very little narrative and not much to connect each paragraph. It was truly like drinking from a firehose. That’s exactly how I felt this week, trying to get through the book.

I did, in fact, try to put together a few cogent thoughts about The Analects itself, ideas I can take forward with me into further reading:

• The most important virtues for Confucius are courage, wisdom, and Goodness. Goodness is embodied as adherence to type. Whaley’s description (from 1938, if that helps) is that it’s like calling someone a “true Englishman” as the best compliment. It is attainable by aligning yourself with it rather than chasing it.
• Ritual is supremely important. Adherence to ritual is necessary to attain the Way of the Good (which is the Ancient, and better way) rather than the Way of Violence (which is the current-day way). Further, respect for parents is a crucial part of ritual.
• There is a tension between the life of the mind, which is what a gentleman is to develop, and the practical life, which is for common people. Confucius says more than once that a gentleman doesn’t pursue practical knowledge but only contemplates ideas.
• I saw parallels with Stoicism occasionally, and there was some Utopianism, it seems to me. There were also plenty of times when it struck me that Confucius was actually complaining that even though he had great ideas and great teaching, he wasn’t getting hired by anyone important.

Additionally, I found this podcast about Confucius, by professors at Mount St. Mary’s University. A Catholic theologian who likes Confucius was really helpful for this Christian to get a handle on the work.

Here's an interesting album of Chinese music.

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week as we tackle two texts from Aristotle.

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I'm reading Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics. We continue with the Odyssey this week. I'm joined this week by my son Jack Drury. Jack is pursuing a Masters in Classics at the University of Chicago, so we are on familiar ground for him here.

I'm a beginner at reading the classics, but I've decided to just "crack the book" and get started. Here are a few of my key take-aways from this week:

What will I take from this week? Let’s see:

• A deeper understanding of Greek mythology. I have a copy of Bullfinch’s Mythology on my bookshelf and will probably be dipping in and out of it soon. 
• A better view of the ancient world, its customs and habits of life. I know it’s fiction, but the way the poem describes the interactions between people of different classes, between men and women, and between city-states is eye-opening. I’m tempted to carry my modern worldview into these stories, and to find fault with various people. Instead, I really have to suspend my judgement to understand what is going on and how it compares to what I already know.
• A richer view of the Bible, believe it or not. I’ve read the Bible through about ten times (maybe more). Reading other ancient works ADDS to my understanding of the world the ancient Hebrews lived in. It’s one thing to understand the Old Testament, but so much richer to understand how very different the Hebrews’ struggles with God were compared to the Greeks’ encounters with their array of gods and goddesses.

Finally, my last take-away is one that deserves its own paragraph. I am angry, honestly, that every bit of this kind of literature was erased from my education. Who did that? Why? Who decided that Flowers for Algernon was worth my attention but Odysseus and Telemachus and Pallas Athena and Penelope weren’t?

Jack and I also have a long discussion about the heart of the Odyssey. What is it truly about? Is it a homecoming, or a story of exiles, or a model for suffering? How can we as 21st-century Americans relate to these ancient Greeks?

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week as we head to eastward and read Confucius.

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I'm reading Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics. Week 2 starts with Greek Poetry, and then we start Homer and The Odyssey. What a great week!

I'm a beginner at reading the classics, but I've decided to just "crack the book" and get started. Here are a few of my key take-aways from this week:

1. The surviving Greek Lyrics are very male-dominated, full of war and fighting and politics, with not a lot of attention paid to nature or beauty, or even romance. That is, until you get to Sappho, a woman. Her verses are really beautiful. I can’t help but wonder why. Is it just what survived? Or is that an accurate reflection of Greek society? I thought it was the second until I read Homer.
2. The Odyssey is full of male and female characters, and they are both important to the story. So where the poetry was very male-centric (except for Sappho) Homer absolutely isn’t. I mean, Penelope seems kind of weak, but Athena is absolutely crucial to the plot. I will have to think about this a lot more.
3. Odysseus is a pain in the neck. While I love the story, I'm not a fan of the guy himself so far, at least by Book 10. For instance, when he gets ready to pass by the Sirens, he is told to lash himself to the mast of the ship IF he wants to hear the Siren Song. And that’s what he chose to do! Why would he not just say, “Nope, I’ll put beeswax in my ears like the rest of the crew and we will just sail on by.” It seems supremely arrogant.
4. Telemachus, on the other hand, seems to me to possibly be the better hero. I’m looking forward to seeing him find his dad.

I have a lot of other thoughts this week, especially about the Fagles translation I read.

This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week to finish the Odyssey. We'll be joined by a fun guest!

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Week 52 and, somehow, the end of Ted Gioia’s Immersive Humanities project. We've got time to process all the emotions next week. For now, on to the readings!

This final week brings together a really cool set of 20th and 21st century works—Octavia Butler, Joan Didion, Tim O'Brien, the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, and David Foster Wallace—all circling what Gioia calls “untenable situations.” How do you find your way through a problem that seems to have no exit?

Butler’s "Bloodchild" is visceral and unsettling, asking what we owe the people we love.

Didion’s "The White Album" treats memories as snapshots, raising questions about how we make sense of a life at all.

O’Brien’s "The Things They Carried" explores both physical and emotional burdens, especially the pull of home.

The Big Book is strikingly direct: change begins with honest self-confrontation and surrender.

And Wallace—unexpectedly one of my favorites of the whole year—follows a drifting young man who stumbles into meaning, not heroism, but something smaller and real.

Together, they offer a glimpse into what it means to be a modern human. But here's a spoiler: I don't really think it's all that different than it ever was.

Come back next week for the season finale and a wrap-up of the whole project!

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We have a treat this week: My husband Bill read Brave New World shortly after I did, so today we discuss it together!

BNW presents a dystopian world that feels less like oppression and more like a perfectly engineered system. In this world, humans are no longer born but manufactured, sorted into castes, and conditioned for their roles. The goal is “community, identity, stability,” maintained through constant consumption, casual sex, and a drug called soma that keeps everyone comfortably numb.

When Bernard, an uneasy insider, brings John “the Savage” back from a reservation, the cracks begin to show. Raised on The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, John sees what others cannot: a world without family, love, or real freedom.

Huxley’s warns us about seduction. This is a society people don’t resist—because they’ve been trained not to want anything deeper. Which raises the real question: if everything works, what exactly have we lost?

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This week’s readings on Ted Gioia’s Immersive Humanities List felt unexpectedly thin and disjointed. We stepped backward in time to Gustave Flaubert and Charles Baudelaire, which made me keenly aware of how much I’ve come to rely on the list’s chronological momentum. I also continue to struggle with “selections,” especially in poetry, where I suspect I shortchange the material when time and energy are limited.

Flaubert’s short story “A Simple Life,” from Trois Contes, follows the entire life of Félicité, a housemaid whose quiet existence unfolds in a series of small, often bleak episodes. It’s beautifully written but profoundly sad—an example of realism so stripped of meaning that the character almost disappears.

Baudelaire proved even harder for me. Despite repeated attempts (in both English and French), I found Les Fleurs du Mal abrasive rather than illuminating. This week reminded me that this project isn’t about comfort or personal taste—and sometimes, that’s the point.

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Stepping inside an Impressionist painting? Yes, please.

Week 41 of Ted Gioia’s Immersive Humanities Course made me realize something startling: these books weren't picked for my enjoyment--and yet I loved them anyway. This week’s readings, Henry James’s The Spoils of Poynton and the “Overture” to Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past, carry us right into the early twentieth century.

I approached James with dread, expecting a slow narrative, but instead I found a moody, infinitely readable novel built around obsession, property, and desire. With a small cast and dialogue-driven scenes, it feels almost theatrical, no surprise since James briefly wrote plays. But it's also chilling in its fixation on “stuff” and ownership. This one was a winner.

Proust, meanwhile, surprised me with prose that felt dreamlike, luminous, and unexpectedly funny. I had expected dense, boring, and pointless--Proust was none of those. The famous madeleine scene becomes a meditation on memory that expands from a sensation as small as a crumb into an entire world.

Though radically different on the surface, James and Proust share a similar impressionistic quality, finding vast meaning in subtle gestures. A brilliant pairing--and a week I adored, even if Ted doesn’t care.

The Housekeeping:

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Week 40 of Ted Gioia’s Immersive Humanities Course brings together three demanding—and deeply philosophical—works: Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Grand Inquisitor, and Friedrich Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil. But before we get started, I offer a short primer on reading Russian lit. The names can be a real challenge!

Tolstoy’s novella, written after his spiritual “conversion,” is a devastating meditation on death, meaning, and self-deception—circular in structure but spiraling ever deeper. It may be the finest short work I’ve read so far. 

Dostoyevsky’s famous parable interrupts the narrative of The Brothers Karamazov to pose unsettling questions about freedom, faith, and institutional power, turning conventional religious assumptions upside down. 

Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil proved the most challenging: dense, contrary, and deliberately destabilizing, it rejects inherited moral frameworks in favor of examining desire, psychology, and power. Together, these works confront the shifting relationship between God, morality, and the modern self—making this one of the most intellectually intense weeks of the project.

We are back next week with French writers who offer a totally different tone. See you soon!

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Week 39 of Ted Gioia’s Immersive Humanities Course takes on nineteenth-century American literature—and to my surprise, it became one of the most enjoyable weeks so far. I went in dreading familiar names and old high-school resentments, but came out newly energized. 

Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (chapters 1–6) was funny, humane, and immediately engaging. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher and “The Raven” used ornate language to heighten unease, while Emily Dickinson’s poems felt weightless and startlingly modern. Henry David Thoreau’s Walden was quotable and provocative, if ultimately grating, and Herman Melville surprised me most of all: Bartleby, the Scrivener lingered with quiet power, and the opening of Moby-Dick left me eager for more. 

This week revealed a real shift in voice and sensibility—and changed my mind about American literature. I’m looking forward to going back and reading more, but first we need to move on to Week 40 and Russian Literature!

We take a little break from our reading list this week for some holiday cheer: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens!

I thought I knew this one inside out, which was ridiculous because I had never actually read it. (When will I learn?!) This is a punchy little novel, and you can read it aloud over the course of less than a week with your kids. I hope with this episode to offer a little reassurance and inspiration: You can do this, and you'll be so glad you did.

I end with a little discussion of some of the movie adaptations--there are so many! And we will be back next week with Week 39 and a ton of American lit.

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