It's the fall of 2008 and a 21-year-old Scotto is trying to live on campus again. He's learning about ancient Roman art, Toni Morrison, and the Gospel According to John, all while failing socially and falling confusedly in love with an older woman. It's a time of important realizations, intense reading, and inspiration. Young Scotto is compelled by the very simple idea that the story of Jesus Christ was authored by real people who had rhetorical intentions. It's the first time he's ever read at length from the bible, a book that influenced his entire childhood, and the experience is formative, thanks to the guidance of a gifted college professor.

Scotto records while pacing in his office and reading: James Brown's Apology to the Young Addict, old letters from Mrs. Scotto, an anonymously authored book called Time Heals All Wounds, and notes from Old Good Bird. Plus: 28 push-ups, The Serenity Prayer, "Semi-Charmed Kind of Life," Don Hertzfeldt, love, Sufjan Stevens, weightlifting, friendship, wisdom, stick figures, alcoholism, Tetris, chess, fat arms, office decorating, flowers, awards, and a whole lot of panting.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Amen! Yeah!

Scotto reacts to a Louise Glück poem. This episode includes reflections on insomnia, healing, aging, stimming, autism, alcoholism, family, and much more. Happy Thanksgiving!

It's the day after Scotto's 39th birthday.

Scotto reacts to Ha Jin's novel War Trash, which explores a Chinese soldier's time in an American POW camp. This episode includes reflections on historical fiction, the Korean War, the War in Ukraine, the Israel/Palestine conflict, propaganda, the violence in Sudan, Zohran Mamdani, and much more.

While taking care of a sick dog, Scotto reads a poem called "Then for the Seventh Night" by Mark Levine.

Scotto finishes his discussion of J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey.

This episode includes: root beer in a water gun, spiritual crises, family conflicts, The Baghavad Gita, Franz Kafka, Jesus Christ, a kimono full of hardware, ghosts of the dead, ghosts of the living, and much more.

Scotto reacts to J.D. Salinger's short story "Franny." The episode includes ruminations on: child prodigies, people pleasing, the power of prayer, the pain of dating someone you don't really like, the yearning for God, and much more.

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