Whether you’re a literature nerd, a romance aficionado, or just Not That Into Books, there’s no denying that the “great works” of literature have played a part in influencing everything from public policy to superhero movies. If you’ve ever wanted to know whether that pretentious guy on Twitter is correct in referring to news stories as “Orwellian,” wondered what stories inspired shows like Bridgerton, or just been curious about why, exactly, your high school English teacher was so insistent about assigning books by Dead White Guys, Didn’t Read It is the podcast for you. Every episode, we’ll take a deep dive into a work of literature, explore how that book has been adapted into popular culture, and talk about what makes the story unique.

No one has the time to read every book in the “literary canon.” And there are lots of reasons you may choose not to. These stories may feel irrelevant or outdated. They might be racist, misogynistic, or homophobic. You might prefer reading contemporary fiction or want to give your time, money, and attention to living authors (which we heartily endorse!). But every story you consume today, on the page or on the screen, is in a conversation with the stories that came before. And works of fiction can have enormous impacts on the world around us.

With that in mind, Didn’t Read It is founded on three main principles:

-We are going to spoil the ending. That’s why we’re here! We want you to walk away knowing everything you need to know about how this story fits into the larger culture. This isn’t a homework assignment, and you don’t need to have read the book to listen. That being said, if you have read the book, we still think you’ll enjoy the conversation!

-A lot of these authors are just the WORST. Emphatically problematic. “Ists” of the highest order: racist, misogynist, nationalist, eugenicist, the list goes on. We come neither to praise nor bury them. We believe understanding is not endorsement, and discussion is not approval.

-Unless you’re a writer, academic, or book professional of some kind, there is no such thing as required reading. Reading is for pleasure. Or catharsis. Or simply to explore the world around you. It is not an obligation, and should never, ever be a source of guilt.