Editor’s note: We haven’t done an episode quite like this before. I absolutely loved this conversation with the novelist Jordan Castro, one of the most exciting young American authors writing today. Because it was such a rich conversation, we’re leaving out the paywall so that everyone can have a listen.

—Shadi Hamid, co-founder, Wisdom of Crowds

What’s it actually like to be a novelist? And how does literary success—and some amount of fame and notoriety—change how people think of you?

Special guest Jordan Castro joins Shadi and Santiago to talk about his novel, The Novelist, internet culture, converting to Christianity, his heroin addiction, love and, of course, literature.

At nearly two hours it’s a rich and, dare we say it, epic chat on the stuff of life. If you’ve ever wanted to get in the brain of a writer, you won’t want to miss this. Really.

Required Reading:

* The Novelist by Jordan Castro

* Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on René Girard

* New anthology of Girard’s essential writings

* Varieties of Religious Experience by William James

* The Present Age: On the Death of Rebellion by Søren Kierkegaard

* Dante: “I found myself within a forest dark …”

* Plato’s Myth of the Cave in the Republic

* Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

* The Perpetual Orgy: Flaubert and Madame Bovary by Mario Vargas Llosa

* Maxime du Camp

* Substance Abuse National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)