What If You’re Not ‘Smart Enough’ to Read the Classics? (Spoiler: You Are)

Are you afraid you’re not ‘smart enough’ to read classic literature? Spoiler: You absolutely are. In this video, I break down the myth that classics are only for the elite or the overly academic. Whether it’s Homer, Austen, or Dostoevsky, these books were meant to be read—and enjoyed—by you. Let’s talk about imposter syndrome, gatekeeping in literature, and how to build confidence as a reader. Perfect for book lovers, students, and anyone curious about diving into classic literature. 📚 Topics Covered: – Why classics seem intimidating – Breaking down literary gatekeeping – Encouragement for neurodivergent or self-taught readers – How to start reading classics (and enjoy them!) #Classics #Books #ReadingTips #DarkAcademia #literarydiscussion 📖 Explore more history and literature on my channel! GET MORE FROM ME: ✨ Support me on Patreon:   / cinzia   💌 Sign up for my newsletter: https://substack.com/@cinziadubois 🎥 Nerdy Self-Help Channel: @TheAnnotatedMind 🎙️The Annotated Mind Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/mr3k4w4m ➡️🎙️Listen to The Annotated Mind on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/2rxpjsdv 📩 Video Request form: https://forms.gle/zF6HjhJGZPR2hVx69 🌍 My website/blog: https://www.ladyofthelibrary.com SOCIALS: 📚 Bookish Insta:   / lady.of.the.library   🦋 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/cinzia-duboi... 🎓 PhD Insta:   / the.literary.academic   📱 TikTok:   / lady.of.the.library   📚 Goodreads:   / c-dubois   WHO AM I? Hey there, I’m Cinzia DuBois On this channel, I talk about dark and ancient history, literature and folklore. ❗️DISCLAIMER I'm very dyslexic, so I apologise for any mispronunciations that occur when I'm reading scripts for videos. Additionally, whilst flattered, I'm only a PhD student and not a professional educator. As such, I would advise against ever citing my videos or using them as an academic resource: please instead cite references for papers I list in the description box. 🔗 Sources and references below.