Patrick Stewart and AI schooled me on Shakespeare

My journey through Shakespeare was guided by “Star Trek” star Patrick Stewart, who just recorded a new audiobook of the sonnets, and Claude AI.

I performed a bit of Shakespeare on my Amtrak train to work.

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Please understand that: 1. This was AI’s idea, not mine. 2. Performed may be a stretch, since in the quiet car all verse must be kept to a minimum — so it was closer to a mumble.

Why was I mumbling Shakespeare? I had set out to read the 154 sonnets, one each day, and then reflect on them for a few minutes in a chat with Claude. I embarked on this strange and nerdy exercise as a sort of daily meditation. I hoped to sharpen my focus each morning, before revving up to the warp-speed reading my day job demands — and to test using AI as a literary tutor.