About
Who's behind it
My name is Stian Håklev and I live in Hamar. I grew up here (good at school, but also one of those who were "good enough" that they could just sit in a corner and read while the teacher looked after the ones who needed it), did the IB in Italy, and lived abroad for 20+ years. Did a PhD in education in Canada, but with a focus on university teaching and adult self-learners. Worked for three years at an American university — Minerva University. Now back in Norway. No longer work in academia, but am still very interested in learning and school. Now I work in IT.
My own Bildung journey only began a couple of years ago (I was born in '81), even though I've always been a bookworm and was good at school, I stuck to the modern and not especially cultural. But a visit to Crete set off a chain reaction that led to studying Latin and Greek, an interest in literary history, theater, eventually opera, classical music etc.
I'm still a very happy dilettante. But I think it's fun, the more I learn the more fun it is, and the more I get out of what I read.
I'm only telling you about this to show others that it's possible to start something new and demanding even if you're 45 years old.
Read first: The word that was missing · The Politics way in · In English
A lot of this I've only started on myself in the last couple of years, I'm no expert at all. A lot of it I haven't read yet but want to read. I have reading ambition! And I'd love to do it together with others.
From Rabbit Holes · Kristofer Janson, historical novels · 11 May 2025
Even though I often miss my time as an academic a bit, moving into the private sector has given me a much longer time horizon. Now I can decide on my own to learn ancient Greek, and even if it takes maybe ten years, so what? In ten years, I'll be ten years older anyway. If I start learning now, I'll be ten years older and know ancient Greek! As long as the process is interesting, I don't need to stress about the goal. And following a thread to the point of absurdity is, for me, an incredible luxury and freedom.
I'm a proud amateur, and instead of being ashamed of what I don't know, I use it as inspiration — just think how much exciting stuff you can find out! And if I'm wrong, just let me know, I'm only happy to get feedback!
Read the whole thing: Kristofer Janson, historical novels, Jens Munk and the Northwest Passage →
I speak Norwegian, English, German, Italian, French, Chinese, Indonesian, Latin, Spanish, Esperanto and Greek/ancient Greek. In some of these languages I can have a lively discussion, while in others I can only read a book or listen to a podcast. All the languages have enriched my life.
Lesekveldene
I was very inspired both by The Catherine Project, a free American thing on the internet with several hundred groups that meet every week and read classics together. I was also inspired by Ingeborg Refling Hagen and the Suttung groups, where both adults and kids read classics together.
Back in Hamar I tried to start a reading circle for classical literature at Hamar library, in a group that would also go to the theater, the opera (and opera at the cinema) together etc. In spring 2025 we had three readings together with Anders Kippersund at Hamar Teater. In fall 2025 we went for it with a tightly packed program.
At the readings there have been from 1 to 3 people besides me, and twice nobody else came. There were 11 of us reading Gilgamesh in January 2026, that's more than double the record from the year before.
What else I've made
kulturbase.noI've gotten very fond of the NRK TV archive since I started getting interested in classical literature/theater/opera/classical music (it snowballed, one thing led to another) over the last few years... Made this to better highlight the fantastic treasures that are in there. 
koigenhamar.noEvents for Hamar! With a focus on art and culture (but includes everything I can find) — including the church pages etc. 
1814 day by dayI read something in newspapers from 1814 every single day. What set it off was my own ignorance: I knew what happened in 1814 of course, but I wanted to learn more about what Norwegians thought about what was happening right then and there. And for that the newspapers from 1814 are an excellent tool. 
TikTok: @panepistimiouShort videos about Greek and Latin, Holberg, reading and opera, 2024–2025. 
Rabbit HolesCultural rabbit holes and common threads. Nine long texts from 2025, moved here in full.
Just installed some new bookshelves in the living room. Finally have a chance to display some of my classics grouped by language.
@houshuang · 27 October 2024
About the site
I realized that I had been thinking and writing about this in different media for years, but never collected it or tried to systematize it. This is a first attempt.
Editorial note
The body text on each page is taken from what Stian himself has written or said — posts, threads, letters, voice recordings and essays — and edited by selecting, cutting, moving and putting together. No new paragraphs are written by AI in Stian's voice. Headlines, intros, navigation, chronology and fact boxes are editorial apparatus. This English version is an AI translation of the Norwegian site.
The site separates finished articles in The Argument from continuous essays and experiences.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch: [email protected]. Same if you want to discuss how we can get even more people to read.
At least I've gotten a lot read, and maybe we can find ways to bring a few more people along...
Press
Hamar Arbeiderblad, 2 November 2025 — interview about Lesekveldene and the 1814 project.