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Title: The Lighthouse of Alexandria

Subtitle: The History and Legacy of an Ancient Wonder of the World

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: Maria Chester

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-22-15

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Genres: History, Ancient

Publisher's Summary:

"At the harbor of Alexandria stands the tower called Pharos, the first wonder. It is held together by glass and lead and is 600 yards high." (Epiphanius the Monk)

"The Pharos today is composed of four stages. The first, of a rectangular design, is remarkably built in rectangular cut stones, of which the joints are so well concealed that the whole seems to be formed of a single block of stone, remaining insensible to the ravages of time." (Al Bakri, a medieval traveler and writer)

Over 2,000 years ago, two ancient writers named Antipater of Sidon and Philo of Byzantium authored antiquity's most well-known tour guides. After the two Greeks had traveled around the Mediterranean, they wrote of what they considered to be the classical world's greatest construction projects. While there is still some question as to who actually authored the text attributed to Philo and when it was authored, their lists ended up comprising the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, igniting interest in the ones they chose and inspiring subsequent generations to identify their own era's Seven Wonders.

The youngest of the wonders also turned out to be the most practical and one of the longest lived, surviving into the late Middle Ages. It was a lighthouse built on the northern coast of Egypt, in Africa, at the Greek city founded in Alexander's name. It was the Pharos, the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria. Among antiquity's wonders, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was fairly unique in terms of both its purpose and its secular nature. While pyramids and statues served religious purposes in Egypt and Greece, and others were impressive works of art, the origins of the lighthouse were not even as a lighthouse at all.

Members Reviews:

Four Stars

Good resource!

One of the Mysteries, and one of the Seven Great Wonders of the World - a great, quick read.

This 47 page summary regarding The Lighthouse of Alexandria: The History and Legacy of an Ancient Wonder, located on Pharos Island will enlighten even Egyptologists, it is so rich in details.

Now, I must confess that, although I lived some 15 years in Egypt, I had no clue regarding the lighthouse. Yet, I now have a great appreciation for the Ptolemies of Egypt and their impact on this society.

I loved reading this booklet - spent much of yesterday and today, as I'm a bit of a slur reader.

You're sure to learn a Goidfellas deal by reading The Lighthouse of Alexandria.

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Title: The Ancient Olympic Games: The History and Legacy of Ancient Greece's Most Famous Sports Event

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: Pam Tierney

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-22-15

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: History, Ancient

Publisher's Summary:

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well." (Epictetus)

"Many are the sights to be seen in Greece, and many are the wonders to be heard; but on nothing does heaven bestow more care than on the Eleusinian rites and the Olympic games." (Pausanias)

While they are still well known, the Olympic games of Ancient Greece are more relevant today than most people know, and the ways in which athletic sports pervade contemporary culture is comparable only to the spirit of athleticism in Hellenic Greece. Today, a large section of the media industry is devoted exclusively to sports, and in some nations sports even figures as a critical component of their identity. In America, the Super Bowl could be considered a holiday of sorts, and of course today's Olympic games capture the attention of millions of people around the world for two weeks.

The ancient Olympic games were all these things and then some. It was a ritualized spectacle of great cultural importance in Greece as well as an international communion that celebrated both diversity and unity, but most importantly it was an ode to the strength of the human body and a paean to the vigor of the human spirit.

Members Reviews:

Excellent Recap of Ancient Olympics

Though not a history of the games themselves, or of the individual athletes, it is a history of the Olympics as they were associated with the early Greeks and Romans. The editors describe what is known about the Olympics from the historical and archeological records and provides some analysis of what those records mean. Read the book. It provides some interesting knowledge and insight about the ancient games.

Two Stars

Long winded

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Title: Legendary Philosophers: The Life and Philosophy of Plato

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: W.B. Ward

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-12-15

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Genres: History, Ancient

Publisher's Summary:

"Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils - no, nor the human race, as I believe - and then only will this our State have a possibility of life and behold the light of day." - Plato, The Republic

A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? Among all the knowledge and pursuits handed down by our ancestors, few were as important as philosophy, which literally taught people how to think and became directly responsible for ideas like reason and empiricism. Men like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle formed the backbone of Western philosophy, and subsequent philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Thomas Aquinas expounded on previous philosophy. In Charles River Editors' Legendary Philosophers series, listeners can get caught up to speed on the lives of the most important philosophers in history in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.

In 427 B.C., the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens was flourishing. Approximately 80 years earlier, the Athenians had formed the first self-representative democracy in history, the Peloponnesian War against Sparta had only just started, and Socrates was only beginning to lay the foundation of what would become Western philosophy.

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Title: The Library of Alexandria and the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Subtitle: The Ancient Egyptian City's Most Famous Sites

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: Maria Chester

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-11-15

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: History, Ancient

Publisher's Summary:

In the modern world, libraries are taken for granted by most people, perhaps because their presence is ubiquitous. Every school has a library, large libraries can be found in every major city, and even most small towns have public libraries. However, the omnipresent nature of libraries is a fairly recent historical phenomenon, because libraries were still few and far between before the 19th century. For centuries in the Western world, during what is known as the Middle Ages, written knowledge was guarded closely and hidden away in private repositories, usually by the religious classes, and hidden away in private repositories.

The lack of libraries in the West helped contribute to the popular imagination of the ancient Library at Alexandria, and all the myths and legends that have come to be associated with it, but the Library of Alexandria deserves its reputation. While the exact nature of the Library remains murky, it functioned for at least several centuries and is believed to have housed hundreds of thousands of books, most written as scrolls on papyrus, and it essentially became the culmination of two ancient literary and cultural traditions converging: the Greek and Egyptian. Of course, the most controversial aspect of the Library of Alexandria is its destruction, which is still a topic of debate today.

Over 2,000 years ago, two ancient writers named Antipater of Sidon and Philo of Byzantium authored antiquity's most well-known tour guides. After the two Greeks had traveled around the Mediterranean, they wrote of what they considered to be the classical world's greatest construction projects.

Members Reviews:

Charles River Editors books are short but sweet

Like all the Charles River Editors books, this was well written and appears to present currently comprehensive knowledge about the subject based on the voluminous bibliography. Significant alternative interpretations of evidence is presented. All these books are inexpensive but short, because little is known about the subject other than archaeological evidence or things like language science.

A Blast From The Past

Fascinating look into the past about the legendary lighthouse and library. I am a Egytophile and this book is right up my alley.. Love it!

Good to learn about ancient history

Good to learn about ancient history.

Could have been good but replete with historical errors

This book tries to provide a concise history of the both the Pharos and the Bibliotheca a laudable goal if accomplished with accuracy. Unfortunately the book is replete with error. To quote just a few, the authors twice assert that Callimachus was appointed chief librarian of the Ancient Library, he never was appointed despite his literary brilliance and being the "father of bibliography. They also trace to name of the Septuagint to it containing 70 chapters which is factually incorrect. The Septuagint is so-called because 70 or 72 scholars (depending on which tradition one follows) participated in it translation piece meal between the third and 2nd century BCE. The account of the destruction of the library is also vague and superficial. All in all it is this is a book that one cannot refer to for authentic information.

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Title: The Greatest Battles in History: The Battle of Actium

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: Doron Alon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-10-15

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Ancient

Publisher's Summary:

The names of history's most famous battles still ring in our ears today, their influence immediately understood by all. Marathon lent its name to the world's most famous race, but it also preserved Western civilization during the First Persian War. Saratoga, won by one of the colonists' most renowned war heroes before he became his nation's most vile traitor. Hastings ensured the Normans' success in England and changed the course of British history. Waterloo, which marked the reshaping of the European continent and Napoleon's doom, has now become part of the English lexicon. In Charles River Editors' Greatest Battles in History series, listeners can get caught up to speed on history's greatest battles in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.

Every era has watershed moments that shape the arc of history, and for Ancient Rome, few were as decisive or monumental as the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. The battle's importance is understandable given the stakes and people involved; Actium pitted the joint navies of Cleopatra and Mark Antony against the battle fleet of Octavian. In many ways, this climactic battle was the culmination of a years-long power struggle between the heirs of the assassinated Julius Caesar, with Octavian being his legally appointed heir and Antony being his longtime lieutenant and trusted advisor. Antony had even taken Caesar's Egyptian mistress as his own.

Members Reviews:

Great Balanced Writing Style

This book does what few historical books manage. It packs in an amazing amount of historical context and detail without dragging down the writing style and making it boring. The story flows smoothly and is written in a very descriptive manner. My only complaint is that some of the images of busts and old artwork give it a bit of a stodgy feel. That is such a minor complaint that I can't dock a star.

This book is highly recommended!

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Title: Black Sumer

Subtitle: The Physical Evidence, Part One

Author: Hermel Hermstein

Narrator: Doron Alon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-09-15

Publisher: Pomegranate Publishing

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: History, Ancient

Publisher's Summary:

This audiobook amazingly shows how the pioneer Assyriologists said Mesopotamia had 'Cushite' origins! Did you know that there are still Black populations in southern Asia? They are the descendants of the ancient civilization builders of Asia! A wonderful follow-up to Hermstein's first volume showing the ancestors of the Sumerians to be of African origin. This volume concentrates on the skeletal reports produced by physical anthropologists which showed that the Sumerians, Akkadians and Babylonians were a predominantly Black people. It utilizes techniques used by the FBI to show the racial affinity of skeletal remains. This is CSI level of proof! This is the must have book for those interested in Black history. Egypt was African. Now Mesopotamian civilization is shown to have had a Black origin! For those wishing to avoid a Black origin of civilization they are fast running out of refuges!

Members Reviews:

"Black Sumer" Based upon lots of his research on other ...

"Black Sumer" Based upon lots of his research on other people's research since he is not a scholar in the traditional category, Yet, his argument makes sense a lot, though his argument would not be appreciated by those who believe in the myth of the Western Civilization. After reading "Black Sumer", I became more agreeing with Martin Bernal and his book "Black Athena".

Five Stars

Very biblical

Total amazed. Very informative

Total amazed .Very informative . I have checked for accuracy .

Five Stars

Excellent reading for the turth seeker

More archeological images of skulls excavated

I wish the book had more pictures.

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Title: Legends of the Ancient World: Odysseus

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: Sallie Downing

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-05-15

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: History, Ancient

Publisher's Summary:

Odysseus is, without question, one of the most fascinating figures in classical mythology. Indeed, despite being an ancillary character in The Iliad, he was so beloved by ancient audiences that he warranted his own spin-off, The Odyssey. He was endemic throughout Greek thought and art, appearing in statues, theatrical pieces, poems, and orations, and he was equally prevalent in later Roman culture. Unlike other notable figures of classical antiquity who were forgotten during the Middle Ages (including a fair few who, unlike Odysseus himself, actually existed outside the realm of legend), Odysseus' fame endured, and he made regular appearances in Medieval and Renaissance literature, including a memorable turn in Dante's Inferno.

To this day Odysseus remains a highly popular character, having appeared on both the big and small screens, having been featured in a slew of novels, and even making appearances in Japanese anime and Japanese videogames. Characters inspired by Odysseus and his adventures are a staple of modern fiction, and locations said to match those from the Odyssey are scattered throughout the Mediterranean, particularly in Greece and Italy.

The true root of Odysseus' mass appeal is that he is a figure of startling complexity. Unlike other main characters in the Epic Cycle, Odysseus does not conform to any particular archetype. While Odysseus' defining characteristic is clearly his intelligence - he was known to the Greeks almost universally as "Cunning Odysseus" - he is no mere schemer, as he was also considered one of the bravest and most renowned warriors to fight in the Trojan War.

Members Reviews:

Not much here

Not much here. Basically the audiobook retells the myths with little reflection or discussion. The historical and cultural background is rather superficial. The author does not seem to know the scholarship and the narrator struggles with Greek names. I've read other books from this (Charles River) series and they offered much more substance, context, analysis and depth. There is more serious content on the wikipedia page than in this audiobook. I would not recommend this to my students.

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Titolo: La fondazione di Roma

Sottotitolo: La nascita della Città Eterna tra mito e storia

Autore: Francesco De Vito

Narratore: Stefano Volpe

Formato: Unabridged

Durata: 2 hrs and 22 mins

Lingua: Italiano

Data di pubblicazione: 06-02-15

Editore: Area 51 Short

Valutazioni: 4 su 5 su 1 voti

Categoria: History, Ancient

Riepilogo Editore:

Con questo audiolibro scoprirai l'origine di Roma tra le tante versioni, le leggende e gli avvenimenti storici, ripercorrendo miti antichi, racconti che vedono protagonisti eroi e dèi nello scenario dell'Italia centrale, quegli stessi eroi e quegli dèi resi immortali a partire dalle opere di Omero. Farai la conoscenza di quella enigmatica lupa che allattò i gemelli Romolo e Remo o, secondo alcuni, allattò un solo trovatello. Sarà un viaggio in cui mito e storia si intrecciano continuamente, in un'affascinante racconto della Città che fu ed è Eterna.

©2015 Audible GmbH (P)2015 Audible GmbH

Recensioni dei membri:

Tono in calare

Si tratta di una lezione che offre spunti interessanti, senza pero' risultare originale. La lettura chiara, anche se forse un po':troppo enfatica,, tende ad un calo di volume in chiusura di periodo. Questo rende l'ascolto meno godibile . Credo che il problema avrebbe dovuto essere corretto in false di postproduzione.

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Title: The Great Fire of Rome

Subtitle: The Story of the Most Famous Fire in Roman History

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: Pam Tierney

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-15-15

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Ancient

Publisher's Summary:

Among all the natural disasters that struck Rome, one of the most well-known is the Great Fire of Rome, in part due to the popular myth that Emperor Nero fiddled while the Eternal City burned, even though no fiddle existed in first century Rome. Suetonius and Cassius Dio, two of Nero's ancient biographers, are adamant that it was he himself who set the fire (or ordered it set). They are also the originators of the myth that Nero played the lyre, danced around his palace, and sang "The Sack of Troy" while Rome burned outside his windows.

Even though those accounts are likely apocryphal, it is true that on the night of July 18, AD 64, the most significant event of Nero's time in power - and the one which, for better or for worse, would seal his name in infamy throughout the ages - took place. What became known as the Great Fire of Rome started sometime between the night of July 18 and the earliest hours of July 19, and it consumed almost a quarter of the city as it burned out of control for five days.

Members Reviews:

"Fiddled while Rome burned" still makes nice phrase and if I can be political for a ...

Interesting book. As everyone knows we have always blamed Nero for the fire and that he "fiddled while Rome burned". This is the first book that I've read on the fire that absolves of Nero of blame for the fire or blames him for doing nothing. Not that the book is that friendly to Nero who was a real scoundrel but he was out of town when the fire started probably by accident and could have done nothing to stop it due to local conditions if he had. Buildings were wooden & ramshackled. In another book I read that the old wooden apartment buildings each had an open brazer for cooking & heat so fire was a constant hazard. There was no fire department or pressure mechanisms to get water to the fire. Even in modern with more modern means we have had similiar fires (remember Chicago & San Francisco. None of the (Nero's lack of blame for the fire or his inability to stop it) absolves Nero of the blame for the Christian persecution after the fire. "Fiddled while Rome burned" still makes nice phrase and if I can be political for a moment well describes our present government in Washington. A very interesting book with a new slant on the event. Worth reading. RAG

A speculative view of history

It could be correct or then again might not, however it was a interesting concept that I found enjoyable

Nero's fiddle

This is by necessary more of a history of the emperor Nero than simply about the fire itself. The two are interconnected by myth and historical account. This short history mostly refutes the idea that he played music during or orchestrated the fire.

and tells the story of the great fire that destroyed much of Rome

The story goes back into the first century A. D. and tells the story of the great fire that destroyed much of Rome, a story which lives to this day. The writers tell the story from the standpoint of writers who lived during that time.

Another must for studying.

Excellent book, great writing and facts, fantastic history, learned a lot from this book.

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Título: El nacimiento de la República Popular de China [The Birth of the Peoples Republic of China]

Subtitular: Su milenaria compleja y convulsa historia [Its Complex and Tumultuous Age-Old History]

Autor: Online Studio Productions

Narrador: uncredited

Formato: Unabridged

Duración: 40 mins

Idioma: Español

Fecha de publicación: 05-01-15

Editor: Online Studio Productions

Calificaciones: 4.5 de 5 de 4 votos

Categorías: History, Ancient

Resumen del editor:

La milenaria, compleja y convulsa historia de China, acaso uno de los procesos históricos más llamativos de todo el planeta, estudiada con precisión y detalle en un período que comprende desde las Guerras del Opio, a la lucha entre Mao Zedong y Chang Kai-Shek y la posterior proclamación del comunismo y el nacimiento de la nueva República Popular China.

Please note: This audiobook is in Spanish.