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Title: The Dragon Seekers

Subtitle: How an Extraordinary Circle of Fossilists Discovered the Dinosaurs and Paved the Way for Darwin

Author: Christopher McGowan

Narrator: Stuart Langton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-19-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 46 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

These 19th-century pioneers were an eccentric lot that included a working-class woman, an Oxford professor with a theatrical bent, a crisis-ridden country doctor who was never quite accepted among London's scientific elite, and an expert anatomist who once dissected a rhino in his living room.

These were the Dragon Seekers, the people who brought the myths to life and whose work, within a populace raised on a literal interpretation of Genesis, laid the groundwork for the revolutionary ideas of Darwin.

Critic Reviews:

"Langton's clear, precise, British-accented narration makes the occasionally technical information easy to absorb. He readily conveys McGowan's passionate regard for his subject and his obvious frustration with the limitations placed on the discoveries because of biblical interpretations." (Booklist)

"Stuart Langton's reading is admirably straightforward. He speaks clearly, seems comfortable with reptilian nomenclature, and tells the story in a full-speed-ahead manner." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Primer for books on Darwin

This book presents the thinking & the groundwork for the period immediately before Darwin's 1859 book "On the Origin of Species". Darwin conceived his theory in 1838 but said that if he had published 20 years earlier the world wouldn't have been ready for it. The narration is excellent but even better are the short parenthetical explanations of technical terms which are slipped in as if they were a natural part of the writing.

THIS TECHNIQUE WHICH SHOULD BE USED IN ALL AUDIOBOOKS WITH A TECHNICAL BENT.

Excellent non-fiction history of science title

Very good listen. Infrequently dry but always engaging, this book covers a realm of the history of science that's generally left out, namely some of fascinating characters who made up the early fossilists. Highly recommended for anyone interested in science.

Dragon Seekers

Overall it was an ok book. The topic is interesting in the fact these were some of the early leaders in the field and it was starting to come of age. I got stuck in the more detailed than I needed descriptions of the various fossils. Overall I was glad I took the time to listen in.

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Title: The Modern Scholar: Odyssey of the West IV: A Classic Education through the Great Books: Towards Enlightenment

Author: Timothy Shutt, Fred E. Baumann, Thomas F. Madden

Narrator: Timothy Shutt, Fred E. Baumann, Thomas F. Madden

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-27-08

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 42 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

The Odyssey of the West series addresses in chronological sequence the works that have shaped the ongoing development of Western thought both in its own right and in cultural dialogue with other traditions. Part four provides a close look at the period from the Renaissance to the Scientific Revolution and into the early Enlightenment. These lectures take in the immense variety and singular achievements that have helped mold our present societies.

©2008 Timothy Shutt; (P)2008 Recorded Books

Members Reviews:

It's a clear review of European history,.

It's a clear review of European history, that integrates historical events to make the causes and effects of the events clear, an tells a comprehensive story that makes history easier to access and engage with. It also helps in making sense of current events in context.

Not as engaging as the previous ones in the series

I struggled to keep my interest at times and to follow at other times. The professors do their best which is good but some of the subjects are dull.

A really useful run through.

Biographical details are good, even if you know the philosophy. I didn't know Hobbes was secretary to Bacon... every day's a schoolday!

Still a good series. I love Timothy Shutt's Passion.

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Title: A History of China

Author: Hilda Hookham

Narrator: Charlton Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-07-08

Publisher: Audio Connoisseur

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 126 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

Recurring themes repeat themselves in dynasty after dynasty: order and statecraft, resource allocation and use, imperialism and population growth, barbarian invasion and subjugation of outlying districts. Each dynasty right up to the current communist regime has followed similar paths. In this brilliant synthesis, we begin to see the patterns of stable government, the building up of infrastructure, reforms to help the peasantry, and reforms of government bureaucracy. Then comes the destabilizing influences of corruption, debauched court life, demands for greater taxation, failing infrastructure, famine, military revolt and invasions by barbarians. The peasants revolt, the military crumbles and a new dynasty takes control, with or without the support of foreign powers, depending on the period. Eventually, as in the case of the Mongols and the Manchurians, the barbarians end up as rulers.

Throughout all of this turmoil, the essence of Chinese civilization has endured, sometimes, as in the case of the murderous Mao regime, at the cost of millions of lives. From Confucius and Lao-Tzu to Sun Yatsen, Chang Kaishek and Mao Zedong, Chinese civilization unfolds here in this audiobook as a comprehensible and highly enjoyable summary.

Members Reviews:

don't bother

I agree with the critics -- this is outdated and biased. I enjoyed reading the review from the Marxist historian who disowned this book -- evidently it doesn't even live up to the 'standards' of Marxist history. The performance is also so bad that it is almost funny.

Audible Can Do Better Than This

After scouring the offerings for a general history of China, this seemed closest to what I sought. While it fit the general-history-of-china bill, Audible can surely offer a general history of China that is better than this. It was written decades ago and may have been a solid piece of scholarly work at the time, but I found it to be meandering and use language of otherness from which more updated histories have departed. It includes an "update" that isn't terribly satisfying or nuanced. I don't recommend it.

One damn dynasty after another

More of a list of dynasty names than a history. Few ideas are discussed - what were the intellectual movements- in art, poetry/writing, science etc. Here it would seem that other than controlling water flow in the rivers, and the masses were poor not much goes on.

Maoist Propaganda

Most of this book is a rather pedestrian and superficial overview of China's various dynasties. Then comes a scathing critique of the Nationalist regime, followed by an unapologetically adoring portrait of Mao. The idolatry is then partially ameliorated by an unattributed addendum briefly listing Mao's crimes.

My stomach cherns

Ok, I am a Marxist History writer, I spent my entire college career studying Marxist Criticism, but I am sorry, this is not even Marxist History.

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Title: The Modern Scholar

Subtitle: Ideas that Shaped Mankind

Author: Felipe Fernandez-Armesto

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-08

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

From the earliest ideas, including cannibalism and the idea of farming, to theories of relativity and chaos, ideas reshape the world in surprising and wholly unexpected ways. Science, agriculture, religion, art, politics - Professor Fernández-Armesto examines all these areas of thought and the moments in time when man's fertile intellect produced the sparks that set off blazes of change, even revolutions, that would forever alter the course of human history.

Members Reviews:

Brilliant survey of human thought

Would you listen to The Modern Scholar again? Why?

I've enjoyed many Modern Scholar series books, and I did enjoy this one more than once. This is one of the best Modern Scholar books there is.

Which character as performed by the narrator was your favorite?

Professor Filipe Fernandez-Armesto

Any additional comments?

Okay, I grant that Professor Fernandez-Armesto has a wonderfully distinctive speaking and lecturing style, but it's actually quite marvelous.

Have you ever watched The West Wing and caught the character of Lord John Marbury as played by Rick Rees? There are times you'll swear Lord Marbury was inspired and modeled after Professor Fernandez-Armestonot only in mannerisms but in brilliant insight, perception, and talent to get straight to the heart of an idea. So if you find the speaking style a bit disorienting at first, think of John Marbury delivering it and you might even find yourself smiling. Soon the ideas themselves will shine through, and they will kindle your imagination and sense of wonder sufficiently you won't even remember you noticed anything out of your experience.

Truly one of the finest Modern Scholar books ever recorded. Only Professor Drout's are in the same league.

Very enjoyable, very entertaining and enlightening

Where does The Modern Scholar rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

high

What did you like best about this story?

This course is a huge overview of a lot of ideas, so it does skim the surface of most of them, but it does so in a way that piques your interest to investigate many things further, which is the purpose of the course in the first place.

Have you listened to any of the narrators other performances before? How does this one compare?

Pay no attention to the people complaining about the narrator's performance. Yes, he has a specifically eccentric Ox-Bridge accent, but that is part of the interest and fun of the course. If you are so fixated on an accent that you miss the content, you probably picked the wrong course.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. But I enjoyed it a lot.

Any additional comments?

Get it.

horrible

"and that [pause] how [pause] you begin to construct [pause] a universe that makes sense [pause]" No substance whatsoever. The author makes random inferences and shifts from one trivial idea to another without anything real to say.

Brilliant

If there were only one audiobook I could take to a deserted island, this would be it.

LOVE Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, his brilliant mind and intriguing delivery.

I've listened to "Ideas that Shaped Mankind" over and over throughout the years...

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Titel: Von Ratlosen und Löwenherzen. Eine kurzweilige, aber nützliche Geschichte des englischen Mittelalters

Autor:: Rebecca Gablé

Erzähler: Andreas Fröhlich

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 09-16-08

Herausgeber: Lübbe Audio

Kategorien: History, World

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

In ihrem ersten Sachbuch erzählt uns die Bestsellerautorin Rebecca Gable die Geschichte des englischen Mittelalters neu: kompetent und informativ, herrlich farbenprächtig und mitreiß wie ein Roman, und immer mit einem Schmunzeln. Lesen Sie, wie die Wikinger in Ermangelung anderer Hobbys Englanderoberten, unabsichtlich unterstützt vom englischen König Thelred, dessen Ruf seitdem ruiniert ist. Erleben Sie mit, wie Jahrhunderte später Eleanor von Aquitanien die Bühne betritt, eine der unterhaltsamsten und wunderbarsten Skandalnudeln, die je auf Englands Thron gesessen haben. Und erfahren Sie, warum Thomas Becket, Sohn eines Einwanderers, der es zum steinreichen Immobilienspekulanten gebracht hatte, unter der erlesenen Garderobe stets ein Gewand aus kratzigem Ziegenhaar trug.

Neugierig geworden? Dann hören Sie zu!

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Title: Living Traditions of India

Author: Prem Kishore

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-11-08

Publisher: Big Happy Family, LLC

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

She takes the listener on a journey, bringing the varied facets of India to life as she provokes the reader's curiosity by speaking on festivals, gods and goddesses, rituals, religions, dance, music, food, and more.

Members Reviews:

Gives a nice overview of what I wanted to know

Would you consider the audio edition of Living Traditions of India to be better than the print version?

Gives a nice overview of what I wanted to know about India. I am taking a trip soon and this was a nice historical cultural introduction and overview.

Nice introduction

If you don't know much about India, the author covers important basics. Voice is very pleasant to listen to.

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Title: The Long March

Subtitle: The True History of Communist China's Founding Myth

Author: Sun Shuyun

Narrator: Laural Merlington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-12-07

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 43 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

The facts are these: In 1934, in the midst of a brutal civil war, the Communist party and its 200,000 soldiers were forced from their bases by Chiang Kaishek and his Nationalist troops. After that, truth and legend begin to blur. Led by Mao Zedong, the Communists set off on a strategic retreat to the distant, barren north of China, thousands of miles away. Only one in five Marchers reached their destination, where, the legend goes, they gathered strength and returned to launch the new China in the heat of revolution.

What emerges from Sun's research, her interviews, and her own memories of growing up in China is a moving portrait of China past and present. Sun finds that the forces at work during the days of the revolution, including the barren, unforgiving landscape; the unifying power of outside threats from foreign countries; Mao's brilliant political instincts and his use of terror, propaganda, and ruthless purges to consolidate power and control the population, are the very forces that made China what it is today.

The Long March is a gripping retelling of an amazing historical adventure, an eye-opening account of how Mao manipulated the event for his own purposes, and a beautiful document of a country balanced between legend and the truth.

Critic Reviews:

"Her interviews with veterans are among the book's highlights, but just as fascinating as the interviews and archival research is her travel through China. She colorfully describes the countryside, which in her eyes maintains its ancient beauty even amid creeping 21st-century modernity." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Interesting book - Inexcusable Audio Version

Although I appriciate this book, the merits of the book itself are arguable. The tone is much more anecdotal than academic, and although this may leave many questions unanswered and assumptions unquestioned, there is certainly value in it. The mythology and the politics of the Long March cannot be dispelled by one book, but it does seem to be a useful attempt with many very interesting insights, particularly as the Long March generation are simply no longer with us.

What is absolutely inexcusable and makes this an audiobook that I cannot recommend is the fact that the reader, while having a pleasant voice and good manner, does not speak Chinese. She seems merely to have been briefly coached in tones and pronunciation which only serves to bring her attempts into the surreal.

Her pronunciation of the place names and people involved are at best confusing even to one who knows the material fairly well. At worst, because she doesn't read with accuracy, her pronunciation shifts and identical places and people seem to be two or more

This is extremely unfortunate. I only wish there were more accessible books on Chinese history.

too specific for typical American

This is a thoroughly researched book, and very well-read. But unless one is very familiar not just with the Chinese Revolution of Mao, but also the details of the Long March, much of it will be lost. Because I drive to work each day, I did end up listening to the whole thing, and I did indeed learn much compared to what I knew (which was very little).

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Titel: Deutsche Geschichte - Ein Versuch (Vol. 2)

Untertitel: Von der Stauferzeit bis zu König Wenzel dem Faulen

Autor:: Herbert Rosendorfer

Erzähler: Gert Heidenreich

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 02-16-07

Herausgeber: LangenMüller Herbig

Kategorien: History, World

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Über den Sprecher:

Der Journalist und Schriftsteller Gert Heidenreich, ausgezeichnet u.a. mit dem Adolf-Grimme-Preis und der goldenen Ehrenmedaille des Bayerischen Rundfunks, produziert auch selbst zahlreiche Hörfunkprojekte und Hörspiele.

Kritik Bewertungen:

So vergnüglich und gescheit wurde selten an Fakten herangegangen.

-- News

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Title: Internal Combustion

Author: Edwin Black

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-19-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 98 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

Award-winning author Edwin Black has mined scores of corporate and government archives to assemble thousands of previously uncovered and long-forgotten documents and studies bearing on this dramatic story. He traces a continuum of rapacious energy cartels and special interests dating back nearly 5,000 years, from wood to coal to oil, and then to the bicycle and electric-battery cartels of the 1890s, which created thousands of electric vehicles that plied American streets a century ago. But those noiseless and clean cars were scuttled by petroleum interests, despite the little-known efforts of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford to mass-produce electric cars powered by personal backyard energy stations. Black also documents how General Motors criminally conspired to undermine mass transit in dozens of cities and how Big Oil, Big Corn, and Big Coal have subverted synthetic fuels and other alternatives.

He then brings the story full-circle to present day oil crises, global warming, and beyond. Black showcases the overlooked compressed-gas, electric, and hydrogen cars on the market today, as well as inexpensive all-function home energy units that could eliminate much oil usage. His eye-opening call for a Manhattan Project for immediate energy independence will help energize society to finally take action.

Internal Combustion can change everything, not by reinventing the wheel, but by excavating it from where it was buried a century ago.

Critic Reviews:

"Enthralling." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Read it and take ACTION!

Edwin Black's intensive research and ability to communicate dry facts and figures in a unique and interesting way made this listen one that was hard to interrupt. In my opinion he takes THE most complicated, critically important issue facing the world today and makes it easy to understand by leading us through oil's historical slippery slope by the hand then up the "other side" of the energy valley. It's a listen that demands personal action! Outstanding! Every engineer, no every American should read or listen to this work!

Hard to hear the truth ...

This book is accurate and in its accuracy it can be at times difficult to hear the truths presented. I can see how a lot of older readers/listeners can deny these truths at every turn; It's hard for me as a 40 year old to understand why as free citizens we systematically allowed corporate interests to monopolize our entire society over the last 100 years. The good ol' days indeed, hope you enjoyed em' guys!

This book is incredible. 10 stars if I could give them.

WOW.. Wonderful.. Perfect!!!

The best book I have read in years. This is the first book I have written a review for after reading hundreds of books but I finally found a book worth reviewing.

Although you can tell the author is biased (as I am), this book is very factual; my heart aches for our country. Edwin Black has a superior knowledge of the automotive history and political barriers.

I just finished this book and am going to read it again. If you care about the world this book is a must read.

Abridge me please!

If any book I have listened to cries out for abridgement, this is it. Having said that, I think that the reviewers above who bailed out on this tome missed out.

Edwin Black provides a superbly researched (to the extent that you can believe anything that anyone writes) walk through the history of corruption and manipulation of energy production in this world.

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Title: The Philippines

Author: Joseph Stromberg

Narrator: Harry Reasoner, Peter Hackes, Richard C. Hottelet

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-26-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

Strategically located, the Philippine Islands have been one of the keys to American policy in the Pacific. But this loose island chain has a better history, vacillating between oppression and rebellion. America's military installations here ensure that she will be caught in any Filipino conflict.

©1991 Knowledge Products, Inc.; (P)1991 Knowledge Products, Inc.

Members Reviews:

not about the Philippines exactly

I listened to the first 2 minutes of this book. likely the quickest I've ever given up reading anything. it starts with the American conquest of the Philippines. I skipped around a bit hoping it would talk about the country itself but it was all centered around Europe and the Americans. if you are interested in these relationships this may be of use to you.

brief history

it went over the history before the region being named to more modern time glossed over this histroy but stuck to milestones well.