Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.
Title: The Dead Sea and the Jordan River
Author: Barbara Kreiger
Narrator: Becky White
Format: Unabridged
Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
Language: English
Release date: 02-06-17
Publisher: University Press Audiobooks
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8 votes
Genres: History, World
Publisher's Summary:
For centuries travelers have been drawn to the stunning and mysterious Dead Sea and Jordan River, a region that is unlike any other on earth in its religious and historical significance. In this exceptionally engaging book, Barbara Kreiger chronicles the natural and human history of these storied bodies of water, drawing on accounts by travelers, pilgrims, and explorers from ancient times to the present. She conveys the blend of spiritual, touristic, and scientific motivations that have driven exploration and describes the modern exploitation of the lake and the surrounding area through mineral extraction and agriculture. Today, both lake and river are in crisis, and stewardship of these water resources is bound up with political conflicts in the region. The Dead Sea and the Jordan River combines history, literature, travelogue, and natural history in a way that makes it hard to put down.
Critic Reviews:
"Students of the Middle East will doubtless find this exhaustive report on the history and geopolitical details of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River indispensable." (Foreword Reviews)
"Combines fresh, imaginative writing and serious research." (Baltimore Sun)
"A rare natural, political, and human history...Remarkable and timely." (Booklist)
Members Reviews:
Detailed historical infomation in a story format
Having recently returned from a few weeks in Israel, and had the opportunity to visit and bathe in The Dead Sea, I was drawn to the title. That, and having studied the Old Testament in seminary, the topic and surrounding area has always interested me. When I was offered a free copy of this audiobook by the narrator in return for an unbiased review, I jumped at the offer.
As advertised, The Dead Sea and the Jordan River combines history, literature, travelogue, and natural history and puts it in format of a story. The geographical and historical information, from both scientific and biblical perspectives, is in depth and accurate. In addition the region is described in a manner in which one can picture it in their mind and likely be accurate, as well. The amount of information can almost be overwhelming and can easily be missed if one isn't completely focused on listening to the book; at least that was my experience after having to hit the rewind button a few times. Although it probably doesn't need to be said; this is not the type of book that one would listen to in a single sitting. Most of the chapters are about an hour long and I was never able to get through more than 2 at a given time. In fact, that speaks volumes as to the depth of the book. Needless to say, this is not light reading or listening.
As for the narration; I realize that some have been critical of Becky White's effort, but one most remember the genre of the book she is narrating. I challenge anyone to grab a history book off their shelf and try reading a single chapter with excitement. The The Dead Sea and the Jordan River is more of a textbook than a storybook and reads that way. Now, I will admit, that I sped up the narration a notch, but that is the whole purpose of the option. Given the material, I thought the narration was pretty good and certainly could have been a lot worse.
For anyone that is interested in this genre, I would recommend this title.
