
Featured Reviews
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Building a Better Vocabulary
- Written by: Kevin Flanigan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kevin Flanigan
- Length: 18 hrs and 48 mins
- Original Recording
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Building a Better Vocabulary offers an intriguing look at the nuts and bolts of English, teaches you the etymology and morphology - or the history and structure - of words, and delves into the cognitive science behind committing new words to long-term memory. By the end of the 36 enjoyable lectures, you will have a practical framework for continuing to build your vocabulary by discovering new words and fully mastering the nuances of familiar ones.
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I certainly dig it, my homie
- By J on 2019-11-12
Up your linguistics game
Do you ever find yourself chatting with someone and being super impressed by their English language skills...and then stressing because you aren't quite sure what they're saying? This fascinating course will make that scenario a thing of the past! Whether you're a Scrabble lover, crossword fiend, or just a general logophile (quick lesson, that means ''a lover of words''), this listen will make you a true wordsmith.
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Medical School for Everyone: Emergency Medicine
- Written by: Roy Benaroch, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Roy Benaroch
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
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In Dr. Benaroch's 24 lectures, experience for yourself the high-stakes drama and medical insights of life in an everyday emergency department: the most intense department in any hospital and home to the kind of split-second decision making, troubleshooting, and detective work that can make the difference between a patient's life and death.
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good read
- By Amazon Customer on 2017-12-16
Get the scoop on real-life emergency medicine
If you're like me, you love dramatized medical shows (Grey's Anatomy, House, you get it) but you know in your heart that incredibly rare diseases don't really walk through the hospital doors every day. You don't need a medical degree to learn about how a real emergency doctor operates, from triaging patients to ruling out diagnoses. The professor goes into common cases that show up, and how to get the best care if you ever wind up in the emergency room. For a layman's lesson on medicine, this is not to be missed.
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Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation
- Written by: Mark W. Muesse, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark W. Muesse
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
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Meditation offers deep and lasting benefits for mental functioning and emotional health, as well as for physical health and well-being. These 24 detailed lectures teach you the principles and techniques of sitting meditation, the related practice of walking meditation, and the highly beneficial use of meditative awareness in many important activities, including eating and driving. You will also learn how to use the skills of meditation in working with thoughts and emotional states.
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Relax while you transform
- By Anonymous on 2018-09-13
Get centered and de-stress this fall season
I’ll be honest: I used to find the concept of meditation slightly intimidating. I had heard of all the benefits to both physical and mental health, but just wasn’t sure where to begin. Both accessible and personable, Professor Muesse’s course introduced me to the concept of mindfulness and inspired me to begin a daily meditation practice. It’s not always easy taking time to care for your mind, but the results speak for themselves: this is my calmest September in recent memory.
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- Written by: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Loved it!
- By Trent T on 2018-10-29
A journey to the past
What were our ancestors really like? Did they eat keto, or did Caesar inspire his eponymous cocktail with real-life indulgences? Take a walk in the sandals of the ordinary citizens of the Ancient World, from the time of the Vikings to the heart of the Roman empire. Plus, this audiobook includes a PDF chock full of extra goodies like pictures of the law code of Hammurabi, artist renderings of what Socrates might have looked like, and a picture of a device called a shadoof that was integral to building early water canals. You can download the PDF from your library (on-site on a desktop) once you’ve purchased the audiobook.
Newest Courses
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Greece, Rome, and the Birth of Western Philosophy
- Written by: Margaret Scharle, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Margaret Scharle
- Length: 12 hrs
- Original Recording
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Philosophy is one of the world’s oldest intellectual disciplines. In the West, the philosophical tradition reaches back 2,700 years to the ancient Greeks who pioneered philosophy and inspired major philosophical thinkers of ancient Rome. The ancient Greek and Roman philosophers thought deeply about virtually every aspect of human life, from the origins of the cosmos, the nature of divinity, and the physics and biology of the natural world to the nature of government, politics, law, and ethics, including thought on pleasure in living, happiness, and the ideal human life.
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Great Archaeological Mysteries of Europe and the Mediterranean
- Written by: Karen Bellinger, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Karen Bellinger
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
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Performance
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Most people picture archaeologists digging through dirt in search of ancient artifacts and lost cities. And sometimes that’s exactly right—as at the mound of Troy, where excavations suggest there may be truth behind Homer’s tales. But archaeology is much more than excavation. It blends science, history, and detective work, using tools like CT scans, astronomical modeling, and even cryptographic analysis to solve puzzles from across the ages.
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Urban Legends Explained
- Written by: Sara Cleto, Brittany Warman, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Sara Cleto, Brittany Warman
- Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
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In the 12 fascinating lectures of Urban Legends Explained, you’ll hear all types of stories that are being circulated right now, right where you live. Your professors, Dr. Sara Cleto and Dr. Brittany Warman, will share some of the wildest stories circulating now, maybe the wildest you’ve ever heard, and explain why we continue to tell them.
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The Olmecs: Mesoamerica’s Mysterious First Civilization
- Written by: Edwin Barnhart, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Edwin Barnhart
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
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Deep in the swampy heart of ancient Mexico, the Olmecs built a grand and influential civilization between 1800 and 400 BCE. The archaeological remains raise more questions than answers about the origins and legacy of this captivating Mesoamerican culture. How did the Olmecs carve and carry their famous colossal heads? Why did they live in flood-prone wetlands when better agricultural land was available? What are the secrets of their written language, and how can we unlock them?
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Best narrative, entertaining and very interesting
- By Richard Cyr on 2025-08-25
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The Great Tours: The World’s Most Sacred Sites
- Written by: Jill Carroll, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jill Carroll
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
- Original Recording
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Do human beings have an innate, elemental impulse to declare something sacred—and then feel compelled to connect with it by creating a sacred space? The history of various civilizations say that we do. From ancient times, people realized they lived in a world they could not always control; there had to be something beyond their own lives that controlled their world.
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A Literary Tour of the United States
- Written by: Arielle Zibrak, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Arielle Zibrak
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
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Across the nation’s history, American writers have produced a compelling and diverse body of literary expression, which joins the great literatures of other cultures to create unique perspectives on human life flowing from America’s trailblazing political system, innovative spirit, and history of immigration. In A Literary Tour of the United States, you’ll take an epic excursion across America, from the wide expanse of the continental states to Alaska, Hawaii, and beyond, delving into the jewels of writing that distinguish our nation’s literature across three centuries.
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Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable
- Written by: Brandy Schillace, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Brandy Schillace
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable is your chance to explore the strangest and most confounding cases in medical history. In 12 gripping lectures, acclaimed author, historian, and medical humanities expert Dr. Brandy Schillace guides you on a fascinating journey into the unknown, from historical enigmas to modern medical conundrums. With her unique blend of storytelling and scientific insight, Dr. Schillace digs into a range of medical mysteries
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Mindful Photography
- Written by: Kim Fuller, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kim Fuller
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
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Mindful photography is the art of slowing down and looking at any subject with a particular type of attention in the present moment, without judgment, and then documenting what you see through the camera lens. When you become fully aware of what you’re seeing and feeling in that moment, then you become a mindful photographer.
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The Human Journey
- Written by: Gaia Vince, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gaia Vince
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
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Humans have been on a remarkable journey these past 300,000 years. We started in Africa and slowly spread across the globe—crossing land bridges, sailing into the unknown, and eventually building cities and civilizations. While our primate cousins stayed where they evolved, we moved. Migration isn’t just something we did—it’s a defining trait of our species. Now, after covering the planet, we’re on the move again—not chasing new frontiers, but escaping rising seas, extreme heat, political instability, and economic stress.
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Greece, Rome, and the Birth of Western Philosophy
- Written by: Margaret Scharle, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Margaret Scharle
- Length: 12 hrs
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Philosophy is one of the world’s oldest intellectual disciplines. In the West, the philosophical tradition reaches back 2,700 years to the ancient Greeks who pioneered philosophy and inspired major philosophical thinkers of ancient Rome. The ancient Greek and Roman philosophers thought deeply about virtually every aspect of human life, from the origins of the cosmos, the nature of divinity, and the physics and biology of the natural world to the nature of government, politics, law, and ethics, including thought on pleasure in living, happiness, and the ideal human life.
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Great Archaeological Mysteries of Europe and the Mediterranean
- Written by: Karen Bellinger, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Karen Bellinger
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Most people picture archaeologists digging through dirt in search of ancient artifacts and lost cities. And sometimes that’s exactly right—as at the mound of Troy, where excavations suggest there may be truth behind Homer’s tales. But archaeology is much more than excavation. It blends science, history, and detective work, using tools like CT scans, astronomical modeling, and even cryptographic analysis to solve puzzles from across the ages.
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Urban Legends Explained
- Written by: Sara Cleto, Brittany Warman, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Sara Cleto, Brittany Warman
- Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In the 12 fascinating lectures of Urban Legends Explained, you’ll hear all types of stories that are being circulated right now, right where you live. Your professors, Dr. Sara Cleto and Dr. Brittany Warman, will share some of the wildest stories circulating now, maybe the wildest you’ve ever heard, and explain why we continue to tell them.
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The Olmecs: Mesoamerica’s Mysterious First Civilization
- Written by: Edwin Barnhart, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Edwin Barnhart
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Deep in the swampy heart of ancient Mexico, the Olmecs built a grand and influential civilization between 1800 and 400 BCE. The archaeological remains raise more questions than answers about the origins and legacy of this captivating Mesoamerican culture. How did the Olmecs carve and carry their famous colossal heads? Why did they live in flood-prone wetlands when better agricultural land was available? What are the secrets of their written language, and how can we unlock them?
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Best narrative, entertaining and very interesting
- By Richard Cyr on 2025-08-25
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The Great Tours: The World’s Most Sacred Sites
- Written by: Jill Carroll, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jill Carroll
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Do human beings have an innate, elemental impulse to declare something sacred—and then feel compelled to connect with it by creating a sacred space? The history of various civilizations say that we do. From ancient times, people realized they lived in a world they could not always control; there had to be something beyond their own lives that controlled their world.
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A Literary Tour of the United States
- Written by: Arielle Zibrak, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Arielle Zibrak
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Across the nation’s history, American writers have produced a compelling and diverse body of literary expression, which joins the great literatures of other cultures to create unique perspectives on human life flowing from America’s trailblazing political system, innovative spirit, and history of immigration. In A Literary Tour of the United States, you’ll take an epic excursion across America, from the wide expanse of the continental states to Alaska, Hawaii, and beyond, delving into the jewels of writing that distinguish our nation’s literature across three centuries.
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Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable
- Written by: Brandy Schillace, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Brandy Schillace
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable is your chance to explore the strangest and most confounding cases in medical history. In 12 gripping lectures, acclaimed author, historian, and medical humanities expert Dr. Brandy Schillace guides you on a fascinating journey into the unknown, from historical enigmas to modern medical conundrums. With her unique blend of storytelling and scientific insight, Dr. Schillace digs into a range of medical mysteries
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Mindful Photography
- Written by: Kim Fuller, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kim Fuller
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Mindful photography is the art of slowing down and looking at any subject with a particular type of attention in the present moment, without judgment, and then documenting what you see through the camera lens. When you become fully aware of what you’re seeing and feeling in that moment, then you become a mindful photographer.
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The Human Journey
- Written by: Gaia Vince, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gaia Vince
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Humans have been on a remarkable journey these past 300,000 years. We started in Africa and slowly spread across the globe—crossing land bridges, sailing into the unknown, and eventually building cities and civilizations. While our primate cousins stayed where they evolved, we moved. Migration isn’t just something we did—it’s a defining trait of our species. Now, after covering the planet, we’re on the move again—not chasing new frontiers, but escaping rising seas, extreme heat, political instability, and economic stress.
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Underwater Archaeology
- Mysteries of the Deep
- Written by: Ashley Lemke, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ashley Lemke
- Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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The work of archaeology uncovers fascinating vestiges of humanity’s past, greatly enriching our knowledge of our ancestors and ourselves. Over the last century, archaeologists have increasingly ventured underwater, making spellbinding finds and opening an incredible new frontier for archaeological discovery. In the 12 delightful and eye-opening lectures of Underwater Archaeology: Mysteries of the Deep, Professor Lemke, an expert underwater archaeologist working in the field, invites you to discover astonishing treasures of history that lie beneath the waves.
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Great Tours: Ancient Cities of the Mediterranean
- Written by: Darius Arya, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Darius Arya
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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The Mediterranean is one of the great wellsprings of human civilization. Central to the region’s history are the splendorous cities that flowered around the region—bases of power that saw innovation, commerce, expansion, and the building of great empires. Many of these cities have become icons of the ancient world, and exemplars of the cultures, conquests, and ways of life that have built western civilization.
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The Future of Space Exploration
- Written by: Ariel Ekblaw, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ariel Ekblaw, The Great Courses
- Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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More than half a century after humans first walked on the Moon, exciting new space adventures are in the works. Thanks to major advances in rocketry, robotics, and other space technologies, humanity is on the verge of returning to the Moon, exploring Mars, building permanent orbiting space stations, expanding space tourism, and pushing the boundaries of exploration throughout the solar system and beyond. The Future of Space Exploration explores these exciting developments in 12 half-hour episodes, hosted by aerospace engineer and executive Dr. Ariel Ekblaw.
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Books That Matter: Meditations
- Written by: Massimo Pigliucci, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Massimo Pigliucci
- Length: 6 hrs
- Original Recording
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What is it about Stoicism that Marcus found so important then, and that millions find relevant today? In the 12 fascinating lectures of Books That Matter: Meditations, professor Massimo Pigliucci explores the questions Marcus believed were crucial to address in a life of value, the answers he proposed, and the many ways in which you can use Stoic philosophy. While Meditations was originally written for an audience of just one, what Marcus wanted to examine certainly still applies to us today. What exactly should we be mindful of in this life?
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Forgotten America
- Rediscovering Events That Changed the Nation
- Written by: Rachel Michelle Gunter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Rachel Michelle Gunter
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
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In Forgotten America: Rediscovering Events that Changed the Nation, turn your attention to the unfamiliar in United States history with historian and author Dr. Rachel Michelle Gunter.
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Searching for People and Places of the Bible
- Written by: Jean-Pierre. Isbouts, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jean-Pierre Isbouts
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Original Recording
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By exploring the stories of the Bible in their actual locations, and the stories of the complex human beings who lived them, you’ll gain fascinating and illuminating new dimensions of the texts. In this visually stunning course, you’ll also experience the Bible’s connection to both the real world and ancient history while you’ll engage with the past in a way that is both immediate and tangible.
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On Trial for Murder
- America’s Most Famous Murder Trials
- Written by: Douglas O. Linder, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Douglas O. Linder
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
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On Trial for Murder: America’s Most Famous Murder Trials takes you inside the courtrooms and uncovers the stories of 10 of the most well-known trials since the turn of the 20th century. For this riveting foray into criminal law, your guide is Professor Douglas O. Linder, the Elmer Powell Peer Professor of Law at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law and creator of the Famous Trials website.
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Treating Anxiety
- Written by: Ellen Hendriksen, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ellen Hendriksen
- Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins
- Original Recording
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In the 12 fascinating and action-oriented lectures of Treating Anxiety, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen describes the causes and symptoms of numerous anxiety disorders—from generalized anxiety disorder to social anxiety to panic. In her calming manner, and always backed by rigorous scientific studies, she will give you numerous tools and exercises you can employ immediately to help treat your own anxiety. After all, few of us are in danger of being eaten by a bear these days and, as Dr. Henricksen points out, we don’t want to spend our lives hiding in the metaphorical cave.
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Crossroads of Civilization: A History of Central Asia
- Written by: Eren Tasar, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Eren Tasar
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
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Though perhaps less well-known today than the great empires that surrounded them, the historic peoples of Central Asia—such as the Scythians, the Sogdians, the Xiongnu nomads of Mongolia, the Turkic peoples, and many others—produced cultures of major significance. In the 24 lectures of Crossroads of Civilization: A History of Central Asia, taught by Professor Eren Tasar, you will embark on a wide-ranging journey into the majestic landscapes, steppe and desert cultures, resplendent cities, and epic conquests that characterized this mysterious part of the world.
Best Sellers
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The History of Ancient Egypt
- Written by: Bob Brier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Bob Brier
- Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
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Ancient Egyptian civilization is so grand our minds sometimes have difficulty adjusting to it. It lasted 3,000 years, longer than any other on the planet. Its Great Pyramid of Cheops was the tallest building in the world until well into the 19th century and remains the only Ancient Wonder still standing. And it was the most technologically advanced of the ancient civilizations, with the medical knowledge that made Egyptian physicians the most famous in the world.
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Dated but entertaining
- By Micah Clark on 2021-06-12
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How the Earth Works
- Written by: Michael E. Wysession, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael E. Wysession
- Length: 24 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
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How the Earth Works takes you on an astonishing journey through time and space. In 48 lectures, you will look at what went into making our planet - from the big bang, to the formation of the solar system, to the subsequent evolution of Earth.
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very informative
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-04-19
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Food: A Cultural Culinary History
- Written by: Ken Albala, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ken Albala
- Length: 18 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
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Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."
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This is a Western food history course
- By Anonymous on 2019-05-15
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- Written by: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Loved it!
- By Trent T on 2018-10-29
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The History of Ancient Egypt
- Written by: Bob Brier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Bob Brier
- Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Ancient Egyptian civilization is so grand our minds sometimes have difficulty adjusting to it. It lasted 3,000 years, longer than any other on the planet. Its Great Pyramid of Cheops was the tallest building in the world until well into the 19th century and remains the only Ancient Wonder still standing. And it was the most technologically advanced of the ancient civilizations, with the medical knowledge that made Egyptian physicians the most famous in the world.
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Dated but entertaining
- By Micah Clark on 2021-06-12
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How the Earth Works
- Written by: Michael E. Wysession, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael E. Wysession
- Length: 24 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
How the Earth Works takes you on an astonishing journey through time and space. In 48 lectures, you will look at what went into making our planet - from the big bang, to the formation of the solar system, to the subsequent evolution of Earth.
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very informative
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-04-19
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Food: A Cultural Culinary History
- Written by: Ken Albala, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ken Albala
- Length: 18 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."
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This is a Western food history course
- By Anonymous on 2019-05-15
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- Written by: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Loved it!
- By Trent T on 2018-10-29
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The Foundations of Western Civilization
- Written by: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
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very protestant and narrow
- By Carole Oleniuk on 2018-12-12
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A Brief History of the World
- Written by: Peter N. Stearns, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Peter N. Stearns
- Length: 19 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
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The construction of the great pyramids of Egypt, the development of democracy in ancient Greece, the glories of ancient Rome-these stories are familiar to students of history. But what about the rest of the world? How do the histories of China and Japan, or Russia, India, and the remote territories of Sub-Saharan Africa and South America fit in with commonly known accounts of Western traditions?Learn the rest of the story with these 36 riveting lectures that survey the expanse of human development and civilization across the globe.
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World History should be mandatory. great course
- By CalltheDoctor on 2018-09-13
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A New History of Life
- Written by: Stuart Sutherland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Stuart Sutherland
- Length: 17 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
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The story of our world and the different living things that have populated it is an amazing epic with millions of species, exotic settings, planet-wide cataclysms, and surprising plot twists. These 36 lectures tell the all-embracing story of life on Earth - its origins, extinctions, and evolutions - in a manner that assumes no background in science. At half an hour per lecture, you’ll cover the entire 4.54-billion-year history of Earth in 18 hours, averaging 70,000 years per second!
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Great Mythologies of the World
- Written by: The Great Courses, Grant L. Voth, Julius H. Bailey, and others
- Narrated by: Grant L. Voth, Julius H. Bailey, Kathryn McClymond, and others
- Length: 31 hrs and 36 mins
- Original Recording
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The deep-seated origins and wide-reaching lessons of ancient myths built the foundation for our modern legacies. Explore the mythologies of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Learn what makes these stories so important, distinctive, and able to withstand the test of time. Discover how, despite geographical implausibilities, many myths from across the oceans share themes, morals, and archetypes.
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Tinny Sound Made it Very Difficult to Listen To
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-06-18
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The Great Ideas of Philosophy, 2nd Edition
- Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Daniel N. Robinson
- Length: 30 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
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Grasp the important ideas that have served as the backbone of philosophy across the ages with this extraordinary 60-lecture series. This is your opportunity to explore the enormous range of philosophical perspectives and ponder the most important and enduring of human questions-without spending your life poring over dense philosophical texts.
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Too idiosyncratic for my taste
- By Enrique on 2019-12-08
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The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest
- Written by: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
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These 36 lectures tell the remarkable story of a tumultuous thousand-year period in the history of England. Dominated by war, conquest, and the struggle to balance the stability brought by royal power with the rights of the governed, it was a period that put into place the foundation of much of the world we know today. As you journey through this largely chronological narrative you'll see key themes emerge, including the assimilation of successive waves of invaders, the tense relationship between kings and the nobility, and the constant battles over money and taxation.
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Professor has a great speaking voice and style.
- By Amazon Customer on 2017-10-05
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Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation
- Written by: Mark W. Muesse, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark W. Muesse
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
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Meditation offers deep and lasting benefits for mental functioning and emotional health, as well as for physical health and well-being. These 24 detailed lectures teach you the principles and techniques of sitting meditation, the related practice of walking meditation, and the highly beneficial use of meditative awareness in many important activities, including eating and driving. You will also learn how to use the skills of meditation in working with thoughts and emotional states.
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Relax while you transform
- By Anonymous on 2018-09-13
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Understanding the Mysteries of Human Behavior
- Written by: Mark Leary, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark Leary
- Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
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Every day of your life is spent surrounded by mysteries that involve what appear to be rather ordinary human behaviors. What makes you happy? Where did your personality come from? Why do you have trouble controlling certain behaviors? Why do you behave differently as an adult than you did as an adolescent?Since the start of recorded history, and probably even before, people have been interested in answering questions about why we behave the way we do.
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Decent overview, but unsurprising and unoriginal
- By Anonymous on 2020-02-02
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Chemistry and Our Universe
- How It All Works
- Written by: Ron B. Davis, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ron B. Davis
- Length: 30 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
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Chemistry and Our Universe: How It All Works is your in-depth introduction to this vital field, taught through 60 engaging half-hour lectures that are suitable for any background or none at all. Covering a year’s worth of introductory general chemistry at the college level, plus intriguing topics that are rarely discussed in the classroom, this amazingly comprehensive course requires nothing more advanced than high-school math. Your guide is Professor Ron B. Davis, Jr., a research chemist and award-winning teacher at Georgetown University.
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Excellent survey of chemistry
- By Shesophist on 2020-07-21
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The Fall and Rise of China
- Written by: Richard Baum, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard Baum
- Length: 24 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
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For most of its 5,000-year existence, China has been the largest, most populous, wealthiest, and mightiest nation on Earth. And for us as Westerners, it is essential to understand where China has been in order to anticipate its future. These 36 eye-opening lectures deliver a comprehensive political and historical overview of one of the most fascinating and complex countries in world history.
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A great course
- By Anonymous on 2019-07-08
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Critical Business Skills for Success
- Written by: The Great Courses, Clinton O. Longenecker, Eric Sussman, and others
- Narrated by: Clinton O. Longenecker, Eric Sussman, Michael A. Roberto, and others
- Length: 31 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
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What does it take to reach success in business - the kind of success that lasts? How do you set yourself apart from competitors or venture out into different markets? What does it take to develop streamlined processes, become a stronger team leader, and work your way up the corporate ladder?
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Very heplful
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-09-19
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A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts
- Written by: Robert Bucholz, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Bucholz
- Length: 24 hrs and 32 mins
- Original Recording
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During the 229-year period from 1485 to 1714, England transformed itself from a minor feudal state into what has been called "the first modern society" and emerged as the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world.Those years hold a huge and captivating story. The English survived repeated epidemics and famines, one failed invasion and two successful ones, two civil wars, a series of violent religious reformations and counter-reformations, and confrontations with two of the most powerful monarchs on earth.
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Mesmerizing!
- By ncl on 2023-09-23
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Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition, 3rd Edition
- Written by: The Great Courses, Alan Charles Kors, Darren Staloff, and others
- Narrated by: Alan Charles Kors, Darren Staloff, Dennis Dalton, and others
- Length: 43 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
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For 3,000 years, mankind has grappled with fundamental questions about life. What is real? Who or what is God? When is it legitimate for one person to have power over others? What is justice? Beauty? This 84-lecture, 12-professor tour of Western philosophical tradition covers more than 60 of history's greatest minds and brings you a comprehensive survey of the history of Western philosophy from its origins in classical Greece to the present.
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Very disappointed
- By elcucuy on 2019-04-16
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Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition
- Written by: Richard Wolfson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard Wolfson
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
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"It doesn't take an Einstein to understand modern physics," says Professor Wolfson at the outset of these 24 lectures on what may be the most important subjects in the universe: relativity and quantum physics. Both have reputations for complexity. But the basic ideas behind them are, in fact, simple and comprehensible by anyone. These dynamic and illuminating lectures begin with a brief overview of theories of physical reality starting with Aristotle and culminating in Newtonian or "classical" physics.
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good but old
- By James on 2021-02-25
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No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life
- Written by: Robert C. Solomon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
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What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom, life has continued to exert a profound attraction.
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Very well organized and easy enough to understand
- By Amanda on 2023-02-18
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A History of India
- Written by: Michael H. Fisher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Michael H. Fisher
- Length: 18 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
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Over 5,000 years, India has been home to a rich tapestry of peoples and cultures. Two of the world's great religions - Hinduism and Buddhism - have their origins in South Asia, and the lands east of the Indus River have long been a central hub for trade, migration, and cultural exchange. Today the subcontinent contains 20 percent of the world's population and is a thriving center for global business, making this region one of most significant economic powerhouses in the world.
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Informative, Gives You What’s Promised.
- By Amazon Customer on 2021-03-20
Editors' Picks
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The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries
- Written by: Neil deGrasse Tyson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Everything we now know about the universe - from the behavior of quarks to the birth of galaxies - has come from people who've been willing to ponder the unanswerable. And with the advent of modern science, great minds have turned to testing and experimentation rather than mere thought as a way of grappling with some of the universe's most vexing dilemmas. So what is our latest picture of some of the most inexplicable features of the universe? What still remains to be uncovered and explored by today's scientists?
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Such a great course with great performance
- By Anonymous on 2024-10-06
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Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques
- Written by: James Hynes, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James Hynes
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
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Performance
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From evoking a scene to charting a plot to revising your drafts, Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques offers a master class in storytelling. Taught by award-winning novelist James Hynes, a former visiting professor at the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop, these 24 insightful lectures show you the ins and outs of the fiction writer's craft.
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this is a book of extraordinary quality on conveyi
- By Bruce on 2018-01-27
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Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation
- Written by: Mark W. Muesse, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark W. Muesse
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Meditation offers deep and lasting benefits for mental functioning and emotional health, as well as for physical health and well-being. These 24 detailed lectures teach you the principles and techniques of sitting meditation, the related practice of walking meditation, and the highly beneficial use of meditative awareness in many important activities, including eating and driving. You will also learn how to use the skills of meditation in working with thoughts and emotional states.
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Relax while you transform
- By Anonymous on 2018-09-13
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Redefining Reality
- The Intellectual Implications of Modern Science
- Written by: Steven Gimbel, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Gimbel
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
No subject is bigger than reality itself, and nothing is more challenging to understand, since what counts as reality is undergoing continual revision and has been for centuries. The quest to pin down what's real and what's illusory is both philosophical and scientific, a metaphysical search for ultimate reality that goes back to the ancient Greeks. For the last 400 years, this search has been increasingly guided by scientists, who create theories and test them in order to define and redefine reality.
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Utterly enjoyable journey
- By jill on 2023-05-25
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The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries
- Written by: Neil deGrasse Tyson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everything we now know about the universe - from the behavior of quarks to the birth of galaxies - has come from people who've been willing to ponder the unanswerable. And with the advent of modern science, great minds have turned to testing and experimentation rather than mere thought as a way of grappling with some of the universe's most vexing dilemmas. So what is our latest picture of some of the most inexplicable features of the universe? What still remains to be uncovered and explored by today's scientists?
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Such a great course with great performance
- By Anonymous on 2024-10-06
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Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques
- Written by: James Hynes, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James Hynes
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
From evoking a scene to charting a plot to revising your drafts, Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques offers a master class in storytelling. Taught by award-winning novelist James Hynes, a former visiting professor at the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop, these 24 insightful lectures show you the ins and outs of the fiction writer's craft.
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this is a book of extraordinary quality on conveyi
- By Bruce on 2018-01-27
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Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation
- Written by: Mark W. Muesse, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark W. Muesse
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meditation offers deep and lasting benefits for mental functioning and emotional health, as well as for physical health and well-being. These 24 detailed lectures teach you the principles and techniques of sitting meditation, the related practice of walking meditation, and the highly beneficial use of meditative awareness in many important activities, including eating and driving. You will also learn how to use the skills of meditation in working with thoughts and emotional states.
-
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Relax while you transform
- By Anonymous on 2018-09-13
-
Redefining Reality
- The Intellectual Implications of Modern Science
- Written by: Steven Gimbel, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Gimbel
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No subject is bigger than reality itself, and nothing is more challenging to understand, since what counts as reality is undergoing continual revision and has been for centuries. The quest to pin down what's real and what's illusory is both philosophical and scientific, a metaphysical search for ultimate reality that goes back to the ancient Greeks. For the last 400 years, this search has been increasingly guided by scientists, who create theories and test them in order to define and redefine reality.
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Utterly enjoyable journey
- By jill on 2023-05-25
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Your Best Brain: The Science of Brain Improvement
- Written by: John Medina, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John Medina
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
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In Your Best Brain, Professor John J. Medina - an award-winning scientist, New York Times best-selling author, and leading advocate for brain research - delivers 24 exciting lectures that probe the origins of consciousness, memory, emotion, attention, intelligence, and beyond. He focuses on five key areas of study in neuroscience: the brain’s physical structure and function, and how it enabled us to become the planet’s apex predator.
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An in depth journey through the brain
- By Shawn Ricker on 2018-05-11
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The Art of Negotiating the Best Deal
- Written by: Seth Freeman, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Seth Freeman
- Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
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The course is organized around a mnemonic device, developed by Professor Freeman, that can serve in any negotiation situation. Called "I FORESAW IT," this indispensable framework guides you in assembling the strongest possible case, showing you how to evaluate such factors as creative options, independent criteria, and your best alternative to a negotiated agreement.
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Interesting and thorough
- By libragal on 2018-09-19
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The Vikings
- Written by: Kenneth W. Harl, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kenneth W. Harl
- Length: 17 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
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As raiders and explorers, the Vikings played a decisive role in the formation of Latin Christendom, and particularly of western Europe. Now, in a series of 36 vivid lectures by an honored teacher and classical scholar, you have the opportunity to understand this remarkable race as never before, studying the Vikings not only as warriors, but in all of the other roles in which they were equally extraordinary - merchants, artists, kings, raiders, seafarers, shipbuilders, and creators of a remarkable literature of myths and sagas.
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A lot of Fun
- By Trevor Holmlund on 2020-11-19
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The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
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Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
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Pretentious, Inaccurate, and Self-Absorbed.
- By Anonymous on 2021-03-03
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The History of Ancient Egypt
- Written by: Bob Brier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Bob Brier
- Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
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Ancient Egyptian civilization is so grand our minds sometimes have difficulty adjusting to it. It lasted 3,000 years, longer than any other on the planet. Its Great Pyramid of Cheops was the tallest building in the world until well into the 19th century and remains the only Ancient Wonder still standing. And it was the most technologically advanced of the ancient civilizations, with the medical knowledge that made Egyptian physicians the most famous in the world.
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Dated but entertaining
- By Micah Clark on 2021-06-12
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The Skeptic's Guide to American History
- Written by: Mark A. Stoler, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark A. Stoler
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
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To take a skeptical approach to American history is not to dabble in imaginative conspiracy theories; rather, it's to reframe your understanding of this great nation's past and actually strengthen your appreciation for what makes American history such a fascinating chapter in the larger story of Western civilization. And in this bold 24-lecture series, you can do just that.
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An Iconoclastic look at American history
- By Devin on 2020-04-12
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- Written by: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Loved it!
- By Trent T on 2018-10-29
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Nutrition Made Clear
- Written by: Roberta H. Anding, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Roberta H. Anding
- Length: 18 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
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Story
Nutrition is essential to living a healthy, happy, and successful life. Yet a world of misconceptions and promises of easy results too often stands in our way-and can even be harmful to our overall health. The key is to cut through the noise and find the medically backed, statistically proven information about healthy eating and living. These 36 in-depth lectures explore the fundamentals of good nutrition and offer a practical guide for applying these fundamentals to your lifestyle.
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Pragmatic Academic
- By MMH Toronto on 2017-11-29
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How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3rd Edition
- Written by: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Greenberg
- Length: 36 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
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Great music is a language unto its own, a means of communication of unmatched beauty and genius. And it has an undeniable power to move us in ways that enrich our lives-provided it is understood.If you have ever longed to appreciate great concert music, to learn its glorious language and share in its sublime pleasures, the way is now open to you, through this series of 48 wonderful lectures designed to make music accessible to everyone who yearns to know it, regardless of prior training or knowledge.
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Very Engaging
- By Phil Redekopp on 2018-10-13
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Food: A Cultural Culinary History
- Written by: Ken Albala, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ken Albala
- Length: 18 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
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Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."
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This is a Western food history course
- By Anonymous on 2019-05-15
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Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition
- Written by: Richard Wolfson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard Wolfson
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
"It doesn't take an Einstein to understand modern physics," says Professor Wolfson at the outset of these 24 lectures on what may be the most important subjects in the universe: relativity and quantum physics. Both have reputations for complexity. But the basic ideas behind them are, in fact, simple and comprehensible by anyone. These dynamic and illuminating lectures begin with a brief overview of theories of physical reality starting with Aristotle and culminating in Newtonian or "classical" physics.
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good but old
- By James on 2021-02-25
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Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills
- Written by: Steven Novella, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Novella
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
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Great book worth a listen but maybe I'm bias.
- By Martin on 2018-01-15