Daniel H.
- 11
- reviews
- 6
- helpful votes
- 115
- ratings
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Who's in Charge?
- Free Will and the Science of the Brain
- By: Michael S. Gazzaniga
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 808
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 690
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Story4 out of 5 stars 690
The father of cognitive neuroscience and author of Human offers a provocative argument against the common belief that our lives are wholly determined by physical processes and we are therefore not responsible for our actions.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Use Your Credit On "Who's In Charge"
- By Dan on 04-03-12
- Who's in Charge?
- Free Will and the Science of the Brain
- By: Michael S. Gazzaniga
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
A scientific perspective on determinism
Reviewed: 09-11-17
I enjoyed this book. I found Gazzaniga's perspective on this issue refreshing. He believes science (specifically, neuroscience and psychology) can inform our understanding of free will versus determinism, but he did not go so far as to say it will solve the issue. I am one of those people he references in the book who was skeptical that science can tell us anything useful about free will - I think that is more the domain of philosophy - but his book has led me to soften my stance.
I would like to state that one should read this book with a critical eye. There is a lot of disagreement over the validity of some of the studies and effects that he cites. And that vigilance should extend to all psychology and neuroscience books. That being said, Gazzaniga acknowledges that some of the stuff should be taken with a grain of salt, although I am also wary of some of the stuff he doesn't question. This is good overview of one scientist's view of free will. I encourage anyone who enjoys this book to read more on the subject, especially from a philosophical perspective.
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1 person found this helpful
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Rise of the Warrior Cop
- The Militarization of America’s Police Forces
- By: Radley Balko
- Narrated by: William Hughes
- Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,016
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 918
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 913
Rise of the Warrior Cop traces the arc of US law enforcement from the constables and private justice of colonial times to present-day SWAT teams and riot cops. Today relentless "war on drugs" and "war on terror" pronouncements from politicians, along with battle-clad police forces with tanks and machine guns, have dangerously blurred the distinction between cop and soldier. Balko's fascinating, frightening narrative shows how martial rhetoric and reactionary policies have put modern law enforcement on a collision course with the values of a free society.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Every Patriotic American Should Read This!
- By aaron on 08-17-13
- Rise of the Warrior Cop
- The Militarization of America’s Police Forces
- By: Radley Balko
- Narrated by: William Hughes
A must read
Reviewed: 08-15-17
Radley has been doing the Lord's work for years, writing about the excesses of police militarization and negligence. This book is a must-read for those unaware of the downsides of the drug war.
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The Cosmic Serpent
- DNA and the Origins of Knowledge
- By: Jeremy Narby
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,760
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,579
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,570
This adventure in science and imagination, which the Medical Tribune said might herald "a Copernican revolution for the life sciences", leads the listener through unexplored jungles and uncharted aspects of mind to the heart of knowledge. In a first-person narrative of scientific discovery that opens new perspectives on biology, anthropology, and the limits of rationalism, The Cosmic Serpent reveals how startlingly different the world around us appears when we open our minds to it.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Very Good Religious Text
- By Blair K. Hartman on 08-09-17
- The Cosmic Serpent
- DNA and the Origins of Knowledge
- By: Jeremy Narby
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
When a nonscientist develops a science theory
Reviewed: 08-09-17
This book was very entertaining and simultaneously ridiculous. It's what you get when a nonscientist (anthropologists are not scientists) elucidates his biology theory. Please don't be taken in by his theory. Read it as fiction or as the memoir of a drug-addled mind, and you will enjoy it.
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5 people found this helpful
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The Butterfly Effect with Jon Ronson
- By: Jon Ronson
- Narrated by: Jon Ronson
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 13,925
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 12,399
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Story4 out of 5 stars 12,406
[Contains explicit content] Hear the story of what happened when the tech industry gave the world what it wanted: free porn. Lives were mangled. Fortunes were made. All for your pleasure. Follow writer and narrator Jon Ronson as he uncovers our web of desire.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Canada
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 09-23-17
- The Butterfly Effect with Jon Ronson
- By: Jon Ronson
- Narrated by: Jon Ronson
If you like Jon Ronson, you'll like this
Reviewed: 08-05-17
I found a lot of the anecdotes interesting, although one shouldn't draw any sort of firm conclusion that the effects actually stemmed from Ronson's claimed cause. It's definitely not scientific, just an interesting story.
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A History of Western Philosophy
- By: Bertrand Russell
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 38 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,605
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,411
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,377
Bertrand Russell's A History of Western Philosophy serves as the perfect introduction to its subject; it remains unchallenged as the greatest account of the history of Western thought. Charting philosophy's course from the pre-Socratics up to the early twentieth century, Russell relates each philosopher and school to their respective historical and cultural contexts, providing erudite commentary throughout his invaluable survey.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Works on all levels
- By Gary on 11-21-13
- A History of Western Philosophy
- By: Bertrand Russell
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
Brilliant overview of Western philosophy
Reviewed: 06-27-17
This was a great introduction to the history of Western thought. I'd recommened it most to those already with a passing familiarity of philosophy. The less familiar you are, the slower you will want to listen. But even if you're not familiar with the subject matter, this is as good a place as any to start.
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Words on the Move
- Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,415
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,275
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,267
Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant "blessed"? Or that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or that the suffix -ly in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn?
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5 out of 5 stars
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Review By a Fan
- By Margaret on 09-25-16
- Words on the Move
- Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
Another great book by Dr. McWhorter.
Reviewed: 06-14-17
This book is short, sweet, and to the point. I'd recommend it for any language pendants or anyone else who is interested the evolution of speech.
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Sapiens
- A Brief History of Humankind
- By: Yuval Noah Harari
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 19,067
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 16,844
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 16,746
One hundred thousand years ago, at least six human species inhabited the Earth. Today there is just one. Us. Homo sapiens. How did our species succeed in the battle for dominance? Why did our foraging ancestors come together to create cities and kingdoms? How did we come to believe in gods, nations, and human rights; to trust money, books, and laws; and to be enslaved by bureaucracy, timetables, and consumerism?
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3 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating grand history with some big problems
- By A reader on 05-27-15
- Sapiens
- A Brief History of Humankind
- By: Yuval Noah Harari
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
Great Book
Reviewed: 06-13-17
Excellent. Entertaining from beginning to end. Even the points I disagreed with were compelling argued.
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Ghost Wars
- The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
- By: Steve Coll
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 26 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,280
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,963
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,955
The explosive first-hand account of America's secret history in Afghanistan. With the publication of Ghost Wars, Steve Coll became not only a Pulitzer Prize winner, but also the expert on the rise of the Taliban, the emergence of Bin Laden, and the secret efforts by CIA officers and their agents to capture or kill Bin Laden in Afghanistan after 1998.
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5 out of 5 stars
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An Exceptional Accomplishment
- By Joe on 11-08-13
- Ghost Wars
- The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
- By: Steve Coll
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
Exhaustive and enlightening
Reviewed: 05-03-17
This book is a comprehensive look at CIA actions in the Middle East over the course of more than two decades. I recommend it for anyone interested in the Agency or the modern history of the region in general.
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What the F
- What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves
- By: Benjamin K. Bergen
- Narrated by: Benjamin K. Bergen
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,197
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,075
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Story4 out of 5 stars 1,067
Nearly everyone swears - whether it's over a few too many drinks, in reaction to a stubbed toe, or in flagrante delicto. And yet we sit idly by as words are banned from television and censored in books. We insist that people excise profanity from their vocabularies, and we punish children for yelling the very same dirty words that we'll mutter in relief seconds after they fall asleep. Swearing, it seems, is an intimate part of us that we have decided to selectively deny.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Take A Deep Breath, Hold Your Nose, Dive Right In
- By Gillian on 04-12-17
- What the F
- What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves
- By: Benjamin K. Bergen
- Narrated by: Benjamin K. Bergen
Interesting exploration of profanity
Reviewed: 04-27-17
This is a fun, short look at profanity. Dr. Bergen explores the evolution, use, and effect of profanity on others. I found the material itself compelling, but what I most enjoyed was the narration. Dr. Bergen's passion for the subject matter is obvious, and he is the perfect narrator for his own book.
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The Selfish Gene
- By: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,939
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,551
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,473
Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Better than print!
- By J. D. May on 07-31-12
- The Selfish Gene
- By: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
Fascinating
Reviewed: 04-17-17
Dawkins presents an eye-opening look at gene-centered evolution and gives a thorough takedown of group selection.
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