Marje
- 7
- reviews
- 0
- helpful votes
- 79
- ratings
-
Aristotle's Children
- How Christian, Muslims and Jews Rediscovered Ancient Wisdom
- By: Richard E. Rubenstein
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
- Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best-selling author Richard E. Rubenstein brings the past to life in this engrossing story of social, religious, and scientific revolution during one of the darkest periods in European history. When a group of Dark Ages scholars rediscovered the works of Aristotle, the great thinker's ideas ignited a firestorm of enlightened thought. This is the endlessly fascinating account of the pivotal period in history when the modern era took root.
-
-
Interesting story of the rediscovery of Aristotle
- By John on 12-16-04
- Aristotle's Children
- How Christian, Muslims and Jews Rediscovered Ancient Wisdom
- By: Richard E. Rubenstein
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
A battle of belief systems.
Reviewed: 02-28-10
Readers of (listeners to) this scholarly work should be prepared to spend a great deal of time on the complex details of intellectual, religious and Catholic church history and on how they were impacted by ancient Aristotelian thought as it was discovered and rediscovered again and again during the Middle Ages. This subject matter is punctuated by beautifully written personal stories of historical figures including Aristotle, Hypatia, Boethius, Peter Abelard, Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, Wiliam of Ockham, Meister Eckhart, etc.
The book makes clear that the bitter opposition, censorship and persecution that Copernicus and Galileo experienced at the hands of the Catholic Church had been experienced in one way or another by many other individuals long before them. In addition, it becomes clear how profoundly The Renaissance (and later, The Enlightenment) was influenced by the enlightened thinkers of the Middle Ages, who in turn trace the origins of their thought back to the Golden Age of Greece. As the author states: "No thinker dominated Western intellectual life so completely and for such a long time as did the philosopher. " Aristotle indeed has many children.
At heart, the book is about the battle of belief systems. It is summed up in this sentence from the beginning of the book: "The Aristotelian Revolution transformed Western thinking and set our culture on a path of scientific inquiry that it has followed ever since the Middle Ages."
I would recommend this book to anyone with a deep interest in the intellectual history of human reason in the Western World. I also can't recommend highly ennough The Modern Scholar series of lectures by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto: "Ideas that Shaped Mankind"availalbe here at audible.com.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
A Distant Mirror
- The Calamitous Fourteenth Century
- By: Barbara W. Tuchman
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 28 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 14th century reflects two contradictory images: on the one hand, a glittering time of crusades and castles, cathedrals and chivalry, and the exquisitely decorated Books of Hours; and on the other, a time of ferocity and spiritual agony, a world of chaos and the plague.
-
-
And you thought the twentieth century was rough...
- By Rob on 03-23-06
- A Distant Mirror
- The Calamitous Fourteenth Century
- By: Barbara W. Tuchman
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
Passion for the Middle Ages required
Reviewed: 01-20-10
Those who enjoy Barbara Tuchman's history of the tumultuous 14th Century will likely have 1) a fascination for the Middle Ages, 2) a passion for exhaustive historical detail, and 3) an in-depth knowledge of the events of the 14th Century so that they don't loose sight of the forest for the trees.
Nadia May, the reader, is superb.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Sailing from Byzantium
- How a Lost Empire Shaped the World
- By: Colin Wells
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A gripping intellectual adventure story, Sailing from Byzantium sweeps you from the deserts of Arabia to the dark forests of northern Russia, from the colorful towns of Renaissance Italy to the final moments of a millennial city under siege.
-
-
The Missing Years
- By Nikoli Gogol on 12-29-07
- Sailing from Byzantium
- How a Lost Empire Shaped the World
- By: Colin Wells
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
For dedicated students of the age
Reviewed: 01-01-10
A scholarly work that will be primarily of interest to dedicated students of the age, Sailing from Byzantium chronicles the profound influence that the 1000-year old Byzantine Empire had on 1) Europe and the Renaissance, 2) Slavic countries (Russia and the "Third Rome") and 3) the Islamic world. Of particular interest to me were the Byzantine humanists who played a critical role in the transmission of Hellenic thought and classical knowledge to the world. The eminent scholar, Chrysoloras, and other Byzantine humanists carried by hand many of the ancient Greek writings to from Constantinople to early Renaissance Italy and were profoundly influential on the flowering of new thought and the intense creativity of the time.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Caesar's Legion
- The Epic Saga of Julius Caesar's Elite Tenth Legion and the Armies of Rome
- By: Stephen Dando-Collins
- Narrated by: Stuart Langton
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Stephen Dando-Collins paints a vivid and definitive portrait of daily life in the Tenth Legion as he follows Caesar and his men along the blood-soaked fringes of the Empire. This unprecedented regimental history reveals countless previously unknown details about Roman military practices, Caesar's conduct as a commander and his relationships with officers and legionnaires, and the daily routine and discipline of the Legion.
-
-
You should really be interested in the topic first
- By A reader on 05-05-06
- Caesar's Legion
- The Epic Saga of Julius Caesar's Elite Tenth Legion and the Armies of Rome
- By: Stephen Dando-Collins
- Narrated by: Stuart Langton
A Wealth of Knowledge and Detail
Reviewed: 11-27-09
Having recently listened to the very fine introduction to Roman History - The Modern Scholar: A History of Ancient Rome, I was interested in reading a little more in depth about Julius Caesar. Although I have little interest in military history, I thoroughly enjoyed Caesar's Legion and was amazed at the detail and wealth of knowledge about this time in history that is available, and that the author made use of to write this book.
A wonderful storyteller, Dando-Collins gives us a vivid and compelling portrait of Julius Caesar, the man, the military leader, and the legions he fashioned. Although much of the book is devoted to Julius Caesar, several chapters continue the story of the Roman Legions, the 10th in particular, long past his assassination.
Readers with a passion of ancient military history will likely appreciate the book more than I did; however, anyone with an interest in Roman history should find great enjoyment in the book.
Stuart Langton does a fine job of narration.
All in all, a great read!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Alexander of Macedon
- By: Harold Lamb
- Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
- Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The enigma of Alexander the Great has remained with us for 2,300 years. In spite of the best efforts of historians, Alexander is no less a mystery to us now than he probably was during his own lifetime. There was no one like him before or since. In the pages of Harold Lamb's intriguing Alexander of Macedon, we find some of the answers to the great riddle of his character.
-
-
Read Arrian first
- By cbrann on 10-16-05
- Alexander of Macedon
- By: Harold Lamb
- Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
Lush Production; Fascinating Story
Reviewed: 10-28-09
A lushly produced audiobook with music, sound effects and many different voices and cadences ... all of which help paint a vivid picture of this fascinating man and his story. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in ancient history who wants to enrich their understanding of Alexander of Macedon and his times.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
The Modern Scholar
- Archaeology and the Iliad: The Trojan War in Homer and History
- By: Eric H. Cline
- Narrated by: Eric H. Cline
- Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Trojan War, captured forever in Homer's epic poem the Iliad, resonates to the present day in the popular imagination. But did Troy actually exist? And if so, where is it located? Was the Trojan War actually fought? And why? In this course, professor Eric H. Cline examines the history of Troy and delves into the archaeological discoveries that help to answer the questions above. Through an incisive analysis of known data, Professor Cline provides a fuller, richer understanding of this historic clash.
-
-
I can see the windy plains of Troy
- By Nathan on 10-05-08
- The Modern Scholar
- Archaeology and the Iliad: The Trojan War in Homer and History
- By: Eric H. Cline
- Narrated by: Eric H. Cline
Fascinating
Reviewed: 08-28-09
I would recommend these lectures to anyone who has an interest in Homer's story of Troy "The Iliad", an interest in ancient Greek history, or in archaeology.
Dr. Cline's in-depth knowledge of all these complex subjects is obvious; yet he has a real talent for communicating with the general listener and making the subject matter easily understandable and ... fascinating.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
John Adams
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
- Length: 29 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
McCullough's John Adams has the sweep and vitality of a great novel. This is history on a grand scale, an audiobook about politics, war, and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, it is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.
-
-
An outstanding biography
- By Davis on 07-10-06
- John Adams
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
Fascinating History!
Reviewed: 05-09-09
Quite simply, this was the most fascinating history I have ever read. I am grateful to David McCullough for his meticulous research and masterful writing. He has allowed me to personally know two of the nation's finest and most noble citizens, John and Abigail Adams.
I am also grateful to the narrator, Nelson Runger, whose voice fit the subject matter perfectly. It is clear he knew the book, the times and the characters inside and out.
"John Adams" is now on my ipod, my iphone and on my Kindle; it goes where I go and I intend to listen to it again and again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful