-
10 Great What-Ifs of American History
- Narrated by: Adam Jortner
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $9.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Evolution of American Federalism
- By: Joseph L. Hoffmann, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph L. Hoffmann
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The promise of America is that the country is based on an idea, one where everyone is created equal and equally free to chart their own course. From 13 newly independent states ratifying a national constitution to the heated debates in the halls of Congress today, American politics is about negotiation over what our country is—and where we are going.
By: Joseph L. Hoffmann, and others
-
Gut Health Explained
- By: Gabrielle Fundaro, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Fundaro
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 12 fascinating lectures of Gut Health Explained, Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro shares the latest scientific knowledge about the trillions of organisms that live in your gut. In this course, you'll learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of gut microbiome science while gaining a deep understanding of the intricate interplay between you and your microbiome.
By: Gabrielle Fundaro, and others
-
God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything
- By: Laura Helmuth, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Laura Helmuth
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We’re living in a golden age of scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. Now, you have the chance to dig into some of the most fascinating and important scientific advancements in recent years. Unexpected, consequential, and often counterintuitive, 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything offers an inspiring introduction to science in the 21st century. Taught by Scientific American editor in chief Laura Helmuth, these eye-opening lectures will satiate even the most inquisitive mind.
By: Laura Helmuth, and others
-
Communism in Decline: From Sputnik to Gorbachev
- By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Communism in Decline: From Sputnik to Gorbachev, Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius reveals the internal and external forces that ripped apart the grand communist experiment. What were the mistakes made by the Soviet leaders who believed too deeply in their own propaganda? And why were they not able to see the many ironies in their own poor decisions? In 12 fascinating lectures, you will learn how the Soviet Union went from winning the space race against the United States in 1957 to Gorbachev’s resignation and the dissolution of the great experiment in 1991.
By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, and others
-
How to Survive in Space
- By: Ronke Olabisi, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ronke Olabisi
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spaceflight is notoriously dangerous. Beyond launch mishaps and equipment failures, astronauts face serious health problems from long-term weightlessness and high-energy radiation. Not to mention, the space environment is a near-perfect vacuum that can quickly kill anyone who is unprotected. Drawing on the hard-won insights of NASA astronauts and space researchers, this 12-lecture course presents the perils of spaceflight and what experts have done to make them survivable. It also deals with livability in space, including nutrition, sleep, environmental control, and personal hygiene.
-
-
Decent overview of space travel hazards
- By Historian1912 on 08-09-24
By: Ronke Olabisi, and others
-
The Evolution of American Federalism
- By: Joseph L. Hoffmann, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph L. Hoffmann
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The promise of America is that the country is based on an idea, one where everyone is created equal and equally free to chart their own course. From 13 newly independent states ratifying a national constitution to the heated debates in the halls of Congress today, American politics is about negotiation over what our country is—and where we are going.
By: Joseph L. Hoffmann, and others
-
Gut Health Explained
- By: Gabrielle Fundaro, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Fundaro
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 12 fascinating lectures of Gut Health Explained, Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro shares the latest scientific knowledge about the trillions of organisms that live in your gut. In this course, you'll learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of gut microbiome science while gaining a deep understanding of the intricate interplay between you and your microbiome.
By: Gabrielle Fundaro, and others
-
God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything
- By: Laura Helmuth, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Laura Helmuth
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We’re living in a golden age of scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. Now, you have the chance to dig into some of the most fascinating and important scientific advancements in recent years. Unexpected, consequential, and often counterintuitive, 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything offers an inspiring introduction to science in the 21st century. Taught by Scientific American editor in chief Laura Helmuth, these eye-opening lectures will satiate even the most inquisitive mind.
By: Laura Helmuth, and others
-
Communism in Decline: From Sputnik to Gorbachev
- By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Communism in Decline: From Sputnik to Gorbachev, Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius reveals the internal and external forces that ripped apart the grand communist experiment. What were the mistakes made by the Soviet leaders who believed too deeply in their own propaganda? And why were they not able to see the many ironies in their own poor decisions? In 12 fascinating lectures, you will learn how the Soviet Union went from winning the space race against the United States in 1957 to Gorbachev’s resignation and the dissolution of the great experiment in 1991.
By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, and others
-
How to Survive in Space
- By: Ronke Olabisi, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ronke Olabisi
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spaceflight is notoriously dangerous. Beyond launch mishaps and equipment failures, astronauts face serious health problems from long-term weightlessness and high-energy radiation. Not to mention, the space environment is a near-perfect vacuum that can quickly kill anyone who is unprotected. Drawing on the hard-won insights of NASA astronauts and space researchers, this 12-lecture course presents the perils of spaceflight and what experts have done to make them survivable. It also deals with livability in space, including nutrition, sleep, environmental control, and personal hygiene.
-
-
Decent overview of space travel hazards
- By Historian1912 on 08-09-24
By: Ronke Olabisi, and others
-
What America’s Founders Learned from Antiquity
- By: Caroline Winterer, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Caroline Winterer
- Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Many Americans know that our nation’s founders drew inspiration from the political systems of ancient Rome and Greece. But what exactly were these influences? And did they shape the United States in far-reaching ways? In these 24 compelling lectures, Professor Winterer takes you on a journey into the thought and actions of the American revolutionaries, showing how classical antiquity shaped every aspect of the revolutionary and founding era.
By: Caroline Winterer, and others
-
Sex in the Middle Ages
- By: Jennifer McNabb, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer McNabb
- Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sex. The word makes some people giggle or blush, while others may draw back in discomfort. So, why do we find it so difficult to talk openly about sex? Much of our reticence in discussing and acknowledging the realities of sex comes, at least in part, from a unique time and place: medieval Europe. In the 12 episodes of Sex in the Middle Ages, Professor Jennifer McNabb and a panel of experts in medieval history and literature will take you back to the period between the fall of Rome and the rise of the Renaissance to explore the ideals and realities of sex and sexuality.
-
-
Confusing
- By Anonymous User on 03-23-24
By: Jennifer McNabb, and others
-
How the Great Migration Changed America
- By: Davarian L. Baldwin, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Davarian L. Baldwin
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During the Great Migration, Black Americans led a mass exodus out of the South. But not all that glittered in the imagination was gold in the real world across the Mason-Dixon line. They contended with dim economic prospects and sparred with white labor unions. They also struggled to assimilate into established Black communities. Nevertheless, these 6 million Black migrants left an indelible mark on life in the United States. How the Great Migration Changed America explores the causes and consequences of the Great Northward Migration in 12 eye-opening lectures.
By: Davarian L. Baldwin, and others
-
How Memory Works and Why Your Brain Remembers Wrong
- By: Gabrielle F. Principe, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle F. Principe
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“Who are you?” Chances are you’d answer this question by describing the highlights of your personality and life experiences. But if you’d been asked this same question yesterday, you might have responded with a slightly different description. Does that mean you are a particular person today but were a different person yesterday? And what about tomorrow? Welcome to the slippery, shape-shifting nature of memory. As Professor Gabrielle Principe reveals, “you” are the conglomeration of the often-unreliable information your brain decides to feed you at any given moment.
-
-
Outstanding
- By Natasha on 01-20-24
By: Gabrielle F. Principe, and others
-
London in the Time of Dickens
- By: Lillian Nayder, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lillian Nayder
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In London in the Time of Dickens, you’ll get the unique opportunity to experience the British capital through the eyes of a literary master whose work is inextricably tied to the city and its rich history. Throughout 12 lectures taught by Professor Lillian Nayder of Bates College, you’ll tour the city of London in a time of rapid transformation through the life and work of Charles Dickens, uncovering the history of the metropolis, while also witnessing the everyday experiences of Londoners from all walks of life as Dickens represents them.
-
-
The book read like an interesting Biography and at the same time it painted what was going on in London at that time !😊
- By miriam wismar on 12-02-23
By: Lillian Nayder, and others
-
Understanding the World of Financial Markets
- By: Connel Fullenkamp, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Connel Fullenkamp
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you’re buying a home, saving for retirement, running a business, or just plain speculating, it’s important to understand financial markets. These are the engines of commerce in today’s world, powering economic activity and steering the flow of capital. Taught by Professor Connel Fullenkamp of Duke University, Understanding the World of Financial Markets is aimed at the ordinary investor and surveys the impressive range of financial markets—from stocks and bonds to futures, options, real estate, private equity, and virtual assets.
By: Connel Fullenkamp, and others
-
Introduction to Cognitive Science
- By: Thad A. Polk, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thad A. Polk
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For millennia, philosophers and scientists have been trying to unlock the secrets of the mind with only limited success—until now. Today, with modern technologies including the best in neuroscience, medical imaging, and recent advances in artificial intelligence, we are making more progress than ever before. In Introduction to Cognitive Science, Professor Thad A. Polk takes you on a fascinating tour of the latest discoveries in the relatively new field of cognitive science. In 24 exciting lectures, Professor Polk shares dozens of the most challenging questions in cognitive science today.
By: Thad A. Polk, and others
-
Existentialism and the Authentic Life
- By: Skye C. Cleary, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Skye C. Cleary
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 24 fascinating lectures of Existentialism and the Authentic Life, Professor Skye C. Cleary will lead you through the writings of many existentialists to help you understand how they addressed the biggest of all questions. Writing about love, death, sex, war, plagues, intrigue, murder, deception, and more, these thinkers guide you toward living an authentic and meaningful life in a world that often seems absurd.
-
-
Friendly presentation
- By Anonymous User on 06-04-24
By: Skye C. Cleary, and others
-
World Heritage Sites II: 12 More of the World’s Greatest Places
- By: Justin M. Jacobs, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Justin M. Jacobs
- Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Our first foray into World Heritage sites, World Heritage Sites: Exploring the World’s Greatest Places, celebrated UNESCO’s remarkable initiative, exploring a rich sampling of these sites across the globe. In this exciting sequel of 12 thrilling lectures, World Heritage Sites II: 12 More of the World’s Greatest Places, expert historian Professor Jacobs introduces you to a dozen more extraordinary treasures of archaeology, architecture, art, engineering, and the natural world.
By: Justin M. Jacobs, and others
-
African American History: From the African Coast to the Civil War
- By: Leslie Alexander, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Leslie Alexander
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Owing to the legacy of slavery, African Americans have faced significant obstacles to obtaining the fundamental rights of freedom and citizenship. The consistent struggle among African Americans to gain their human rights live at the heart of the American experiment in democracy. In the 24 compelling lectures of African American History: From the African Coast to the Civil War, take a penetrating look at the experience of African Americans in the colonial and antebellum eras
By: Leslie Alexander, and others
-
Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World
- By: Prince Ea, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Prince Ea
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
10 interview-based episodes that take ancient designs and applies them to modern lives. Your expert is Prince EA, an artist and inspirational speaker who’s spent the greater part of his career thinking about the ancient world.
-
-
Ooh my gosh, best course I’ve listened too
- By Margie on 11-08-23
By: Prince Ea, and others
-
How Railways Transformed the World
- By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt
- Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Railways are one of the most important inventions in modern history. From the 1825 opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England, trains revolutionized both travel and trade and radically changed the way we experience the world. In the 24 richly illustrated lectures of How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll experience the amazing world and impact of railways, from the early 19th century to today’s futuristic trains, including extensive material on the pleasure and appeal of rail travel today.
-
-
Patrick is the Best!
- By Rachel on 05-30-24
By: Patrick N. Allitt, and others
Publisher's summary
History may appear logical and even inevitable: Things happened because they had to. But when you go back to examine the great turning points of the past, you quickly discover how choices, chances, and accidents played a huge rule in making the world we know today. Politicians, writers, explorers, and ordinary people all make choices that shape history. But examining the moments that define our history raises an important question: What if things had gone differently?
Historians have a term for this type of speculation. A “counterfactual” history imagines a different person, a different decision, different luck in a critical moment—and the way a small change could have transformed history as we know it. What if Christopher Columbus never got the money to sail in 1492? What if the Union lost the Battle of Gettysburg? Or President John F. Kennedy escaped assassination?
As you’ll learn, a well-constructed counterfactual is about more than flipping a switch or taking a guess. Historians look for moments of “contingency”—times when something unlikely happened or when events turned on a moment that could have gone either way. What happens when you take away favorable weather conditions or delay an event by 15 minutes?
Accompanied by a selection of guests, Professor Jortner takes you through a mind-bending exploration of the history that could have been. Captivating storytellers and imaginative thinkers, these experts show how history is contingent on split-second decisions, near misses, and sheer dumb luck. By reflecting on what didn’t happen, 10 Great What-Ifs of American History gives you new insights on what did happen—and the impact on our world today.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Related to this topic
-
The Art of War
- By: Sun Tzu
- Narrated by: Aidan Gillen
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
-
-
The actual book The Art of War, not a commentary
- By Fred271 on 12-31-19
By: Sun Tzu
-
MOVE: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy
- By: Curtis Bryant, Kevin Arbouet
- Narrated by: Tariq Trotter
- Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This searing audio documentary brings listeners deep inside the unforgettable story of MOVE, gaining unprecedented access to surviving MOVE members, elected officials from the era, eyewitnesses, and historians to create an indelible portrait of an American tragedy.
-
-
Balanced Examination of History
- By James Peacock on 08-14-24
By: Curtis Bryant, and others
-
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
- By: Jack Weatherford
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.
-
-
Golden Horde/Platinum Listen
- By Cynthia on 12-11-13
By: Jack Weatherford
-
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
- As Told to Alex Haley
- By: Malcolm X, Alex Haley
- Narrated by: Laurence Fishburne
- Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Experience a bold take on this classic autobiography as it’s performed by Oscar-nominated Laurence Fishburne. In this searing classic autobiography, originally published in 1965, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and Black empowerment activist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Human Rights movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American dream and the inherent racism in a society that denies its non-White citizens the opportunity to dream, gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time.
-
-
it's Nearly perfect
- By Kerry on 09-16-20
By: Malcolm X, and others
-
Backlash
- By: Adesuwa Agbonile, Wonder Media Network
- Narrated by: Adesuwa Agbonile
- Length: 4 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The American story is a story of progress. We’re taught that as time moves forward–and movements for civil rights come and go–America gets better, and better, and better. But the story isn’t that straightforward. Because often, on the heels of what looks like progress, comes backlash. People in power find ways to return things to the way they were before. These moments prove that progress isn’t linear or inevitable. Our standard narratives about American progress aren’t quite true. Backlash offers a new narrative.
-
-
American History
- By Jazzy19 on 09-19-24
By: Adesuwa Agbonile, and others
-
Complexity
- The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos
- By: M. Mitchell Waldrop
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 17 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a rarified world of scientific research, a revolution has been brewing. Its activists are not anarchists, but rather Nobel Laureates in physics and economics and pony-tailed graduates, mathematicians, and computer scientists from all over the world. They have formed an iconoclastic think-tank and their radical idea is to create a new science: complexity. They want to know how a primordial soup of simple molecules managed to turn itself into the first living cell--and what the origin of life some four billion years ago can tell us about the process of technological innovation today.
-
-
You won't learn anything you didn't know
- By Dennis E. Alwine on 12-26-20
-
The Art of War
- By: Sun Tzu
- Narrated by: Aidan Gillen
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
-
-
The actual book The Art of War, not a commentary
- By Fred271 on 12-31-19
By: Sun Tzu
-
MOVE: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy
- By: Curtis Bryant, Kevin Arbouet
- Narrated by: Tariq Trotter
- Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This searing audio documentary brings listeners deep inside the unforgettable story of MOVE, gaining unprecedented access to surviving MOVE members, elected officials from the era, eyewitnesses, and historians to create an indelible portrait of an American tragedy.
-
-
Balanced Examination of History
- By James Peacock on 08-14-24
By: Curtis Bryant, and others
-
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
- By: Jack Weatherford
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.
-
-
Golden Horde/Platinum Listen
- By Cynthia on 12-11-13
By: Jack Weatherford
-
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
- As Told to Alex Haley
- By: Malcolm X, Alex Haley
- Narrated by: Laurence Fishburne
- Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Experience a bold take on this classic autobiography as it’s performed by Oscar-nominated Laurence Fishburne. In this searing classic autobiography, originally published in 1965, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and Black empowerment activist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Human Rights movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American dream and the inherent racism in a society that denies its non-White citizens the opportunity to dream, gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time.
-
-
it's Nearly perfect
- By Kerry on 09-16-20
By: Malcolm X, and others
-
Backlash
- By: Adesuwa Agbonile, Wonder Media Network
- Narrated by: Adesuwa Agbonile
- Length: 4 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The American story is a story of progress. We’re taught that as time moves forward–and movements for civil rights come and go–America gets better, and better, and better. But the story isn’t that straightforward. Because often, on the heels of what looks like progress, comes backlash. People in power find ways to return things to the way they were before. These moments prove that progress isn’t linear or inevitable. Our standard narratives about American progress aren’t quite true. Backlash offers a new narrative.
-
-
American History
- By Jazzy19 on 09-19-24
By: Adesuwa Agbonile, and others
-
Complexity
- The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos
- By: M. Mitchell Waldrop
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 17 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a rarified world of scientific research, a revolution has been brewing. Its activists are not anarchists, but rather Nobel Laureates in physics and economics and pony-tailed graduates, mathematicians, and computer scientists from all over the world. They have formed an iconoclastic think-tank and their radical idea is to create a new science: complexity. They want to know how a primordial soup of simple molecules managed to turn itself into the first living cell--and what the origin of life some four billion years ago can tell us about the process of technological innovation today.
-
-
You won't learn anything you didn't know
- By Dennis E. Alwine on 12-26-20
-
Mythology: Mega Collection
- Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, Hindu, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
- Length: 31 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
-
-
An interesting set of introductions.
- By Kevin Potter on 05-30-19
By: Scott Lewis
-
The Girls of Atomic City
- The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
- By: Denise Kiernan
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was home to 75,000 residents, consuming more electricity than New York City. But to most of the world, the town did not exist. Thousands of civilians - many of them young women from small towns across the South - were recruited to this secret city, enticed by solid wages and the promise of war-ending work. Kept very much in the dark, few would ever guess the true nature of the tasks they performed each day in the hulking factories in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains.
-
-
Important story of this secret city
- By CBlox on 11-14-13
By: Denise Kiernan
-
The Norman Conquest
- The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An upstart French duke who sets out to conquer the most powerful and unified kingdom in Christendom. An invasion force on a scale not seen since the days of the Romans. One of the bloodiest and most decisive battles ever fought.
-
-
A Balanced, Entertaining, and Informative History
- By Jefferson on 06-01-14
By: Marc Morris
-
Napoleon's Hemorrhoids…And Other Small Events That Changed History
- By: Phil Mason
- Narrated by: LJ Ganser
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hilarious, fascinating, and a roller coaster of dizzying, historical what-ifs, Napoleon's Hemorrhoids is a potpourri for serious historians and casual history buffs. In one of Phil Mason's many revelations, you'll learn that Communist jets were two minutes away from opening fire on American planes during the Cuban missile crisis, when they had to turn back as they were running out of fuel. You'll discover that before the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon's painful hemorrhoids prevented him from mounting his horse to survey the battlefield.
-
-
They just throw the facts too fast
- By Concerned_llama on 12-11-20
By: Phil Mason
-
Fingerprints of the Gods
- The Quest Continues
- By: Graham Hancock
- Narrated by: Graham Hancock
- Length: 18 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fingerprints of the Gods is the revolutionary rewrite of history that has persuaded millions of listeners throughout the world to change their preconceptions about the history behind modern society. An intellectual detective story, this unique history audiobook directs probing questions at orthodox history, presenting disturbing new evidence that historians have tried - but failed - to explain.
-
-
Classic in Historical Mysteries
- By Kelly on 09-05-19
By: Graham Hancock
-
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
- A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
- By: Anne Fadiman
- Narrated by: Pamela Xiong
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When three-month-old Lia Lee arrived at the county hospital emergency room in Merced, California, a chain of events was set in motion from which neither she nor her parents nor her doctors would ever recover. Lia's parents, Foua and Nao Kao, were part of a large Hmong community in Merced, refugees from the CIA-run "Quiet War" in Laos.
-
-
Good audiobook but narrator struggles with basic pronunciation
- By Kate on 06-04-15
By: Anne Fadiman
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything
- By: Laura Helmuth, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Laura Helmuth
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We’re living in a golden age of scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. Now, you have the chance to dig into some of the most fascinating and important scientific advancements in recent years. Unexpected, consequential, and often counterintuitive, 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything offers an inspiring introduction to science in the 21st century. Taught by Scientific American editor in chief Laura Helmuth, these eye-opening lectures will satiate even the most inquisitive mind.
By: Laura Helmuth, and others
-
African American History: From the African Coast to the Civil War
- By: Leslie Alexander, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Leslie Alexander
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Owing to the legacy of slavery, African Americans have faced significant obstacles to obtaining the fundamental rights of freedom and citizenship. The consistent struggle among African Americans to gain their human rights live at the heart of the American experiment in democracy. In the 24 compelling lectures of African American History: From the African Coast to the Civil War, take a penetrating look at the experience of African Americans in the colonial and antebellum eras
By: Leslie Alexander, and others
-
How to Survive in Space
- By: Ronke Olabisi, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ronke Olabisi
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spaceflight is notoriously dangerous. Beyond launch mishaps and equipment failures, astronauts face serious health problems from long-term weightlessness and high-energy radiation. Not to mention, the space environment is a near-perfect vacuum that can quickly kill anyone who is unprotected. Drawing on the hard-won insights of NASA astronauts and space researchers, this 12-lecture course presents the perils of spaceflight and what experts have done to make them survivable. It also deals with livability in space, including nutrition, sleep, environmental control, and personal hygiene.
-
-
Decent overview of space travel hazards
- By Historian1912 on 08-09-24
By: Ronke Olabisi, and others
-
American Monsters
- By: Adam Jortner, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Adam Jortner
- Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grab a flashlight and go monster-hunting in the safe company of Adam Jortner, award-winning professor of religion at Auburn University. You’ll encounter chilling tales of living houses, sentient plants, psychotic toys, brain-eating zombies, and otherworldly beings whose mere name is enough to drive people insane. Along the way, you’ll learn how monster stories change how Americans think and what Americans do, how they shape the history of our country, and what secrets about human nature these inhuman monsters can share.
-
-
Great entertaining listen
- By lindsayb on 06-22-21
By: Adam Jortner, and others
-
Sex in the Middle Ages
- By: Jennifer McNabb, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer McNabb
- Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sex. The word makes some people giggle or blush, while others may draw back in discomfort. So, why do we find it so difficult to talk openly about sex? Much of our reticence in discussing and acknowledging the realities of sex comes, at least in part, from a unique time and place: medieval Europe. In the 12 episodes of Sex in the Middle Ages, Professor Jennifer McNabb and a panel of experts in medieval history and literature will take you back to the period between the fall of Rome and the rise of the Renaissance to explore the ideals and realities of sex and sexuality.
-
-
Confusing
- By Anonymous User on 03-23-24
By: Jennifer McNabb, and others
-
God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything
- By: Laura Helmuth, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Laura Helmuth
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We’re living in a golden age of scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. Now, you have the chance to dig into some of the most fascinating and important scientific advancements in recent years. Unexpected, consequential, and often counterintuitive, 12 Revolutionary Discoveries That Could Change Everything offers an inspiring introduction to science in the 21st century. Taught by Scientific American editor in chief Laura Helmuth, these eye-opening lectures will satiate even the most inquisitive mind.
By: Laura Helmuth, and others
-
African American History: From the African Coast to the Civil War
- By: Leslie Alexander, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Leslie Alexander
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Owing to the legacy of slavery, African Americans have faced significant obstacles to obtaining the fundamental rights of freedom and citizenship. The consistent struggle among African Americans to gain their human rights live at the heart of the American experiment in democracy. In the 24 compelling lectures of African American History: From the African Coast to the Civil War, take a penetrating look at the experience of African Americans in the colonial and antebellum eras
By: Leslie Alexander, and others
-
How to Survive in Space
- By: Ronke Olabisi, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ronke Olabisi
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spaceflight is notoriously dangerous. Beyond launch mishaps and equipment failures, astronauts face serious health problems from long-term weightlessness and high-energy radiation. Not to mention, the space environment is a near-perfect vacuum that can quickly kill anyone who is unprotected. Drawing on the hard-won insights of NASA astronauts and space researchers, this 12-lecture course presents the perils of spaceflight and what experts have done to make them survivable. It also deals with livability in space, including nutrition, sleep, environmental control, and personal hygiene.
-
-
Decent overview of space travel hazards
- By Historian1912 on 08-09-24
By: Ronke Olabisi, and others
-
American Monsters
- By: Adam Jortner, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Adam Jortner
- Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grab a flashlight and go monster-hunting in the safe company of Adam Jortner, award-winning professor of religion at Auburn University. You’ll encounter chilling tales of living houses, sentient plants, psychotic toys, brain-eating zombies, and otherworldly beings whose mere name is enough to drive people insane. Along the way, you’ll learn how monster stories change how Americans think and what Americans do, how they shape the history of our country, and what secrets about human nature these inhuman monsters can share.
-
-
Great entertaining listen
- By lindsayb on 06-22-21
By: Adam Jortner, and others
-
Sex in the Middle Ages
- By: Jennifer McNabb, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer McNabb
- Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sex. The word makes some people giggle or blush, while others may draw back in discomfort. So, why do we find it so difficult to talk openly about sex? Much of our reticence in discussing and acknowledging the realities of sex comes, at least in part, from a unique time and place: medieval Europe. In the 12 episodes of Sex in the Middle Ages, Professor Jennifer McNabb and a panel of experts in medieval history and literature will take you back to the period between the fall of Rome and the rise of the Renaissance to explore the ideals and realities of sex and sexuality.
-
-
Confusing
- By Anonymous User on 03-23-24
By: Jennifer McNabb, and others
-
Existentialism and the Authentic Life
- By: Skye C. Cleary, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Skye C. Cleary
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 24 fascinating lectures of Existentialism and the Authentic Life, Professor Skye C. Cleary will lead you through the writings of many existentialists to help you understand how they addressed the biggest of all questions. Writing about love, death, sex, war, plagues, intrigue, murder, deception, and more, these thinkers guide you toward living an authentic and meaningful life in a world that often seems absurd.
-
-
Friendly presentation
- By Anonymous User on 06-04-24
By: Skye C. Cleary, and others
-
London in the Time of Dickens
- By: Lillian Nayder, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lillian Nayder
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In London in the Time of Dickens, you’ll get the unique opportunity to experience the British capital through the eyes of a literary master whose work is inextricably tied to the city and its rich history. Throughout 12 lectures taught by Professor Lillian Nayder of Bates College, you’ll tour the city of London in a time of rapid transformation through the life and work of Charles Dickens, uncovering the history of the metropolis, while also witnessing the everyday experiences of Londoners from all walks of life as Dickens represents them.
-
-
The book read like an interesting Biography and at the same time it painted what was going on in London at that time !😊
- By miriam wismar on 12-02-23
By: Lillian Nayder, and others
-
How the Great Migration Changed America
- By: Davarian L. Baldwin, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Davarian L. Baldwin
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During the Great Migration, Black Americans led a mass exodus out of the South. But not all that glittered in the imagination was gold in the real world across the Mason-Dixon line. They contended with dim economic prospects and sparred with white labor unions. They also struggled to assimilate into established Black communities. Nevertheless, these 6 million Black migrants left an indelible mark on life in the United States. How the Great Migration Changed America explores the causes and consequences of the Great Northward Migration in 12 eye-opening lectures.
By: Davarian L. Baldwin, and others
-
The Skeptic's Guide to Investing
- By: Ramon DeGennaro, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ramon DeGennaro
- Length: 3 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Satisfy the financial skeptic in you with The Skeptic’s Guide to Investing, a six-lecture Audible Original where you’ll learn how financial markets operate so you can become a wiser, savvier, safer investor. Along with a deep look at the inner workings of these powerful markets, Professor Ramon P. DeGennaro offers a wealth of insight into investment strategies, whether you’re already a stockholder or thinking of investing for the first time.
-
-
Meh
- By Brad on 08-16-24
By: Ramon DeGennaro, and others
-
The Surprising Lives of Christian Saints
- By: Emily Graham, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Emily Graham
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the course of 24 in-depth lectures, Professor Emily Graham, an Associate Professor of History at Oklahoma State University, surveys the global history of Christian sainthood. As you’ll discover, the stories of Christian saints are not just fascinating—they’re also an integral part of Christian history.
By: Emily Graham, and others
-
How the Spanish Civil War Became Europe’s Battlefield
- By: Pamela B. Radcliff, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Pamela B. Radcliff
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Spanish Civil War was a local conflict on the margins of Europe—a short yet bloody series of battles in a lull between the great World Wars—but the conflict was a microcosm of war in the 20th century. Not only did the Spanish Civil War foreshadow the global conflagration to come, but it also had its roots in the modern era’s central divides: urban versus rural, religion versus secularization, rich versus poor, progress versus tradition, democracy versus fascism and communism.
-
-
Much More Than a Military History
- By Mark on 07-23-23
By: Pamela B. Radcliff, and others
-
D-Day Revisited: The Invasion of Normandy
- By: John McManus, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McManus
- Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
World War II is the defining conflict of the 20th century, one that created a line in the sands of history dividing the pre-war and post-war eras. In this epoch-defining conflict lies another definitive moment: the invasion of a 50-mile stretch of coast in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. This battle, also known as D-Day, was the pivot point of the war in Europe. Its success led to a nearly yearlong, bloody campaign that saw the liberation of France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands, followed by the final defeat of Hitler’s Third Reich.
-
-
Poor narration
- By Carrie Sandler on 06-23-24
By: John McManus, and others
-
Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World
- By: Prince Ea, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Prince Ea
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
10 interview-based episodes that take ancient designs and applies them to modern lives. Your expert is Prince EA, an artist and inspirational speaker who’s spent the greater part of his career thinking about the ancient world.
-
-
Ooh my gosh, best course I’ve listened too
- By Margie on 11-08-23
By: Prince Ea, and others
-
How Memory Works and Why Your Brain Remembers Wrong
- By: Gabrielle F. Principe, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gabrielle F. Principe
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“Who are you?” Chances are you’d answer this question by describing the highlights of your personality and life experiences. But if you’d been asked this same question yesterday, you might have responded with a slightly different description. Does that mean you are a particular person today but were a different person yesterday? And what about tomorrow? Welcome to the slippery, shape-shifting nature of memory. As Professor Gabrielle Principe reveals, “you” are the conglomeration of the often-unreliable information your brain decides to feed you at any given moment.
-
-
Outstanding
- By Natasha on 01-20-24
By: Gabrielle F. Principe, and others
-
How Railways Transformed the World
- By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt
- Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Railways are one of the most important inventions in modern history. From the 1825 opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England, trains revolutionized both travel and trade and radically changed the way we experience the world. In the 24 richly illustrated lectures of How Railways Transformed the World, you’ll experience the amazing world and impact of railways, from the early 19th century to today’s futuristic trains, including extensive material on the pleasure and appeal of rail travel today.
-
-
Patrick is the Best!
- By Rachel on 05-30-24
By: Patrick N. Allitt, and others
-
Creation Stories of the Ancient World
- By: Joseph Lam, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph Lam
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Creation stories, found within many ancient cultures, are traditional accounts of the origins of the universe, the earth, and humanity. Often embodied as epic poetry, and told through the acts of divine beings, creation stories illuminate the values, beliefs, and creeds of the earliest civilizations. As such, these stories show us how early cultures made sense of the human condition, in theological, philosophical, and political terms. These 12 dynamic and thought-provoking lectures offer you a penetrating look at the origin stories of the great civilizations of the Mediterranean.
-
-
great survey of Ancient Creation stories
- By Anthony Alemany on 07-13-23
By: Joseph Lam, and others
-
Introduction to Cognitive Science
- By: Thad A. Polk, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thad A. Polk
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For millennia, philosophers and scientists have been trying to unlock the secrets of the mind with only limited success—until now. Today, with modern technologies including the best in neuroscience, medical imaging, and recent advances in artificial intelligence, we are making more progress than ever before. In Introduction to Cognitive Science, Professor Thad A. Polk takes you on a fascinating tour of the latest discoveries in the relatively new field of cognitive science. In 24 exciting lectures, Professor Polk shares dozens of the most challenging questions in cognitive science today.
By: Thad A. Polk, and others
What listeners say about 10 Great What-Ifs of American History
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- homedaddy
- 05-09-24
Overacting and Multiple Narrators Distracting
The overacting of the main narrator was way over the top and very annoying to me. Almost like an audio version of the National Enquirer. I felt it was condescending, as if he assumed I was bored or too dumb to understand the consequences of the “what if.”
There were three other narrators who read small passages. Why? I kept losing my focus, because I was used to the rhythm and inflections of one narrator. During one passage, the female narrator sounded as if she was cut off before finishing a sentence.
I couldn’t finish the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!