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Leviathan (AmazonClassics Edition)
- Narrated by: Simon Mattacks
- Length: 21 hrs and 12 mins
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Publisher's summary
In a world rife with willful chaos, how can order be restored? Philosopher Thomas Hobbes’s answer, composed amid the violence of the English Civil War, revolutionized political thought. His solution was a commonwealth, or Leviathan, a body politic ruled and protected by an absolute sovereign. Its power would be dependent on the people to exchange their freedom for the security and order of a common law. Only with this social contract, Hobbes argued, can civil peace be established.
A witty, imaginative, and eternally provocative philosophical bulwark, Leviathan was burned upon publication for being seditious. It remains one of the most influential and fundamental texts of social theory ever written.
Revised edition: Previously published as Leviathan, this edition of Leviathan (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.
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Thomas Paine Classic Collection
- Common Sense, The Age of Reason, and The Rights of Man
- By: Thomas Paine
- Narrated by: Russell Newton
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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This Thomas Paine Classic Collection contains three of Thomas Paine's most notable books: Common Sense, The Age of Reason, and The Rights of Man. Born during the Age of Enlightenment and one of America’s Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine wrote incredible works that continue to resonate with people in the modern world. Inside this collection, you’ll find some of Thomas Paine’s most famous and influential works, from his arguments against the Church to the nature of government and revolution.
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As it was then, so it is today.
- By Jason Lehne on 10-28-20
By: Thomas Paine
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All Loves Excelling
- The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love
- By: John Bunyan
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 3 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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All Loves Excelling is John Bunyan's sermon on Ephesians 3:18-19: "That ye...may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." It was first titled The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love, is worthy of being ranked alongside Sibbes, and deals with a much neglected subject area.
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Excellent Sermon! Well read
- By Ruby Spinner on 12-28-20
By: John Bunyan
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The Life of God in the Soul of Man
- By: Henry Scougal
- Narrated by: Charles Olsen
- Length: 2 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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It has been said that this work by Henry Scougal was "almost universally praised by the leaders of the Great Awakening". It is a piece of literature that has been used by God to influence the souls of men for the glory of Christ. Regardless of the times we live in, the great works of the men of God of old are still applicable today. In an age of lukewarm believers, we need the fire of God to burn us afresh and give us a clear vision of his holy will.
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Knowing God & Drawing Closer to Him
- By Andrew Lipp on 10-13-18
By: Henry Scougal
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How Great Is Our God
- Classic Writings from History's Greatest Christian Thinkers in Contemporary Language
- By: Ignatius, John Calvin, Augustine, and others
- Narrated by: Bill DeWees
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Daily readings drawn from every century and every tradition of the Christian faith. Christianity through the ages... Ignatius, C.S. Lewis, John Calvin, Augustine, Catherine of Siena, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Polycarp, John Wesley, Karl Barth, and Billy Sunday. These names, and so many others, fill the pages of church history. Yet they remain strangers to most of us. How Great Is Our God will introduce you to Christianity’s most influential thinkers from every century and every tradition—modernized for today’s reader.
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Tedious
- By Alan Rither on 01-21-13
By: Ignatius, and others
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The Gnostic Origins of Calvinism
- By: Ken Johnson
- Narrated by: Drew Baker
- Length: 2 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Most people have heard of Calvinism and Arminianism, and most know there are many problems with the extreme forms, hyper-Calvinism and hyper-Arminianism. But what did John Calvin really teach and where did his ideas come from? Learn the true Gnostic origins of Calvinism from the ancient church fathers and compare Scripture with Scripture to clearly see the trap Satan has set to divide Bible-believing Christians.
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Interesting title but doesn’t deliver.
- By Bent Tree Church on 07-28-22
By: Ken Johnson
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Meditations
- By: Marcus Aurelius, George Long - translator, Duncan Steen - translator
- Narrated by: Duncan Steen
- Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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One of the most significant books ever written by a head of state, the Meditations are a collection of philosophical thoughts by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180 ce). Covering issues such as duty, forgiveness, brotherhood, strength in adversity and the best way to approach life and death, the Meditations have inspired thinkers, poets and politicians since their first publication more than 500 years ago. Today, the book stands as one of the great guides and companions - a cornerstone of Western thought.
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Excelent reading of an excellent classic
- By David on 10-22-16
By: Marcus Aurelius, and others
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Meditations
- By: Marcus Aurelius, George Long - translator
- Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
- Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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The Meditations are a series of private reflections written in Greek by a Roman emperor immersed in the administration of an empire beset by wars on its frontiers and natural disasters in its interior. It is the work of a great man seeking philosophical and spiritual solace in the midst of human chaos and uncertainty. This beautiful piece of ancient literature has been the companion of many leaders over the centuries who turned to inner reflection in times of unrest. Its Stoic philosophy has been much admired and emulated.
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A profoundly crystal-clear simplicity
- By JSP on 08-28-24
By: Marcus Aurelius, and others
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Born out of the political turmoil of the English Civil War, Leviathan stands out as one of the most in influential political and philosophical texts of the 17th century. It argues for the restoration of the monarchy in light of the republic and calls for a commonwealth ruled by an authoritative, autocratic figure with absolute sovereignty. This would put an end to all controversy, war, and fear and establish peace via social contract.
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Two Treatises of Government
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Often considered the foundation of political liberalism, John Locke's Two Treatises of Government was first published anonymously in 1689, in the wake of England's Glorious Revolution. In The First Treatise of Government, Locke refutes the idea of divine monarchy, while The Second Treatise of Government articulates Locke's philosophy of government, which he based upon his theories of natural rights and the social contract.
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Don't let the title scare you off!
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By: John Locke
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On the Social Contract
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Classic. Must read.
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For the philosophical minds
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Pointless and Boring
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Often considered the foundation of political liberalism, John Locke's Two Treatises of Government was first published anonymously in 1689, in the wake of England's Glorious Revolution. In The First Treatise of Government, Locke refutes the idea of divine monarchy, while The Second Treatise of Government articulates Locke's philosophy of government, which he based upon his theories of natural rights and the social contract.
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Don't let the title scare you off!
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Classic. Must read.
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The Federalist Papers
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Originally published anonymously, The Federalist Papers first appeared in 1787 as a series of letters to New York newspapers exhorting voters to ratify the proposed Constitution of the United States. Still hotly debated and open to often controversial interpretations, the arguments first presented here by three of America's greatest patriots and political theorists were created during a critical moment in our nation's history.
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Changes key words and concepts from the original
- By Some guy on 08-14-20
By: Alexander Hamilton, and others
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Pensées
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Intended to be a defense of the Christian religion, Pensées is a penetrating collection of thoughts on faith, reason, and theology. Unfinished at the time of Pascal's death, the book consists of philosophical fragments on the "wretchedness" of man and the controversial schisms of the church at the time. It includes the philosopher's infamous wager encouraging belief over agnosticism, as well as his thoughts on numerous other topics. Endlessly quotable, Pensées overflows with pearls of wisdom, each elusive sentence pregnant with a universe of thought.
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Excellent Audiobook!
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The Federalist Papers (AmazonClassics Edition)
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Hailed by Thomas Jefferson as "the best commentary on the principles of government which was ever written," The Federalist Papers is a collection of 85 essays published by Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay from 1787 to 1788, as a means to persuade the public to ratify the Constitution of the United States. With nearly two-thirds of the essays written by Hamilton, this enduring classic is perfect for modern audiences passionate about his work or seeking a deeper understanding of one of the most important documents in US history.
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I must for everyone who slept through history class
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In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat and civil servant, made a nine-month journey through the eastern United States. The result was Democracy in America, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nation’s evolving politics. His insightful work has become one of the most influential political texts ever written on America.
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Most Listenable, if not the Best Translation
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The Republic (AmazonClassics Edition)
- By: Plato, Benjamin Jowett - translator
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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In search of an ideal civilization, Socrates leads Glaucon, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus, and others in debates about various subjects, including justice, truth, class, and art. For without righteousness, tyranny and injustice give rise to oligarchy. The influential dialogues of The Republic helped shape all of Western literature and philosophical thought. It is as much a doctrine of ethics and politics now as it was for the ancient Greeks, and its dilemma remains: how to create a perfect society populated by very imperfect human beings.
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Horrendous.
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By: Plato, and others
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An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
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- Unabridged
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John Locke and his works - particularly An Essay Concerning Human Understanding - are regularly and rightly presented as foundations for the Age of Enlightenment. His primary epistemological message - that the mind at birth is a blank sheet waiting to be filled by the experiences of the senses - complemented his primary political message: that human beings are free and equal and have the right to envision, create and direct the governments that rule them and the societies within which they live.
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Exhaustive Philosophic Treatise
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To the Lighthouse (AmazonClassics Edition)
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On the glistening surface of Virginia Woolf’s groundbreaking novel is the Ramsay family, a seemingly stable group of characters, but a group that is ultimately subject to the same alterations and losses that come with the passing of time. Set at the Ramsays’ summerhouse over two September days, ten years apart, Woolf’s influential landmark of twentieth-century literature explores the hopes, frustrations, and small moments of grace and change that permeate everyday life.
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A Favorite
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By: Virginia Woolf
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The Republic
- By: Plato
- Narrated by: Pat Bottino
- Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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In this monumental work of moral and political philosophy, Plato sought to answer some of the world's most formidable questions: What does it mean to be good? What enables us to distinguish between right and wrong? How should human virtues be translated into a just society? Perhaps the greatest single treatise written on political philosophy, The Republic has strongly influenced Western thought concerning questions of justice, rule, obedience, and the good life.
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Jowett's 1894 translation
- By Alnia Perpoz on 10-16-09
By: Plato
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The City of God
- By: Saint Augustine
- Narrated by: David McCallion
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- Unabridged
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The City of God is one of the most important works of Christian history and philosophy ever written. The writings of St. Augustine are as intriguing to the casual reader as it is to Christian researchers. St. Augustine's work provides insight into Western thought and the development of Western civilizations. The City of God provides the reader with an artful contrast between earthy cities and those in heaven as a representation of the eternal struggle between good and evil. The City of God was originally penned in the early 5th century as a response to the prevalent belief that Christianity was to blame for the fall of Rome. St. Augustine is known as one of the most influential Fathers of the Catholic Church. Born November 13, 354, Augustine would eventually be recognized as a Saint by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Christian Church, and the Anglican Communion.
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Wonderful Performance
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By: Saint Augustine
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The Wealth of Nations
- By: Adam Smith
- Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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The foundation for all modern economic thought and political economy, The Wealth of Nations is the magnum opus of Scottish economist Adam Smith, who introduces the world to the very idea of economics and capitalism in the modern sense of the words.
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ADAM SMITH
- By chetyarbrough.blog on 01-20-15
By: Adam Smith
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The Prince
- By: Niccolo Machiavelli
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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- Unabridged
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From his perspective in Renaissance Italy, Machiavelli's aim in this classic work was to resolve conflict with the ruling prince, Lorenzo de Medici. Machiavelli based his insights on the way people really are rather than an ideal of how they should be. This is the world's most famous master plan for seizing and holding power. Astonishing in its candor The Prince even today remains a disturbingly realistic and prophetic work on what it takes to be a prince, a king, or a president.
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You have to know what you get with The Prince
- By Cody Brown on 02-10-15
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Don Quixote
- Translated by Edith Grossman
- By: Edith Grossman - translator, Miguel de Cervantes
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 39 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Sixteenth-century Spanish gentleman Don Quixote, fed by his own delusional fantasies, takes to the road in search of chivalrous adventures. But his quest leads to more trouble than triumph. At once humorous, romantic, and sad, Don Quixote is a literary landmark. This fresh edition, by award-winning translator Edith Grossman, brings the tale to life as never before.
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My Fourth Try at an Audible Quixote
- By James on 12-24-12
By: Edith Grossman - translator, and others
What listeners say about Leviathan (AmazonClassics Edition)
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Hermitage
- 12-21-19
Poor narration
The narrator does not appear to understand what he is reading. He continually introduces audible sentence breaks in the middle of sentences, or ignores periods and runs sentences together. At times he even skips over words or drops entire lines. He also reads every sentence with same inflection and rhythm -- the lack of variety of pace or cadence makes for a very monotonous listen.
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