-
The Old Testament
- A Very Short Introduction
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 4 hrs
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 $13.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
Eminent biblical scholar Michael D. Coogan offers here a wide-ranging and stimulating exploration of the Old Testament, illuminating its importance as history, literature, and sacred text.
Coogan explains the differences between the Bible of Jewish tradition (the "Hebrew Bible") and the Old Testament of Christianity, and also examines the different contents of the Bibles used by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and Protestants. Coogan explores the use of invented dialogue and historical fiction in the Old Testament, the presence of mythic elements in apparently historical accounts, and the relationship of ancient Israelite myths to those of their neighbors. The book considers the Old Testament's idea of divine justice, especially in Ecclesiastes and Job, and looks at notions of the afterlife in the ancient Near East and in ancient Israel. Coogan highlights the significance of the history and literature of the Old Testament and describes how non-biblical evidence, such as archaeological data and texts, has placed the Old Testament in a larger and more illuminating context.
Here then is a marvelous overview of one of the great pillars of Western religion and culture, a book whose significance has endured for thousands of years and which remains vitally important today for Jews, Christians, and Muslims worldwide.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Colonial America
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Alan Taylor
- Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the last generation, historians have broadened our understanding of colonial America by adopting both a trans-Atlantic and a trans-continental perspective, examining the interplay of Europe, Africa, and the Americas through the flow of goods, people, plants, animals, capital, and ideas. In this Very Short Introduction, Alan Taylor presents an engaging overview of the best of this new scholarship.
-
-
Eye opening narrative
- By T.J. Dowling on 07-15-21
By: Alan Taylor
-
Judaism (2nd Edition)
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Norman Solomon
- Narrated by: Jesse Einstein
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Normon Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. Demonstrating the diverse nature and ethnic origin of Jewish people, Solomon explores how the religion has developed in the 2,000 years since the days of the Bible.
-
-
tremendous!
- By D. Griffin on 10-18-23
By: Norman Solomon
-
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Martin Bunton
- Narrated by: Neil Shah
- Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The conflict between Palestine and Israel is one of the most highly publicized and bitter struggles in history. In this accessible and stimulating Very Short Introduction, Martin Bunton clearly explains the history of the problem, reducing it to its very essence - a modern territorial contest between two nations and one geographical territory.Providing a clear and fair exploration of the main issues, Bunton explores not only the historical basis of the conflict, but also looks at how and why partition has been so difficult and how efforts to restore peace continue today.
-
-
Even-handed.
- By Tom Judge on 11-15-23
By: Martin Bunton
-
The Ancient Near East
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Amanda H. Podany
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 4 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient Near East is known as the "cradle of civilization" - and for good reason. Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia were home to an extraordinarily rich and successful culture. Indeed, it was a time and place of earth-shaking changes for humankind: the beginnings of writing and law, kingship and bureaucracy, diplomacy and state-sponsored warfare, mathematics and literature. This Very Short Introduction audiobook offers a fascinating account of this momentous time in human history.
-
-
This Great Work Reveals Amanda Podany at her Best
- By Amadeu Macedo on 10-24-24
By: Amanda H. Podany
-
Weavers, Scribes, and Kings
- A New History of the Ancient Near East
- By: Amanda H. Podany
- Narrated by: Amanda H. Podany
- Length: 18 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this sweeping history of the ancient Near East, Amanda Podany takes listeners on a gripping journey from the creation of the world's first cities to the conquests of Alexander the Great. The book is built around the life stories of many ancient men and women, from kings, priestesses, and merchants to brickmakers, musicians, and weavers. Their habits of daily life, beliefs, triumphs, and crises, and the changes that people faced over time are explored through their own written words and the buildings, cities, and empires in which they lived.
-
-
word of advice
- By Jim Davis on 08-04-23
By: Amanda H. Podany
-
Fascism
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Kevin Passmore
- Narrated by: Pam Ward
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fascism is notoriously hard to define. How do we make sense of an ideology that appeals to streetfighters and intellectuals alike? That is overtly macho in style, yet attracts many women? That calls for a return to tradition while maintaining a fascination with technology? And that preaches violence in the name of an ordered society? In the new edition of this Very Short Introduction, Kevin Passmore brilliantly unravels the paradoxes of one of the most important phenomena in the modern world
-
-
Brings Clarity to a Resurging Topic
- By Fernanda Araujo on 03-24-20
By: Kevin Passmore
-
Colonial America
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Alan Taylor
- Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the last generation, historians have broadened our understanding of colonial America by adopting both a trans-Atlantic and a trans-continental perspective, examining the interplay of Europe, Africa, and the Americas through the flow of goods, people, plants, animals, capital, and ideas. In this Very Short Introduction, Alan Taylor presents an engaging overview of the best of this new scholarship.
-
-
Eye opening narrative
- By T.J. Dowling on 07-15-21
By: Alan Taylor
-
Judaism (2nd Edition)
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Norman Solomon
- Narrated by: Jesse Einstein
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Normon Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. Demonstrating the diverse nature and ethnic origin of Jewish people, Solomon explores how the religion has developed in the 2,000 years since the days of the Bible.
-
-
tremendous!
- By D. Griffin on 10-18-23
By: Norman Solomon
-
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Martin Bunton
- Narrated by: Neil Shah
- Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The conflict between Palestine and Israel is one of the most highly publicized and bitter struggles in history. In this accessible and stimulating Very Short Introduction, Martin Bunton clearly explains the history of the problem, reducing it to its very essence - a modern territorial contest between two nations and one geographical territory.Providing a clear and fair exploration of the main issues, Bunton explores not only the historical basis of the conflict, but also looks at how and why partition has been so difficult and how efforts to restore peace continue today.
-
-
Even-handed.
- By Tom Judge on 11-15-23
By: Martin Bunton
-
The Ancient Near East
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Amanda H. Podany
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 4 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient Near East is known as the "cradle of civilization" - and for good reason. Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia were home to an extraordinarily rich and successful culture. Indeed, it was a time and place of earth-shaking changes for humankind: the beginnings of writing and law, kingship and bureaucracy, diplomacy and state-sponsored warfare, mathematics and literature. This Very Short Introduction audiobook offers a fascinating account of this momentous time in human history.
-
-
This Great Work Reveals Amanda Podany at her Best
- By Amadeu Macedo on 10-24-24
By: Amanda H. Podany
-
Weavers, Scribes, and Kings
- A New History of the Ancient Near East
- By: Amanda H. Podany
- Narrated by: Amanda H. Podany
- Length: 18 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this sweeping history of the ancient Near East, Amanda Podany takes listeners on a gripping journey from the creation of the world's first cities to the conquests of Alexander the Great. The book is built around the life stories of many ancient men and women, from kings, priestesses, and merchants to brickmakers, musicians, and weavers. Their habits of daily life, beliefs, triumphs, and crises, and the changes that people faced over time are explored through their own written words and the buildings, cities, and empires in which they lived.
-
-
word of advice
- By Jim Davis on 08-04-23
By: Amanda H. Podany
-
Fascism
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Kevin Passmore
- Narrated by: Pam Ward
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fascism is notoriously hard to define. How do we make sense of an ideology that appeals to streetfighters and intellectuals alike? That is overtly macho in style, yet attracts many women? That calls for a return to tradition while maintaining a fascination with technology? And that preaches violence in the name of an ordered society? In the new edition of this Very Short Introduction, Kevin Passmore brilliantly unravels the paradoxes of one of the most important phenomena in the modern world
-
-
Brings Clarity to a Resurging Topic
- By Fernanda Araujo on 03-24-20
By: Kevin Passmore
-
Jesus
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Richard Bauckham
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two billion people today identify as Christians, with the implication that Jesus is the focus of their relationship with God and their way of living in the world. Such followers of Jesus are now more numerous and make up a greater proportion of the world's population than ever before. Richard Bauckham explores the historical figure of Jesus, evaluating the sources and concluding that they provide us with good historical evidence for his life and teaching.
-
-
Probably the best summary of Jesus of Nazareth I have encountered.
- By HEATHER CAVANAH on 10-29-24
By: Richard Bauckham
-
Paul
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: E. P. Sanders
- Narrated by: Robert Feifar
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Missionary, theologian, and religious genius, Paul is one of the most powerful human personalities in the history of the Church. E. P. Sanders, an influential Pauline scholar, analyzes the fundamental beliefs and vigorous contradictions in Paul's thought, discovering a philosophy that is less of a monolithic system than the apostle's convictions would seem to suggest.
-
-
Why aren’t any more of EP Sanders books on audible?
- By scott on 01-12-24
By: E. P. Sanders
-
Hinduism
- A Very Short Introduction, 2nd Edition
- By: Kim Knott
- Narrated by: Sunny Patel
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hinduism is practiced by nearly 80 percent of India's population, and by some 70 million people outside India. In this Very Short Introduction, Kim Knott offers a succinct and authoritative overview of this major religion, and analyzes the challenges facing it in the 21st century. She discusses key preoccupations of Hinduism such as the centrality of the Veda as religious texts, the role of Brahmins, gurus, and storytellers in the transmission of divine truths, and the cultural and moral importance of epics such as the Ramayana.
By: Kim Knott
-
Socialism (2nd Edition)
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Michael Newman
- Narrated by: Mike Cooper
- Length: 5 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is socialism? Does it have a future, or has it become an outdated ideology in the 21st century? This audiobook considers the major theories in socialism and explores its historical evolution from the French Revolution to the present day. Michael Newman argues that socialism has always been a diverse doctrine, while nevertheless containing a central core of interconnected values and goals: a critique of capitalism; an optimistic view of human beings; and the belief that it is possible to establish societies based on egalitarianism, social solidarity, and cooperation.
By: Michael Newman
-
The Dead Sea Scrolls
- A Very Short Introduction, 2nd Edition
- By: Timothy Lim
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since their discovery in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have become an icon in popular culture that transcends their status as ancient Jewish manuscripts. Everyone has heard of the Scrolls, but amidst the conspiracies, the politics, and the sensational claims, it can be difficult to separate the myths from the reality.
-
-
Scholarly
- By Lavinia on 10-07-24
By: Timothy Lim
-
The Oxford History of the Biblical World
- By: Michael D. Coogan - editor
- Narrated by: Scott R. Pollak
- Length: 26 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than a century, archaeologists have been unearthing the tombs, temples, texts, and artifacts of the ancient Near East and the Mediterranean world. Using new approaches, contemporary scholars have begun to synthesize this material with the biblical traditions. The Oxford History of the Biblical World incorporates the best of this scholarship, and in chronologically ordered chapters presents the listener with an integrated study of the history, art, architecture, languages, literatures, and religion of biblical Israel and early Judaism and Christianity in their larger cultural contexts.
-
-
Lots of Information
- By Gordon Hayes on 07-29-24
-
Atheism
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Julian Baggini
- Narrated by: Eileen McNamara
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Atheism is often considered to be a negative, dark, and pessimistic belief which is characterized by a rejection of values and purpose and a fierce opposition to religion. Atheism: A Very Short Introduction sets out to dispel the myths that surround atheism and show how a life without religious belief can be positive, meaningful, and moral. It also confronts the failure of officially atheist states in the 20th century. The book presents an intellectual case for atheism that rests as much upon positive arguments for its truth as on negative arguments against religion.
By: Julian Baggini
-
Superstition
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Stuart Vyse
- Narrated by: Mike Carnes
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Superstition: A Very Short Introduction explores the nature and history of superstition from antiquity to the present. For two millennia, superstition was a label derisively applied to foreign religions and unacceptable religious practices, and its primary purpose was used to separate groups and assert religious and social authority. After the Enlightenment, the superstition label was still used to define groups, but the new dividing line was between reason and unreason. Today, superstitious belief and behavior remain widespread, and highly educated people are not immune.
By: Stuart Vyse
-
The Unseen Realm
- By: Dr. Michael S. Heiser
- Narrated by: Gordon Greenhill
- Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Unseen Realm, Dr. Michael Heiser examines the ancient context of scripture, explaining how its supernatural worldview can help us grow in our understanding of God. He illuminates intriguing and amazing passages of the Bible that have been hiding in plain sight. You'll find yourself engaged in an enthusiastic pursuit of the truth, resulting in a new appreciation for God's word.
-
-
But the paper book.
- By garth jeffcoat on 05-26-18
-
Buddhism
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Damien Keown
- Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
- Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This very short introduction offers listeners a superb overview of the teachings of the Buddha, as well as a succinct guide to the integration of Buddhism into daily life.
-
-
Engage the services of a Very Short boatman
- By Darwin8u on 10-22-18
By: Damien Keown
-
C. S. Lewis
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: James Como
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Beloved by children and adults worldwide, the writings of C. S. Lewis have a broad and enduring appeal. Although he is best known for the iconic Chronicles of Narnia series, C. S. Lewis was actually a man of many literary parts.
-
-
A great book
- By Jim on 11-03-19
By: James Como
-
The 12th Planet
- Earth Chronicles Series, Book 1
- By: Zecharia Sitchin
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The product of 30 years of intensive research, The 12th Planet is the first book in Zecharia Sitchin's prophetic Earth Chronicles series - a revolutionary body of work that offers indisputable documentary proof of humanity's extraterrestrial forefathers. Travelers from the stars, they arrived eons ago, and planted the genetic seed that would ultimately blossom into a remarkable species...called Man.
-
-
Tough listen to start with
- By D. Dooley on 01-22-18
By: Zecharia Sitchin
Related to this topic
-
The Exodus
- By: Richard Elliott Friedman
- Narrated by: Richard Elliott Friedman
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Biblical scholars, Egyptologists, archaeologists, historians, literary scholars, anthropologists, and filmmakers are drawn to the mystery of the exodus. Unable to find physical evidence until now, many archaeologists and scholars claim this mass migration is just a story, not history. Others oppose this conclusion, defending the biblical account.
-
-
It started well......
- By kboy2008 on 04-21-20
-
The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 2
- By: Joshua Bowen
- Narrated by: Seth Andrews
- Length: 14 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Following up on the first volume, The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 2 takes up the challenge of providing a clear and useful guide to those wanting a better understanding of the Old Testament, including its cultural and historical background, as well as discussions on contentious topics like violence and genocide, and whether the Exodus was a real historical event. Volume two also covers the narrative of the Old Testament, from the conquest to the divided monarchy, and a brief history of Egypt to help situate the biblical text within agreed historical events.
-
-
Excellent critical approach to the Bible
- By Jacob Kilgore on 01-07-24
By: Joshua Bowen
-
The Bible's Cutting Room Floor
- The Holy Scriptures Missing from Your Bible
- By: Joel M. Hoffman
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Bible’s Cutting Room Floor, acclaimed author and translator Dr. Joel M. Hoffman gives us the stories and other texts that didn’t make it into the Bible even though they offer penetrating insight into the Bible and its teachings. The Book of Genesis tells us about Adam and Eve’s time in the Garden of Eden, but not their saga after they get kicked out or the lessons they have for us about good and evil.
-
-
Good content, rather poor presentation by narrator
- By J_T on 12-28-16
By: Joel M. Hoffman
-
Don't Know Much about the Bible
- Everything You Need to Know About the Good Book but Never Learned
- By: Kenneth C. Davis
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey, Lorna Raver
- Length: 16 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bringing to life the world of the Old and New Testaments, the acclaimed creator of the bestselling Don’t Know Much About® series transforms dry, difficult reading into colorful and realistic accounts. Relying on new research and improved translations, Kenneth C. Davis uncovers some amazing questions and contradictions about what the Bible really says: Jericho’s walls may have tumbled down because the city lies on a fault line; Moses never parted the Red Sea; There was a Jesus, but he wasn’t born on Christmas and he probably wasn't an only child....
-
-
decent survey of the topic
- By bookouri on 02-02-14
By: Kenneth C. Davis
-
Mystery of the Magi
- The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men
- By: Dwight Longenecker
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Magi of nativity scenes are romanticized as well-dressed wisemen bringing gifts to Jesus. Traditional Chrstians tell of a miraculous star that guided exotic kings from Persia, India, and Africa. Academics dismiss both accounts as no more than a pious legend. Who is right? In The Mystery of the Magi, Dwight Longenecker shows that all sides are wrong and the Magi were diplomats from Petra, the capital of the Nabatean kingdom of Arabia.
-
-
A Fascinating Deep Dive into the Story of the Magi
- By Pastor Ryan on 08-06-18
-
A History of Judaism
- By: Martin Goodman
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 23 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and it has preserved its distinctive identity despite the extraordinarily diverse forms and beliefs it has embodied over the course of more than three millennia. A History of Judaism provides the first truly comprehensive look in one volume at how this great religion came to be, how it has evolved from one age to the next, and how its various strains, sects, and traditions have related to each other.
-
-
Not easy to follow.
- By Max on 03-12-19
By: Martin Goodman
-
The Exodus
- By: Richard Elliott Friedman
- Narrated by: Richard Elliott Friedman
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Biblical scholars, Egyptologists, archaeologists, historians, literary scholars, anthropologists, and filmmakers are drawn to the mystery of the exodus. Unable to find physical evidence until now, many archaeologists and scholars claim this mass migration is just a story, not history. Others oppose this conclusion, defending the biblical account.
-
-
It started well......
- By kboy2008 on 04-21-20
-
The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 2
- By: Joshua Bowen
- Narrated by: Seth Andrews
- Length: 14 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Following up on the first volume, The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 2 takes up the challenge of providing a clear and useful guide to those wanting a better understanding of the Old Testament, including its cultural and historical background, as well as discussions on contentious topics like violence and genocide, and whether the Exodus was a real historical event. Volume two also covers the narrative of the Old Testament, from the conquest to the divided monarchy, and a brief history of Egypt to help situate the biblical text within agreed historical events.
-
-
Excellent critical approach to the Bible
- By Jacob Kilgore on 01-07-24
By: Joshua Bowen
-
The Bible's Cutting Room Floor
- The Holy Scriptures Missing from Your Bible
- By: Joel M. Hoffman
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Bible’s Cutting Room Floor, acclaimed author and translator Dr. Joel M. Hoffman gives us the stories and other texts that didn’t make it into the Bible even though they offer penetrating insight into the Bible and its teachings. The Book of Genesis tells us about Adam and Eve’s time in the Garden of Eden, but not their saga after they get kicked out or the lessons they have for us about good and evil.
-
-
Good content, rather poor presentation by narrator
- By J_T on 12-28-16
By: Joel M. Hoffman
-
Don't Know Much about the Bible
- Everything You Need to Know About the Good Book but Never Learned
- By: Kenneth C. Davis
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey, Lorna Raver
- Length: 16 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bringing to life the world of the Old and New Testaments, the acclaimed creator of the bestselling Don’t Know Much About® series transforms dry, difficult reading into colorful and realistic accounts. Relying on new research and improved translations, Kenneth C. Davis uncovers some amazing questions and contradictions about what the Bible really says: Jericho’s walls may have tumbled down because the city lies on a fault line; Moses never parted the Red Sea; There was a Jesus, but he wasn’t born on Christmas and he probably wasn't an only child....
-
-
decent survey of the topic
- By bookouri on 02-02-14
By: Kenneth C. Davis
-
Mystery of the Magi
- The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men
- By: Dwight Longenecker
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Magi of nativity scenes are romanticized as well-dressed wisemen bringing gifts to Jesus. Traditional Chrstians tell of a miraculous star that guided exotic kings from Persia, India, and Africa. Academics dismiss both accounts as no more than a pious legend. Who is right? In The Mystery of the Magi, Dwight Longenecker shows that all sides are wrong and the Magi were diplomats from Petra, the capital of the Nabatean kingdom of Arabia.
-
-
A Fascinating Deep Dive into the Story of the Magi
- By Pastor Ryan on 08-06-18
-
A History of Judaism
- By: Martin Goodman
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 23 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and it has preserved its distinctive identity despite the extraordinarily diverse forms and beliefs it has embodied over the course of more than three millennia. A History of Judaism provides the first truly comprehensive look in one volume at how this great religion came to be, how it has evolved from one age to the next, and how its various strains, sects, and traditions have related to each other.
-
-
Not easy to follow.
- By Max on 03-12-19
By: Martin Goodman
-
Creating Christ
- How Roman Emperors Invented Christianity
- By: James S. Valliant, C. W. Fahy
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This explosive work of history unearths clues that finally demonstrate the truth about one of the world's great religions: that it was born out of the conflict between the Romans and messianic Jews who fought a bitter war with each other during the first century. The Romans employed a tactic they routinely used to conquer and absorb other nations: they grafted their imperial rule onto the religion of the conquered.
-
-
life is one big lie
- By Anonymous User on 12-25-19
By: James S. Valliant, and others
-
The Lost Gospel
- Decoding the Ancient Text That Reveals Jesus' Marriage to Mary the Magdalene
- By: Simcha Jacobovici, Barrie Wilson
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Waiting to be rediscovered in the British Library is an ancient manuscript of the early Church, copied by an anonymous monk. The manuscript is at least 1,450 years old, possibly dating to the first century, Jesus' lifetime. And now, The Lost Gospel provides the first-ever translation from Syriac into English of this unique document that tells the inside story of Jesus' social, family, and political life. The Lost Gospel takes listeners on an unparalleled historical adventure through a paradigm-shifting manuscript.
-
-
Very well-crafted but uses lot of sketchy material
- By Leifen on 01-09-18
By: Simcha Jacobovici, and others
-
The Ten Lost Tribes
- The History and Mystery of the Lost Tribes of Israel
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Gordon Greenhill
- Length: 1 hr and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the eighth century BCE, one of the most important provinces within the Assyrian Empire was Samaria. Also known as Israel, Samaria repeatedly rebelled against their Assyrian overlords, but in 722, the Assyrians overran Samaria once and for all, killing countless numbers and sending most of the rest of its inhabitants into forced exile.
-
-
Eh.
- By Jerry on 10-16-15
-
The Sumerians
- The History and Legacy of the Ancient Mesopotamian Empire That Established Civilization
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Neil Holmes
- Length: 1 hr and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When American archaeologists discovered a collection of cuneiform tablets in Iraq in the late 19th century, they were confronted with a language and a people who were at the time only scarcely known to even the most knowledgeable scholars of ancient Mesopotamia: the Sumerians.
-
-
love these
- By amy on 12-14-16
-
Odin: The Origins, History and Evolution of the Norse God
- By: Jesse Harasta, Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Anthony R. Schlotzhauer
- Length: 1 hr and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A one-eyed old man, with a gray cloak and a wide-brimmed hat leaning on a staff. A wanderer who appears when least expected, bringing triumph or doom. The god of prophecy, poetry and fate. A shape changer. A sorcerer. The god Odin cuts a dramatic figure in Norse mythology and is still a part of the popular imagination. He is the inspiration for figures like J.R.R. Tolkien's Gandalf the Grey, and he still appears in modern literature as varied as Marvel Comics and Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods.
-
-
Not what I expected but enjoyable nontheless
- By Goose on 07-13-15
By: Jesse Harasta, and others
-
The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Biography
- Lives of the Great Religious Books
- By: John J. Collins
- Narrated by: Mark Moseley
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since they were first discovered in the caves at Qumran, in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have aroused more fascination - and more controversy - than perhaps any other archaeological find. They appear to have been hidden in the Judean desert by the Essenes, a Jewish sect that existed around the time of Jesus, and they continue to inspire veneration and conspiracy theories to this day. John Collins tells the story of the bitter conflicts that have swirled around the scrolls since their startling discovery, and sheds light on their true significance for Jewish and Christian history.
-
-
"Great Biography"
- By Marilyn Lame' on 12-04-14
By: John J. Collins
-
The 12th Planet
- Earth Chronicles Series, Book 1
- By: Zecharia Sitchin
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The product of 30 years of intensive research, The 12th Planet is the first book in Zecharia Sitchin's prophetic Earth Chronicles series - a revolutionary body of work that offers indisputable documentary proof of humanity's extraterrestrial forefathers. Travelers from the stars, they arrived eons ago, and planted the genetic seed that would ultimately blossom into a remarkable species...called Man.
-
-
Tough listen to start with
- By D. Dooley on 01-22-18
By: Zecharia Sitchin
-
The Great Shift
- Encountering God in Biblical Times
- By: James L. Kugel
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why does the Bible depict a world in which humans, with surprising regularity, encounter the divine - wrestling an angel, addressing a burning bush, issuing forth prophecy without any choice in the matter? These stories spoke very differently to their original audience than they do to us, and they reflect a radically distinct understanding of reality and the human mind. Yet over the course of the thousand-year biblical era, encounters with God changed dramatically.
-
-
Changing Conceptions of God and the Self
- By DJ on 10-27-22
By: James L. Kugel
-
The Jesus Dynasty
- A New Historical Investigation of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity
- By: James D. Tabor
- Narrated by: James D. Tabor
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Based on a careful analysis of the earliest Christian documents and recent archaeological discoveries, The Jesus Dynasty offers a bold new interpretation of the life of Jesus and the origins of Christianity. The story is surprising, controversial, and exciting as only a long-lost history can be when it is at last recovered.
-
-
Provocative book
- By Dan on 08-27-06
By: James D. Tabor
-
When God Spoke Greek
- The Septuagint and the Making of the Christian Bible
- By: Timothy Michael Law
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Septuagint, the name given to the translation of the Hebrew scriptures between the third century BC and the second century AD, played a central role in the Bible's history. Many of the Hebrew scriptures were still evolving when they were translated into Greek, and these Greek translations, along with several new Greek writings, became Holy Scripture in the early Church. Yet gradually the Septuagint lost its place at the heart of Western Christianity.
-
-
A popular & much-needed intro to the Septuagint
- By Jacobus on 06-14-14
-
When Christians Were Jews
- The First Generation
- By: Paula Fredriksen
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this electrifying social and intellectual history, Paula Fredriksen answers the question of how Jewish missionaries ended up inaugurating a movement that would grow into the gentile church by reconstructing the life of the earliest Jerusalem community. As her account arcs from this group’s hopeful celebration of Passover with Jesus, through their bitter controversies that fragmented the movement’s midcentury missions, to the city’s fiery end in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, she brings this vibrant apostolic community to life.
-
-
nothing to see here, nothing to read here
- By Anonymous User on 12-10-18
By: Paula Fredriksen
-
How God Became God
- What Scholars Are Really Saying About God and the Bible
- By: Richard M. Smoley
- Narrated by: Richard M. Smoley
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This epic, thrilling journey through Bible scholarship and ancient religion shows how much of Scripture is historically false - yet the ancient writings also resound with theologies that crisscrossed the primeval world and that direct us today toward a deep, authentic inner experience of the truly sacred.
-
-
Just Okay.
- By Thom on 10-28-21
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The New Testament
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Luke Timothy Johnson
- Narrated by: Robert Feifar
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this concise, engaging book, noted New Testament scholar Luke Timothy Johnson takes listeners on a journey back to the time of the early Roman Empire, when the New Testament was written in ordinary Greek (koine) by the first Christians. The author explains how the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and Revelation evolved into the canon of sacred writings for the Christian religion, and how they reflect a reinterpretation of the symbolic world and societal forces of first-century Greco-Roman and Jewish life.
-
Judaism (2nd Edition)
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Norman Solomon
- Narrated by: Jesse Einstein
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Normon Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. Demonstrating the diverse nature and ethnic origin of Jewish people, Solomon explores how the religion has developed in the 2,000 years since the days of the Bible.
-
-
tremendous!
- By D. Griffin on 10-18-23
By: Norman Solomon
-
The Bible
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: John Riches
- Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck
- Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This Very Short Introduction looks at the importance accorded to the bible by different communities and cultures and attempts to explain why it has generated such a rich variety of uses and interpretations. It explores how the Bible was written, the development of the canon, the role of biblical criticism, the appropriation of the bible in high and popular culture, and its use for political ends.
By: John Riches
-
The Abrahamic Religions
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Charles L. Cohen
- Narrated by: Jim Denison
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the book of Genesis, God bestows a new name upon Abram - Abraham, a father of many nations. With this name and his covenant, Abraham would become the patriarch of three of the world's major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Connected by their mutual - if differentiated - veneration of the one God proclaimed by Abraham, these traditions share much beyond their origins in the ancient Israel of the Old Testament. This Very Short Introduction audiobook explores the intertwined histories of these monotheistic religions.
By: Charles L. Cohen
-
The Roman Empire
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Christopher Kelly
- Narrated by: Richard Davidson
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Empire was a remarkable achievement. It had a population of 60 million people spread across lands encircling the Mediterranean and stretching from northern England to the sun-baked banks of the Euphrates, and from the Rhine to the North African coast. It was, above all else, an empire of force - employing a mixture of violence, suppression, order, and tactical use of power to develop an astonishingly uniform culture.
-
-
I love it
- By Amazon Customer on 08-23-21
-
Aristotle
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Jonathan Barnes
- Narrated by: Phil Holland
- Length: 3 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The influence of Aristotle, the prince of philosophers, on the intellectual history of the West is second to none. In this book, Jonathan Barnes examines Aristotle's scientific researches, his discoveries in logic and his metaphysical theories, his work in psychology and in ethics and politics, and his ideas about art and poetry, placing his teachings in their historical context.
-
-
Great Book Moderate Storyteller
- By Brad on 08-23-24
By: Jonathan Barnes
-
The New Testament
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Luke Timothy Johnson
- Narrated by: Robert Feifar
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this concise, engaging book, noted New Testament scholar Luke Timothy Johnson takes listeners on a journey back to the time of the early Roman Empire, when the New Testament was written in ordinary Greek (koine) by the first Christians. The author explains how the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and Revelation evolved into the canon of sacred writings for the Christian religion, and how they reflect a reinterpretation of the symbolic world and societal forces of first-century Greco-Roman and Jewish life.
-
Judaism (2nd Edition)
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Norman Solomon
- Narrated by: Jesse Einstein
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Normon Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. Demonstrating the diverse nature and ethnic origin of Jewish people, Solomon explores how the religion has developed in the 2,000 years since the days of the Bible.
-
-
tremendous!
- By D. Griffin on 10-18-23
By: Norman Solomon
-
The Bible
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: John Riches
- Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck
- Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This Very Short Introduction looks at the importance accorded to the bible by different communities and cultures and attempts to explain why it has generated such a rich variety of uses and interpretations. It explores how the Bible was written, the development of the canon, the role of biblical criticism, the appropriation of the bible in high and popular culture, and its use for political ends.
By: John Riches
-
The Abrahamic Religions
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Charles L. Cohen
- Narrated by: Jim Denison
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the book of Genesis, God bestows a new name upon Abram - Abraham, a father of many nations. With this name and his covenant, Abraham would become the patriarch of three of the world's major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Connected by their mutual - if differentiated - veneration of the one God proclaimed by Abraham, these traditions share much beyond their origins in the ancient Israel of the Old Testament. This Very Short Introduction audiobook explores the intertwined histories of these monotheistic religions.
By: Charles L. Cohen
-
The Roman Empire
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Christopher Kelly
- Narrated by: Richard Davidson
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Empire was a remarkable achievement. It had a population of 60 million people spread across lands encircling the Mediterranean and stretching from northern England to the sun-baked banks of the Euphrates, and from the Rhine to the North African coast. It was, above all else, an empire of force - employing a mixture of violence, suppression, order, and tactical use of power to develop an astonishingly uniform culture.
-
-
I love it
- By Amazon Customer on 08-23-21
-
Aristotle
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Jonathan Barnes
- Narrated by: Phil Holland
- Length: 3 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The influence of Aristotle, the prince of philosophers, on the intellectual history of the West is second to none. In this book, Jonathan Barnes examines Aristotle's scientific researches, his discoveries in logic and his metaphysical theories, his work in psychology and in ethics and politics, and his ideas about art and poetry, placing his teachings in their historical context.
-
-
Great Book Moderate Storyteller
- By Brad on 08-23-24
By: Jonathan Barnes
-
Religion
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Thomas A. Tweed
- Narrated by: Al Kessel
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Religion: A Very Short Introduction offers a concise nonpartisan overview of religion's long history and its complicated role in the world today.
-
-
Dry, even by academic standards
- By Owen Summerscales on 10-13-24
By: Thomas A. Tweed
-
The New Testament as Literature
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Kyle Keefer
- Narrated by: Jonathan Walker
- Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unique among books that examine the bible as literature, this brilliantly compact introduction offers an intriguing double-edged look at this universal text - a religiously informed literary analysis. The book first explores the major sections of the New Testament - the gospels, Paul's letters, and Revelation - as individual literary documents. Keefer shows how, in such familiar stories as the parable of the Good Samaritan, a literary analysis can uncover an unexpected complexity to what seems a simple, straightforward tale.
By: Kyle Keefer
-
Paul
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: E. P. Sanders
- Narrated by: Robert Feifar
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Missionary, theologian, and religious genius, Paul is one of the most powerful human personalities in the history of the Church. E. P. Sanders, an influential Pauline scholar, analyzes the fundamental beliefs and vigorous contradictions in Paul's thought, discovering a philosophy that is less of a monolithic system than the apostle's convictions would seem to suggest.
-
-
Why aren’t any more of EP Sanders books on audible?
- By scott on 01-12-24
By: E. P. Sanders
-
The Ancient Near East
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Amanda H. Podany
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 4 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient Near East is known as the "cradle of civilization" - and for good reason. Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia were home to an extraordinarily rich and successful culture. Indeed, it was a time and place of earth-shaking changes for humankind: the beginnings of writing and law, kingship and bureaucracy, diplomacy and state-sponsored warfare, mathematics and literature. This Very Short Introduction audiobook offers a fascinating account of this momentous time in human history.
-
-
This Great Work Reveals Amanda Podany at her Best
- By Amadeu Macedo on 10-24-24
By: Amanda H. Podany
-
Jesus
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Richard Bauckham
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two billion people today identify as Christians, with the implication that Jesus is the focus of their relationship with God and their way of living in the world. Such followers of Jesus are now more numerous and make up a greater proportion of the world's population than ever before. Richard Bauckham explores the historical figure of Jesus, evaluating the sources and concluding that they provide us with good historical evidence for his life and teaching.
-
-
Probably the best summary of Jesus of Nazareth I have encountered.
- By HEATHER CAVANAH on 10-29-24
By: Richard Bauckham
-
The Crusades
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Christopher Tyerman
- Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Crusading fervor gripped Europe for over 200 years, creating one of the most extraordinary, vivid episodes in world history. Whether the Crusades are regarded as the most romantic of Christian expeditions, or the last of the barbarian invasions, they have fascinated generations ever since, and their legacy of ideas and imagery has resonated through the centuries, inspiring Hollywood movies and great works of literature. Even today, to invoke the Crusades is to stir deep cultural myths, assumptions and prejudices.
-
-
VSI # 140
- By Darwin8u on 10-29-24
-
World War II
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Gerhard L. Weinberg
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this Very Short Introduction, Gerhard L. Weinberg provides an introduction to the origins, course, and impact of the war on those who fought and the ordinary citizens who lived through it. Starting by looking at the inter-war years and the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, he examines how the war progressed by examining a number of key events, including the war in the West in 1940, Barbarossa, the German Invasion of the Soviet Union, the expansion of Japan's war with China, developments on the home front, and the Allied victory from 1944-45.
-
-
Overdressed... and over here
- By Darwin8u on 03-12-19
-
The Koran
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Michael Cook
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Koran has constituted a remarkably resilient core of identity and continuity for a religious tradition that is now in its 15th century. In this Very Short Introduction, Michael Cook provides a lucid and direct account of the significance of the Koran both in the modern world and in that of traditional Islam. He gives vivid accounts of its role in Muslim civilization, illustrates the diversity of interpretations championed by traditional and modern commentators, discusses the processes by which the book took shape, and more.
-
-
it was very boring.
- By Linda on 06-02-24
By: Michael Cook
-
Economics
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Partha Dasgupta
- Narrated by: Gayle Hendrix
- Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Economics has the capacity to offer us deep insights into some of the most formidable problems of life and offer solutions to them, too. Combining a global approach with examples from everyday life, Partha Dasgupta describes the lives of two children who live very different lives in different parts of the world: the Midwest USA and in Ethiopia. He compares the obstacles facing them and the processes that shape their lives, their families, and their futures. He shows how economics uncovers these processes, finds explanations for them, and how it forms policies and solutions.
By: Partha Dasgupta
-
Christianity
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Linda Woodhead
- Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Exploring the cultural and institutional dimensions of Christianity and tracing its course over two millennia, Linda Woodhead provides a fresh, lively, and candid portrait of Christianity's past and present. Addressing topics including the competition for power between different forms of Christianity, the churches' use of power, and its struggles with modernity, this new edition includes up-to-date information on the growth and geographical spread of Eastern Christianity, reflecting the global nature of Christianity in our ever-shifting contemporary culture.
-
-
Not well-described by the Publisher's Summary
- By Jeffrey D on 06-16-21
By: Linda Woodhead
-
Islamic History
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Adam J. Silverstein
- Narrated by: Neil Shah
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Does history matter? This book argues not that history matters, but that Islamic history does. This very short introduction introduces the story of Islamic history; the controversies surrounding its study; and the significance that it holds - for Muslims and for non-Muslims alike. Opening with a lucid overview of the rise and spread of Islam, from the seventh to 21st century, the book charts the evolution of what was originally a small, localized community of believers into an international religion with over a billion adherents.
-
-
Not good as an audio book
- By andtomorrow on 02-08-20
-
Nietzsche
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Michael Tanner
- Narrated by: Christine Williams
- Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With his well known idiosyncrasies and aphoristic style, Friedrich Nietzsche is always bracing and provocative, and temptingly easy to dip into. Michael Tanner's introduction to the philosopher's life and work examines the numerous ambiguities inherent in his writings and explodes many of the misconceptions that have grown in the hundred years since Nietzsche wrote "do not, above all, confound me with what I am not!"
-
-
Presumes way too much
- By Kim M. on 04-30-24
By: Michael Tanner
What listeners say about The Old Testament
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gdrs
- 10-20-24
A perfect way to quickly familiarise oneself with an influential anthology of ancient Jewish literature.
Coogan expertly balances scholarly rigor with accessible language, making it ideal for non-experts. He tackles a broad range of topics, including the historical accuracy of the texts, their literary and theological significance, and their cultural context within the ancient Near East. Coogan doesn't shy away from critical analysis, demystifying "the word of the God," exploring questions of authorship, dating, and the evolution of religious ideas within the Old Testament. This book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this foundational text.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!